"Navidad 99" is the celebration of Christmas organized by the Ayuntamiento de Santo Domingo (city municipality), Secretaría de Turismo (ministry of tourism), Comisión de Monumentos (historic monuments commission), Oficina de Patrimonio Cultural (office of cultural heritage), and the Patronato de la Ciudad Colonial (board of the colonial city). Activities start today, Wednesday, 1 December and continue all month long. Most of the events take place at the Parque Colón (Isabel la Católica corner Conde), the Patronato de la Ciudad Colonial (Isabel la Católica 103) or the Palacio Consistorial (Arz. Meriño corner Conde), Cathedral of Santo Domingo (Arz. Meriño corner Arz. Nouel), Capilla de los Remedios (Calle Las Damas corner Mercedes). The first seven days’ schedule is as follows: Wednesday, 1 December 8 pm. Christmas Tree ceremony at the Parque Colón (Columbus Park). 8:30 pm. Christmas Carols Concert. Municipal Choir. Parque Colón. 9 pm. Nativity ceremony at the Palacio Consistorial. 9:30 pm. Jose Antonio Montes Concert. Parque Colón. Thursday, 2 December 6 pm. Christmas traditions. Exhibition of Dominican Christmas Traditions. Palacio Consistorial. 7:30 p. Ileana Reynoso Concert. Parque Colón. 8 pm. Dominican Theater Festival. Palacio Consistorial. 8:30 pm. Dominican Christmas Concert. Francois Bahuaud, director, soprano Ivonne Haza, Victor Mitrov, invited trumpet player. Patronato de la Ciudad Colonial. Friday, 3 December. 6 pm. Christmas Sunsets. Concert with the Music Band of the Firemen. Parque Colón. 6 pm. Presentation of Children’s Workshops. Municipality of Santo Domingo. Palacio Consistorial. 7:30 pm. Concert of the National Choir. Fernando Geraldes. Parque Colón. 8 pm. Christmas Cinema. Plazoleta de Regina, Padre Billini corner José Reyes. 8 pm. Christmas Tree ceremony of the Santa Barbara neighborhood. Plazoleta de Santa Barbara, Isabel la Catolica corner Av. España. 8:30 pm. Grupo Ensemble Chalumeau Concert. Maestro Roberto Medina Rios, conductor. Parque Colón. Saturday, 4 December. 6 am Mañanitas (Christmas caroling). Carmen neighborhood group. The singers leave from Calle Sánchez 112. 3 pm. How to make a nativity scene. Workshop for children. Patronato de la Ciudad Colonial. 5:30 pm. Puppets in the park. Presentation of "La Casita de Doña Pulga," by the Teatro Capuchín. Patronato de la Ciudad Colonial and Adoti. Parque Colón. 7 pm. Opening of the exhibition of Dominican nativity scenes. Palacio Consistorial. 8 pm. Exhibition of nativity scenes (open through 7 January). Capilla de los Remedios.l 8:30 pm. Presentation of the Folklore Ballet of the Ministry of Tourism. Frank Usero, director. Parque Colón. Sunday, 5 December 9 am. Opening of the nativity scene by famous Dominican sculptor Antonio Prats Ventós at the Cathedral of Santo Domingo. It will remain open through 9 January. 7:30 pm. Presentation of "Sangre Mulata" directed by Virgilio López. Parque Colón. 8:30 pm. Christmas Concert. Municipal Choir, directed by Rafael Campos. Parque Colón. Monday, 6 December 5:30 pm. Christmas Sunsets. Concert by the Navy Music Band. Parque Colón. 8 pm. Banda 25 presentation sponsored by the Municipality of Santo Domingo. Parque Colón. 9 pm. Christmas Festival. Concert by Soprano Ivonne Haza. Palacio Consistorial. Tuesday, 7 December. 6 pm. Christmas Sunsets. La Salle School Choir, directed by Jose Cueli. Parque Colón. 8 pm. Xiomara Fortuna in Concert presented by the Municipality of Santo Domingo. Parque Colón. 9 pm. Concert for piano and violin. Olga Voigt and Zvedana de Tavar, Palacio Consistorial. 9 pm. Christmas caroling. Board of neighbors from San Lázaro. Singers leave from Parque Colón. Wednesday, 8 December 5:30 pm. Christmas Sunsets. Concert by the Music Band of the Army. 8 pm. Carlos Alfredo Fatule in Concert sponsored by the Municipality of Santo Domingo. Parque Colón. 8 pm. "Gloria a Dios", presentation of the choir of the Estudio Diná music school. Convent of Santo Domingo. Padre Billini corner Hostos street. 9 pm. Concert of the Marianela Sánchez children’s choir. Palacio Consistorial. 9 pm. Christmas caroling by the neighbors of Regina. Leaving from the Parque Colón.
