This weekend, Christmas took over the streets of San Miguelito, La Chorrera, and David in Panama, where thousands of people came out to enjoy simultaneous Christmas parades. The events, marked by floats, musical bands, school delegations, and a large security deployment, also caused road closures and traffic congestion.
In the district of San Miguelito, the parade began in the Moya sector, Pan de Azúcar, in front of Los Andes No. 1. It traveled approximately one kilometer along the Trans-Isthmian road to the Los Andes Mall shopping center. The road was closed to vehicular traffic, with detours before the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), so authorities recommended using alternate routes for those heading towards the interior of the country. "Everything is focused on guaranteeing security so that the event proceeds peacefully," said Díaz, the Director of Culture and Sports for the Municipality of San Miguelito, who assured that the rest of the district also maintained police coverage.
In La Chorrera, Panama West, the Christmas parade was scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. on the Avenue of the Americas, although at that time the first delegations were still forming near the MOP. According to the organizers, 52 delegations would parade down the avenue from the MOP to Libertador Park. The event caused heavy traffic congestion, especially towards San Isidro and Panama North, as only two lanes were open towards the city center. Authorities recommended that drivers use the Northern Corridor or the Southern Corridor as alternate routes.
In David, Chiriquí, the Christmas parade took place in the district of David, starting in the Parque de las Madres area. According to authorities, 82 delegations participated in the parade, which was expected to conclude after 9:00 or 11:00 p.m. The parade route proceeded along Central Avenue, continued along F Sur, and ended near the Inter-American Highway. According to the organizers, 45 groups confirmed their participation, a significant change from previous years when the parade was held only on the district’s internal streets. Throughout the parade route, a large number of modified vehicles were seen, as well as the participation of school groups and marching bands.
From early morning, hundreds of people, including children and adults, lined the route, some in costumes, with chairs, and with their families, taking advantage of the pleasant weather for the festive day.
