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MVA cancels ‘Christmas in the Marianas’
Instead, MVA plans to decorate Paseo with holiday sculptures
MVA managing director Christopher A. Concepcion
The Marianas Visitors Authority has cancelled the annual “Christmas in the Marianas” at Paseo de Marianas in Garapan this December, due to the catastrophic destruction of Super Typhoon Yutu.
MVA managing director Christopher A. Concepcion said yesterday that, after consulting schools and businesses involved in the annual “Christmas in the Marianas,” they decided to call off the event due to the severe destruction of some schools and many students’ homes.
MVA still plans to decorate the Paseo de Marianas with giant holiday sculptures, thousands of lights and other holiday-themed decorations to allow tourists and residents to regain a sense of normalcy and feel the holiday spirit.
Concepcion said some of the schools expressed concern that their students were not going to be able to fully concentrate and participate in the festival due to the stresses of Yutu.
“We regret the situation but fully understand the need for schools, teachers, administrators, students and families to focus on recovery efforts at this difficult time,” he said.
Christmas in the Marianas is a weekly celebration throughout December that offers visitors and residents alike holiday entertainment every Saturday night.
There is an annual schoolwide Christmas tree decoration competition and a Christmas caroling competition for elementary school students. Middle and high school students also compete in the Christmas caroling competition. Another highlight is the Christmas parade of floats.
With the cancellation of the event, Concepcion encourages everyone in the CNMI to get in the holiday spirit and decorate their surroundings so the children in particular “become upbeat, optimistic and cheerful about the Christmas season.”
