Organizers of the Miss St Mark Noel Pageant have said the event will not be hosted this year but will be replaced by a ‘Family Fun Day’ and a ‘Christmas Talent Show’ on December 26th (Boxing Day).
Last year Allison George from Soufriere won the Miss St. Mark Noel Pageant which was held at Scotts Head.
Leader of the Scotts Head Young Generations Youth Group, the group that normally organizes the show, Malissa Jno Lewis told Dominica News Online that the pageant is off this year since Tropical Storm Erika, which wrecked havoc on the country on August 27, had some impact on the organization.
“Instead of the Miss Noel we had last year, we changed it to a talent show,” she said. “Due to Tropical Storm Erika we could not host the show since everything was pushed back. So in order to get the girls, we needed their time and their time is now on their studies.”
Jno Lewis mentioned that securing sponsorship for the event has also been a challenge.
She noted the Family Fun Day will be held from 4:00 pm on the Scotts Head Basketball Court and will include face painting for children, bouncy castles, among other activities while the talent show will begin at 7:00 pm.
She called on residents of St Mark and St Luke to participate in the event by showing off their talent.
“We are looking for singers, dancers, poets, and models,” she noted. “For the talent show eight groups and five individuals models from the community of St Mark and St Luke have already signed up.”
She also called for a zero tolerance for crime and violence during the festive season, “because everyone should able to enjoy a peaceful Christmas.”
Tickets for the event cost $2.50 for teens, $5.00 for adults while children enter (the Family Fun Day Activity) free of charge.A C Shillingford, local government, Youth Development Division, Parishioners of St Luke, Jeff Bellot and Parliamentary Representative for the Soufriere constituency, Ian Pinard are already on board to assist the organizers
Please, please, please…I beg, can we stop sexualizing our young children? We see the effects of it already – just listen to the news on sexual assaults. Please let’s focus on rebuilding this country!
This arrangement should be fun and even better yet.
You are in the Parish of St. Mark, if it is possible, a small group could dress up as the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Child Jesus – Yes – The Baby Jesus! 
Since it will be still the Christmas Season, some of those who sing should plan to sing one or two favorite Christmas songs.
The thought crossed my mind, just a suggestion.
If done properly, this should add some holy zest to your talent show. Know that blessings and graces will abound from no other than God the Father and God the Son.
I have a joke in a book of jokes about a student group and their teachers who planned a Christmas Pageant. It went well. The end was funny. Worth a good laugh. I plan to email it to those on my email address list. I may have done so some time ago but people forget. This will refresh their memory.
A Blessed Christmas to all of you. Holy and Happy planning of your talent show.
Halleluyah
Mary’s Boy Child
Long time ago in Bethlehem, so the Holy Bible said,
Mary’s boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
Hark, now hear the angels sing, a King was born today,
And man will live for evermore, because of Christmas Day.
Mary’s boy child Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day.
Worth celebrating and rejoicing. Thanks be to God.