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Christmas Parade, Health Walk on Dec. 20
Catch the holiday spirit at this Saturday’s Christmas Health Walk and Christmas Parade in Garapan, all part of the ongoing 13th Annual Christmas in the Marianas celebration in the Northern Marianas.
Festivities kick off with a 5K Christmas Health Walk, starting at Paseo de Marianas and traversing south along the Saipan Beach Pathway to Gold Beach Hotel. Registration begins at 4:30pm., participation is free, and registrants will receive a free T-shirt while supplies last.
The event is led by Marianas Walking Association. Santa Claus is also scheduled to take a break from his pre-Christmas preparations to join the event.
The revelry will continue with the Christmas Parade at 6pm from Garapan Fishing Base north along Beach Road to American Memorial Park intersection, then left to Coral Tree Ave., where floats will remain on display after the parade for picture taking.
Participating schools will be: Koblerville, Kagman, and Northern Marianas International at the elementary school level; Tanapag, Northern Marianas International, San Antonio, and Cha Cha Oceanview at the middle school level; and Saipan Southern and Kagman at the high school level. Other floats will include: Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, Stellar Marianas and Miss Marianas Teen Giana Camacho, Saipan Mayor’s Office, and Matua Riders.
A Christmas Costume show will also be held featuring the best costumes from local schools on the catwalk at Paseo de Marianas. Food and vendor sales, including local artwork and crafts, will continue throughout the event until 9pm.
“The enthusiastic participation of our local schools is really what makes Christmas in the Marianas such a success each year,” Marianas Visitors Authority Community Projects manager Martin Duenas. “If you want to catch the holiday spirit, we invite you to join us for a festive time at Paseo de Marianas on Saturday evening.”
The annual Christmas in the Marianas celebration is sponsored by the MVA, Team PDI, PDM Promoters, Inc., and other travel partners. Dec. 27, a traditional Japanese Mochitsuki Festival will be held and the winner of the Christmas Tree Decorating Competition, Christmas Caroling Competition, and Float Competition will be announced. Christmas trees are illuminated each evening throughout the rest of December at Paseo de Marianas for the enjoyment of visitors and residents. Christmas in the Marianas sponsors and supporters also include: T Galleria, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, DOCOMO Pacific, Kinpachi Restaurant, CNMI Public School System, Japan Saipan Travel Association, Country House Restaurant, RNV Construction, MISA Ent., Power 99, Moby Dick Restaurant, KKMP, Magic 100FM, KCNM, Teach PDI, Chamolinian Cultural Village, and Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture. (MVA)
