OVG inaugurates Christmas in the Square this Friday.
The Christmas show organized by the Goiás Volunteer Organization (OVG) will open this Friday, the 6th, at 19:30 PM in Praça Cívica, Goiânia, with the presence of Santa Claus; a major novelty of this year's festivities comes from Europe and is an international nativity scene by the Italian sculptor Francesco Artese, which was exhibited in St. Peter's Square, in the Vatican, at Christmas 2012.
Goiás247 - The Goiás Volunteer Organization (OVG) Christmas Show will open this Friday, the 6th, at 19:30 pm, at Praça Cívica, in Goiânia, with the presence of Santa Claus. The Christmas celebrations program includes several attractions for the public, among them the traditional Christmas cantata with the Pequenas Vozes Choir, from the Basileu França Professional Arts Education Center, which has been in existence for 12 years, and presentations by students from the Veiga Valle Art School.
130 children and teenagers will be positioned on the marquee of the Palácio das Esmeraldas for the performance of the cantata, whose repertoire will include regional, folk, MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) and other styles of music. The conductor will be Maestro Miro Rodrigues. Another attraction of the opening show of the OVG project will be the performance of the classic The Nutcracker. It is a repertoire ballet piece, animated with a story represented through a series of choreographies. With general direction by Simone Malta, it is produced by the dancers of the Corpo de Baile and Balé do Teatro Escola Basileu França, with the participation of the Goiás Youth Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Elizeu Ferreira.
The Vatican Nativity scene is the big attraction this year.
The big news for this year's Christmas festivities in Civic Square comes from Europe and promises to attract public attention. It is the international nativity scene by Italian sculptor Francesco Artese, which was exhibited in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City, at Christmas 2012. Loaned by the Holy See to the Government of Goiás, the nativity scene was visited by more than 2 million people, including Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, during last year's Christmas celebrations.
The nativity scene, donated to the Pope by the Basilicata region in southern Italy, features about one hundred terracotta figures dressed in local clothing, all hand-drawn and sculpted to illustrate the birth of Jesus Christ against the backdrop of the stones of Matera, in the province of Basilicata.
Lighting
The Christmas decorations will extend throughout the perimeter of Civic Square, with LED lighting installed in the square's trees. Thousands of micro-lights scattered throughout the public buildings will create a festive and cheerful atmosphere, and the area will also feature a children's playground, dances, circus clown performances, stilt walkers, and other entertainment for children, all free of charge.
The tent, one of the project's focal points, will this year cover 4,2 square meters, double the size of last year's structure. Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy various themed settings, such as Santa's Village, nativity scenes with figures illustrating the birth of Jesus Christ, a food court, and other attractions prepared especially for children. “The goal is to cater to the whole family. Those who come on the first day won't be satisfied. I'm sure families will leave enchanted by what they see. That's why our expected attendance is higher. I have no doubt that this year's Christmas will be the best and most beautiful, compared to all previous editions,” comments the general coordinator of OVG, Afrêni Gonçalves. The tent will be open until December 25th, from 19 pm to 23 pm. Admission is free.
Toys
In 2013, the Christmas festivities will reach their peak on December 22nd, also at Praça Cívica, starting at 8:00 AM. A big concert will be held featuring the singer Luan Santana. Children will receive toys and snacks upon arrival.
Throughout the month of December, OVG and the State Government will distribute 1 million toys to children in all 246 municipalities of Goiás, as a way to celebrate and reinforce the spirit of Christmas. The institution's general coordinator explains that, to facilitate the arrival of children living in peripheral areas, a partnership has been established with Setransp, which will provide more than 200 public transport buses for the transportation – round trip – of the children to the Square.
"In the interior of the state, the distribution of toys will take place between December 16th and 21st. 'Governor Marconi Perillo and First Lady Valéria are committed to this project because many children spend Christmas without toys, and many families cannot participate in the end-of-year celebrations because they lack the financial means. The governor is keen to prepare this grand celebration, especially so that humble people can celebrate Christmas,' concludes Afrêni."