SCREAMS filled the air as Dora, Diego and a few of their friends converged on the Kensington Oval last Sunday evening to spread some Christmas cheer.
To the delight of waiting children and parents who filled the expansive Greenidge and Haynes Stand, Dora made her appearance just after 6:15 p.m. along with the other characters during the float parade that made its way through the Oval.
The several hundred children in attendance, along with their parents, sang the theme songs as their favourite Nickelodeon characters made their way along the parade and screaming and cheering children took every opportunity to meet and greet the characters on parade. Many children cried when they did not get a chance to shake hands with their favourite characters including Dora, Diego, SpongeBob Squarepants, Winnie The Pooh, Tigger, Elmo, and the Backyardigans.
The lighted float parade was scheduled to begin at 5:30 but did not get underway until 6:15. It featured four floats designed by Gwyneth Squires.
The first float was of the Gingerbread House with Hansel and Gretel and the Gingerbread Boy followed by Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage, the CocaCola float with the Three Wise Men in tow. The Candy Cane Kids in their red and white stripes and baby-doll hairstyles did their dance routine filled with gymnastic moves.
The final float featured Santa Claus and Mrs Claus and their elves, who made a trip from the North Pole to spread Christmas cheer.
The show went on for an unexpectedly long time and many patrons left before the main act came to the stage. The featured show, a 90-minute production with Dora and Friends In A Christmas Cheer, did not get underway until 8 p.m. and finished just after 9 p.m. By the time Dora came onstage, many patrons had left and some were heard complaining that the show took too long, given the fact that children had to go to school the following day.
Nevertheless, the show was well put together and the children had a blast. Dora and Friends went about spreading their Christmas Cheer in a well-choreographed skit featuring Dora, Diego, Swiper, Boots and Foofa.
Entertainment was provided by the Roland Edwards Primary school choir, the Mosaic Steel Orchestra, who did a 20-minute set, and calypso artistes Statement, the Hypa Kids and Mikey.
The group DMZ of the Ellerslie School and CMFederation, a dance group from Combermere School, also graced the stage.
