On December 18, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. The magic of 375 Father Frosts will light up the New Year tree in Vitebsk, BELTA was informed by the Vitebsk City Executive Committee. The festive New Year procession will take place in the regional centre on December 21. The participants of the mass theatrical performance will include 375 pairs of Father Frosts and Snow Maidens, musicians of the Father Frosts' Brass Band, the orchestra of the School of Arts No. 2 and the "Pervomaysky" Cultural and Business Centre, and about 700 Christmas characters – Bears, Gypsies, Goats. Bikers-Father Frosts, fire show groups, rickshaws with torches, and characters from popular fairy tales and cartoons will also compete for the attention of adult spectators and numerous children. The procession will be accompanied by decorated car platforms and cars in a New Year theme. Its final destination is Victory Square, where the main New Year tree of the region is located, adorned in its festive attire. Only one thing is missing – the bright lights of multi-coloured garlands, which all those gathered will help to light up by taking part in the city-wide campaign "Let's Light Up the Tree Together". The colourful event will continue with a grand festive concert featuring the best ensembles of the "Vitebsk" Cultural Centre, a fire show, a festive fireworks display, round dances around the tree, as well as splendid photo sessions with fairy-tale characters, which will help preserve the memories of this wonderful holiday. The Vitebsk City Executive Committee is the organiser of the event. The pre-New Year days will also be filled with other pleasant festive events in the city. Thus, within the framework of the republican charity campaign "Our Children", holidays are planned for orphans, children left without parental care, and those in foster families and orphanages. Christmas events will be organised in the microdistricts of the regional centre. All cultural institutions of the regional centre invite people to attend the performances. Those wishing to participate in Christmas games and sports festivals are welcome at the Park named after the Soviet Army and the "Golden Ring of the City of Vitebsk 'Dvina'" Cultural and Historical Complex. -0-

BELTA