Christmas presentations nationwide
Christmas is very important to Dominicans, and this is evidenced by the outstanding decorations of businesses, malls and large stores, streets and homes in Greater Santo Domingo and Santiago, the second largest city.
It is family time in the Dominican Republic, with most city restaurants (with the exception of most hotel restaurants) to be closed for Sunday, 24 December 2017. But expect many to be open for the Christmas day celebration.
Building up to the holiday, there are many parties into the late evening, as friends and visiting relatives come home for Christmas. Try to program shopping and outings off peak times to avoid the traffic jams that are at their worse this time of the year.
Worthwhile weekend events include:
Thursday, 21 December:
At the Jaragua Renaissance: Singer-composer Pavel Núñez will be the lead singer for the Big Band Núñez performance at the Teatro La Fiesta of the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel on Thursday, 21 December 2017. With him will be many leading Dominican singers as guest performers, including Danny Rivera.
At the Hard Rock Live: Dominican singer-composer Wason Brazobán will be at Hard Rock Live at Blue Mall in Santo Domingo on Thursday, 21 December 2017 for the presentation of his concert "De viaje por la vida." This is a repeat of the 20 October concert that lasted over three hours and was a total sell out many days before.
Friday, 22 December:
In Puerto Plata: The Puerto Plata Amphitheater announces the presentation of merengue queens, Miriam Cruz and Milly Quezada in an evening long concert on Friday, 22 December 2017. The next day, Conjunto Quisqueya, Alex Matos, Mark B. Divas by Jiménez and Pochy Familia y la Coco Band bring more of the best of merengue. Tickets are for sale at the Amphitheater box office and at the front desk of many of the hotels and resorts in Puerto Plata.
Sandy Gabriel’s “Jazz Christmas” at Blue Jack Tar
Dominican saxophone player Sandy Gabriel and Pop Jazz Ensemble are presenting the “Jazz Christmas” concert on Friday, 22 December 2017 starting at 9:30pm in Blue Jack Tar of Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata. Performing as part of the band are Rose Matteo (guest singer); Emil Pimentel (keyboard); Daniel Álvarez, (bass); Ezequiel Francisco (drums) and David Almengod (percussion).
Saturday, 23 December:
At the Downtown Center in Bella Vista: Teatro The Alley presents "Navidad Fuera del Cajón" on 16, 17 and 23 December 2017. The story is about school children who open the boxes with their costumes for their traditional Christmas play and find they have been sent the wrong costumes. There is no time to exchange these, so the Christmas show is a marvelous show of creativity for the entire family.
At Casa de Teatro in the Colonial City: Freddy Ginebra and Diomary La Mala promise a great show at Casa de Teatro this Saturday, 23 December 2017. Diomary La Mala has one of the best voices in the country. She is also a great show woman. Freddy Ginebra as host will be telling jokes. Casa de Teatro. 9pm. Tickets RD$1,500 inside the theater, and RD$1,000 outside watching on the big screen.
Ramon Orlando, Henry Garcia, Dionis Fernandez and Charlie Rodriguez have come together for an evening of Dominican Christmas Classics at Lucia 203 in the Colonial City. You can order dinner and you can dance the night away. From 10pm. Saturday, 23 December and a repeat on Saturday, 30 December. Tickets RD$1,000 for sale online at Ticket Express and at the door.
In Punta Cana: The ballet, The Nutcracker, with music by Tchaikovsky will be performed on Saturday, 23 December 2017, at 6pm at the Punta Cana Blue Mall amphitheater.Choreography and direction by Carlos Veitia. Tickets are RD$2,200 (front stage) and RD$800 general admission.
In San Cristobal: Anthony Santos will be singing bachatas at the El Viajero explanade on Autopista 6 de Noviembre, the highway to San Cristóbal, this Saturday, 23 December 2017. The concert is a benefit for the Asociación Mujeres Solidarias Incorporadas (AMSI). The benefit helps survivors of breast cancer. Santos is donating 1% of the ticket prices to the women's support group.
In Puerto Plata: The Puerto Plata Amphitheater presents an evening of merengue with Conjunto Quisqueya, Alex Matos, Mark B. Divas by Jiménez and Pochy Familia y la Coco Band. Tickets are for sale at the Amphitheater box office and at the front desk of many of the hotels and resorts in Puerto Plata.
Sunday, 24 December:
For those in Santo Domingo for the holidays, we recommend the Meson de la Cava Christmas buffet. An opportunity to taste all that is traditionally served for Christmas here. Meson de la Cava on the Av. Mirador del Sur.
Monday, 25 December:
Christmas story presentation on 25 December 2017
Don’t miss the last presentation of the Christmas Story at the parking lot of the Torre Popular on Av. John F. Kennedy. This is a Dominican tradition. Sunday, 25 December at 6:30pm. Free admission.
In the Colonial City of Santo Domingo:The traditional Christmas Concert with the Choir of the Santo Domingo Cathedral will happen this Monday, 25 December 2017. This year a children’s choir will be performing, too. Highlights of this 27th Christmas concert include the participation of sopranos Natalie Peña Comas and Paola González, and tenor Enmanuel Vargas. The general production is by Professor Jose Delmotne Peguero, working with Wanda Guzmán, Andres Capellán, Fernando Herrera and Rafael Calderon. 8pm. To get a seat inside, you need to queue no later than 6:30pm. The concert can be seen on Channel 4 (CRTV). Free admission.
Tuesday, 26 December:
Urbanova show at Casa de Teatro
On Tuesday, 26 December 2017, Urbanova presents “A Son de Fuson”, a production of Johnny Ventura y Asociados that includes repertoires of Dominican music legends Fernando Echavarrria y la Familia Andre, Chichí Peralta, Jandy Feliz and Carlos Vives among others. Six musicians and the vocals of Cristian Allexis promise a memorable evening at Casa de Teatro in the Colonial City.
Christmas is very important to Dominicans, and this is evidenced by the outstanding decorations of businesses, malls and large stores, streets and homes in Greater Santo Domingo and Santiago, the second largest city.
It is family time in the Dominican Republic, with most city restaurants (with the exception of most hotel restaurants) to be closed for Sunday, 24 December 2017. But expect many to be open for the Christmas day celebration.
Building up to the holiday, there are many parties into the late evening, as friends and visiting relatives come home for Christmas. Try to program shopping and outings off peak times to avoid the traffic jams that are at their worse this time of the year.
Worthwhile weekend events include:
Thursday, 21 December:
At the Jaragua Renaissance: Singer-composer Pavel Núñez will be the lead singer for the Big Band Núñez performance at the Teatro La Fiesta of the Renaissance Jaragua Hotel on Thursday, 21 December 2017. With him will be many leading Dominican singers as guest performers, including Danny Rivera.
At the Hard Rock Live: Dominican singer-composer Wason Brazobán will be at Hard Rock Live at Blue Mall in Santo Domingo on Thursday, 21 December 2017 for the presentation of his concert "De viaje por la vida." This is a repeat of the 20 October concert that lasted over three hours and was a total sell out many days before.
Friday, 22 December:
In Puerto Plata: The Puerto Plata Amphitheater announces the presentation of merengue queens, Miriam Cruz and Milly Quezada in an evening long concert on Friday, 22 December 2017. The next day, Conjunto Quisqueya, Alex Matos, Mark B. Divas by Jiménez and Pochy Familia y la Coco Band bring more of the best of merengue. Tickets are for sale at the Amphitheater box office and at the front desk of many of the hotels and resorts in Puerto Plata.
Sandy Gabriel’s “Jazz Christmas” at Blue Jack Tar
Dominican saxophone player Sandy Gabriel and Pop Jazz Ensemble are presenting the “Jazz Christmas” concert on Friday, 22 December 2017 starting at 9:30pm in Blue Jack Tar of Playa Dorada, Puerto Plata. Performing as part of the band are Rose Matteo (guest singer); Emil Pimentel (keyboard); Daniel Álvarez, (bass); Ezequiel Francisco (drums) and David Almengod (percussion).
Saturday, 23 December:
At the Downtown Center in Bella Vista: Teatro The Alley presents "Navidad Fuera del Cajón" on 16, 17 and 23 December 2017. The story is about school children who open the boxes with their costumes for their traditional Christmas play and find they have been sent the wrong costumes. There is no time to exchange these, so the Christmas show is a marvelous show of creativity for the entire family.
At Casa de Teatro in the Colonial City: Freddy Ginebra and Diomary La Mala promise a great show at Casa de Teatro this Saturday, 23 December 2017. Diomary La Mala has one of the best voices in the country. She is also a great show woman. Freddy Ginebra as host will be telling jokes. Casa de Teatro. 9pm. Tickets RD$1,500 inside the theater, and RD$1,000 outside watching on the big screen.
Ramon Orlando, Henry Garcia, Dionis Fernandez and Charlie Rodriguez have come together for an evening of Dominican Christmas Classics at Lucia 203 in the Colonial City. You can order dinner and you can dance the night away. From 10pm. Saturday, 23 December and a repeat on Saturday, 30 December. Tickets RD$1,000 for sale online at Ticket Express and at the door.
In Punta Cana: The ballet, The Nutcracker, with music by Tchaikovsky will be performed on Saturday, 23 December 2017, at 6pm at the Punta Cana Blue Mall amphitheater.Choreography and direction by Carlos Veitia. Tickets are RD$2,200 (front stage) and RD$800 general admission.
In San Cristobal: Anthony Santos will be singing bachatas at the El Viajero explanade on Autopista 6 de Noviembre, the highway to San Cristóbal, this Saturday, 23 December 2017. The concert is a benefit for the Asociación Mujeres Solidarias Incorporadas (AMSI). The benefit helps survivors of breast cancer. Santos is donating 1% of the ticket prices to the women's support group.
In Puerto Plata: The Puerto Plata Amphitheater presents an evening of merengue with Conjunto Quisqueya, Alex Matos, Mark B. Divas by Jiménez and Pochy Familia y la Coco Band. Tickets are for sale at the Amphitheater box office and at the front desk of many of the hotels and resorts in Puerto Plata.
Sunday, 24 December:
For those in Santo Domingo for the holidays, we recommend the Meson de la Cava Christmas buffet. An opportunity to taste all that is traditionally served for Christmas here. Meson de la Cava on the Av. Mirador del Sur.
Monday, 25 December:
Christmas story presentation on 25 December 2017
Don’t miss the last presentation of the Christmas Story at the parking lot of the Torre Popular on Av. John F. Kennedy. This is a Dominican tradition. Sunday, 25 December at 6:30pm. Free admission.
In the Colonial City of Santo Domingo:The traditional Christmas Concert with the Choir of the Santo Domingo Cathedral will happen this Monday, 25 December 2017. This year a children’s choir will be performing, too. Highlights of this 27th Christmas concert include the participation of sopranos Natalie Peña Comas and Paola González, and tenor Enmanuel Vargas. The general production is by Professor Jose Delmotne Peguero, working with Wanda Guzmán, Andres Capellán, Fernando Herrera and Rafael Calderon. 8pm. To get a seat inside, you need to queue no later than 6:30pm. The concert can be seen on Channel 4 (CRTV). Free admission.
Tuesday, 26 December:
Urbanova show at Casa de Teatro
On Tuesday, 26 December 2017, Urbanova presents “A Son de Fuson”, a production of Johnny Ventura y Asociados that includes repertoires of Dominican music legends Fernando Echavarrria y la Familia Andre, Chichí Peralta, Jandy Feliz and Carlos Vives among others. Six musicians and the vocals of Cristian Allexis promise a memorable evening at Casa de Teatro in the Colonial City.