(MVA) — Elementary school students take the stage this Saturday (Dec. 7) to bring the spirit of the holidays to Saipan’s main tourist district at the 20th Annual Christmas in The Marianas in Garapan.
Festivities kick off with holiday music at 5 p.m. at Paseo de Marianas, which will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at 8 a.m. that day until after the event.
“We invite everyone to head down to Paseo this weekend as we kick off the first of two Saturdays of Christmas in The Marianas this year,” said Marianas Visitors Authority Community Projects Manager Martin Duenas. “If you can, join us before 6 for the exciting Christmas Illumination Countdown starting at 5:55 p.m. — kids will love it. The Christmas string lights above the street, student-decorated Christmas trees, and palm trees on Beach Rd. bring the magic of Christmas to the island this holiday season for both visitors and residents, alike.”
School Christmas caroling and skits kick off right after the countdown: Mt. Carmel School (6 p.m.), Green Meadow School (6:15 p.m.), Kagman Elementary (6:30 p.m.), Saipan International School (6:45 p.m.), Grace Christian Academy (7:15 p.m.), Oleai Elementary (7:30 p.m.), San Vicente Elementary (7:45 p.m.), Brilliant Star School (8 p.m.), William S. Reyes Elementary (8:15 p.m.), and Koblerville Elementary (8:30 p.m.)
Food vendors will be Yaya’s Baked Goods, Chagi Norf Kitchen, JTM Snack Bar, and Dae Jang Kum Restaurant.
On Rota, the official Christmas Tree will be lit in Songsong village this Saturday (Dec. 7) at 7 p.m. Island residents will have the opportunity to win cash prizes for the best decorated yard on Dec. 13. A Christmas float parade will be held on Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m. from the Roundhouse in Songsong to Tun Kindo Baseball Field in Sinapalo.
The Municipality of Tinian will have the lighting of its Christmas display at Veterans Park in San Jose this Friday (Dec. 6), and MVA’s Christmas in The Marianas Variety Show will be held on Dec. 13, 2024, at the Fiesta Grounds beginning at 5 p.m. Christmas in The Marianas will return to Paseo de Marianas in Saipan on Dec. 14 for a final night of festivities with middle and high school student performances.
Event sponsors include Tinian Diamond Hotel Casino & Restaurant, Friends of Paseo De Marianas and IShop.
For more information, contact lead event coordinator and MVA Community Projects Coordinator II Jack Aranda at communityprojects@mymarianas.com or (670) 664-3200/1.
