NEW ORLEANS -
Due to the threat of severe weather, the Royal Sonesta Hotel has re-scheduled their official holiday kick-off event on Dec. 3.
The Fourth Annual "Lighting of the Balconies" ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening, when the Xavier University Gospel Choir presents a special holiday concert staged street-side in front of the hotel's main entrance at 300 Bourbon Street. In traditional New Orleans' style, the Treme Brass Band will lead a Second Line Parade down Bourbon St. to the Royal Sonesta's main staging area.
Special guests joining the Second Line include members of the Official New Orleans Saints Cheerleading Team, the Saintsations and Saints' Mascot, Gumbo. For the kids, Santa will take a break from his busy schedule to take part in the festivities. Joining Santa will be a beloved new holiday character, the Royal Teddy Bear.
In the spirit of giving back, the Royal Sonesta Hotel has once again partnered with Children's Hospital in New Orleans. Two young patients from the hospital will experience the thrill of turning on the switch for thousands of holiday lights that will illuminate the hotel's massive wrought iron balconies.
On hand to assist the kids with this special task, will be #78 of the New Orleans Saints, offensive tackle, Jon Stinchcomb who will be accompanied by his lovely wife, Ali. Other members of the New Orleans Saints 'Dream Team' expected to participate in Thursday's Lighting Ceremony include #23 Pierre Thomas and #74 Jermon Bushrod. Celebrity Masters of Ceremony LeBron Joseph and Kelder Summers of Old School 106.7 will oversee the evening. This special event is free and open to the public.
Event Highlights and Photo Opportunities Include:
6:00 p.m. Xavier University Gospel Choir Performs. 6:30 p.m. 2nd Line Parade arrives at Royal Sonesta Hotel. 6:35 p.m. Royal Sonesta VP & GM, Alfred Groos delivers welcome. Introduces Children's Hospital VP, Brian Landry. 6:40 p.m. New Orleans Saints Jon Stinchcomb, Pierre Thomas and Jermon
Bushrod introduced to the crowd. 6:45 p.m. Children's Hospital Patients, Adam Linebarger, age 7 & Brennan
Carpenter, age 7, are presented. 6:50 p.m. C.H. Chaplain Allen Mitchell delivers invocation. 6:55 p.m. Lighting Countdown, Kids pull the switch to illuminate balconies. 7:00 p.m. Lighting ceremony concludes with photo opportunity of all lighting
participants.
The Fourth Annual "Lighting of the Balconies" ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday evening, when the Xavier University Gospel Choir presents a special holiday concert staged street-side in front of the hotel's main entrance at 300 Bourbon Street. In traditional New Orleans' style, the Treme Brass Band will lead a Second Line Parade down Bourbon St. to the Royal Sonesta's main staging area.
Special guests joining the Second Line include members of the Official New Orleans Saints Cheerleading Team, the Saintsations and Saints' Mascot, Gumbo. For the kids, Santa will take a break from his busy schedule to take part in the festivities. Joining Santa will be a beloved new holiday character, the Royal Teddy Bear.
In the spirit of giving back, the Royal Sonesta Hotel has once again partnered with Children's Hospital in New Orleans. Two young patients from the hospital will experience the thrill of turning on the switch for thousands of holiday lights that will illuminate the hotel's massive wrought iron balconies.
On hand to assist the kids with this special task, will be #78 of the New Orleans Saints, offensive tackle, Jon Stinchcomb who will be accompanied by his lovely wife, Ali. Other members of the New Orleans Saints 'Dream Team' expected to participate in Thursday's Lighting Ceremony include #23 Pierre Thomas and #74 Jermon Bushrod. Celebrity Masters of Ceremony LeBron Joseph and Kelder Summers of Old School 106.7 will oversee the evening. This special event is free and open to the public.
Event Highlights and Photo Opportunities Include:
6:00 p.m. Xavier University Gospel Choir Performs. 6:30 p.m. 2nd Line Parade arrives at Royal Sonesta Hotel. 6:35 p.m. Royal Sonesta VP & GM, Alfred Groos delivers welcome. Introduces Children's Hospital VP, Brian Landry. 6:40 p.m. New Orleans Saints Jon Stinchcomb, Pierre Thomas and Jermon
Bushrod introduced to the crowd. 6:45 p.m. Children's Hospital Patients, Adam Linebarger, age 7 & Brennan
Carpenter, age 7, are presented. 6:50 p.m. C.H. Chaplain Allen Mitchell delivers invocation. 6:55 p.m. Lighting Countdown, Kids pull the switch to illuminate balconies. 7:00 p.m. Lighting ceremony concludes with photo opportunity of all lighting
participants.
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