A strong showing of patrons braved intermittent showers on Thursday night to flood Emancipation Park as Scotiabank hosted its annual Christmas in the Park concert.

A family event, scores of parents accompanied their children as they soaked up the Christmas cheer dished out by each guest performer who delivered renditions of notable Christmas carols and popular songs.

Produced by international recording artiste Tessanne Chin, the night included two sets of performances from her Voice Box Performing Arts Ensemble. In their first round of performances, the group, decked out in their customary all-white ensembles, delivered a spirited remix of the traditional carol,
O Come All Ye Faithful. Their sharp vocals paired with some smooth choreography were a hit with the audience, who did not hold back on the applause in approval. The Voice Box kids returned later on in the show to dish out a rendition of O Happy Day.

Central High School also served up Christmas cheer with a lively medley of songs. Patrons were not only treated to vibrant performances through songs, but the night also included traditional Chinese and Indian dances as well as drumming from Ardenne Preparatory Lightning Drummers. With drums fixed firmly between their legs, the group which included a lone female drummer had the audience moving to their every beat.

The evening closed with a praise and worship segment delivered by the multi-talented Dwight Richards. Confessing that he had prepared a medley of love songs to entertain the crowd, Richards said he shifted to gospel last minute as he believed it was only fitting to showcase a spirit of gratitude having made it to the end of another year. He served up a slew of traditional gospel favourites, among them Just Like a Magnet, Real Real, I’ve Got My Mind Made Up and Some Sweet Day. He had the entire Emancipation Park singing along to every song in the kind of chorus only replicated in church.

Aside from the performances, patrons were treated to refreshments from partners such as Caribbean Dreams, Grace Kennedy, Cal’s, CPJ, Honey Bun, Kande’s Delight, and Wisynco, with additional offerings from Di Naturals Bulk and Packaging Limited. There were also several giveaways and a huge cash donation of $12.5 million made out to Project Star from the Scotiabank Jamaica Foundation.

Project Star is the social transformation and renewal programme initiated by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica in partnership with the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

President and CEO of Scotiabank Jamaica Audrey Tugwell-Henry (centre) is joined by Perrin Gayle (left), Scotia’s acting head of retail banking, in presenting Kalando Wilmoth of Project Star with a cheque representing Scotia’s donation of $12.5 million towards its social intervention initiative at the annual Christmas in the Park musical experience at Emancipation Park on Thursday. (Garfield Robinson)

Dwight Richards (left) entertains the crowd at Scotiabank’s Christmas in the Park at Emancipation Park on Thursday. (Garfield Robinson)