Around Town
Mexican Christmas celebration today
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
The Fourth Annual "Posada — A Christmas Mexican Celebration" will be held from 5 p.m. today at Thomas Square.
The opening procession includes children depicting the nativity scene and singers and mariachi performers serenading into the courtyard of the Honolulu Academy of Arts. At the academy, the celebration continues with music by Mariachi Amigos de Hawai'i and Ballet Folklorico Mexicano Quetzal.
Pi–atas for children and adults, plus traditional Mexican refreshments, will be available.
Tickets: $8 for adults, $3 for children 6 through 12, free for keiki younger than 6.
Information: 941-5216.
Pianists present yuletide ensemble
"Christmas in Ensemble," at 7:30 p.m. today and tomorrow at Orvis Auditorium, University of Hawai'i-Manoa, will feature duets, trios, quartets and more in a showcase of holiday music.
Performers — 64 in all — will be from the Ernest Chang Piano Studio. Four moms, four alumni and three narrators also will participate.
The event will spotlight traditional and contemporary yuletide selections, as well as Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite" with story narration.
The moms will perform a special two-piano arrangement of "Pat-a-Pan" by Gayla Traylor, a former Chang student. The narrator today will be Stuart Chafetz, conductor of the Maui Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Tomorrow's will be Major Jeremy Harris and his wife, Ramona.
The Honolulu Chinatown Lions is presenting the shows. Tickets: $6 for adults, $3 for students and senior citizens. Information: 536-0218.
Celebrity ringers to help kettle drive
A host of celebrity bell-ringers will make an appearance between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. today and again Saturday at Victoria Ward Entertainment Center to help raise money for the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army's Red Kettle drive, a century-old holiday tradition, helps underprivileged families by providing basic needs throughout the year.
More than 150 kettles are posted at stores statewide. The schedule:
Today:
• 3 to 5 p.m.: Jeffrey Apaka and Friends, with Jake Shimabukuro, Jesus Salud, Moe Keale, Bobby Modero, Del Beazley, Frank B. Shaner, Olana and Howard Ai and 'Ohana, Cobey Black, Bruce Black, Palani Vaughan, Kimo Kahoano, Mihana Aluli Souza, Maile Meyer, the Gleemen Plus, Mona Teves, Randy Smith, Linda Lingle, Varoa Tiki, Steve Townsend, Debra Canada and Chris Washington.
Saturday:
• 3 to 4 p.m.: Wally Amos, and Dave Lancaster of KAIM-AM.
• 4 to 5 p.m.: Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and Trini Kaopuiki of KHON-TV.
• 5 to 6 p.m.: Kim Gennaula and Guy Hagi of KGMB-TV.
