Christmas in the Marianas spreads cheer

Hundreds of revelers gathered in downtown Garapan, Saipan on Saturday, Dec. 17, to share holiday glad-tidings at the Marianas Visitors Authority’s 10th Annual Christmas in the Marianas celebration.

The event kicked off with a Christmas Walk along the Saipan Beach Pathway, sponsored by the Marianas Walking Association. Just before sunset, a parade of floats and walking groups was held through the downtown tourist district on Beach Road to the American Memorial Park.

For their clever use of natural and recycled material, as well as live island dancers and wafting ukulele music, Kagman Elementary School won first place in the float competition. In second place was Dandan Elementary School, followed by Cha-cha Oceanview Jr. High School, and Green Meadows School.

Six schools presented holiday songs to an enthusiastic crowd in the caroling competition at the American Memorial Park, with Koblerville Elementary School taking the top slot for the second year in a row. The KES Glee Club impressed judges with their pitch-perfect performance in several languages, live instruments, well-coordinated choreography, and festive costumes. Koblerville was followed by Dandan Elementary School, Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, and San Vicente Elementary School.

For the first time, junior and senior high schools joined the festivities, with Kagman High School walking away with the top prize for their medley of long-standing island holiday favorites. Cha-cha Oceanview Junior High School finished in second.

“The holiday spirit demonstrated by the students this year was very uplifting, and we’re pleased at the success of this year’s 10th anniversary celebration of Christmas in the Marianas,” said MVA Community Projects manager Martin Duenas. “Both residents and visitors were able to enjoy the parade and the caroling, which is our purpose in staging this celebration each year.”

All the winners received cash prizes for their efforts. Other event sponsors included the Public School System, IT&E, DFS, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Public Works, National Parks Service, Marianas Tourism Education Council, Carolinian-Chamorro Cultural Village, Inc., Team PDI, Integrity Communication, KKMP, Pacific Trading Co. and Top Development Inc.[I] (MVA)[/I]