#MarianasSTRONG Year-end Celebration & Yutu 5K Fun Run

IT&E, DFS Saipan, and Coca-Cola & Foremost/Quench have joined the list of sponsors bringing the #MarianasSTRONG Year-end Celebration and Yutu 5K Holiday Fun Run to The Marianas on Dec. 29.

The event will be held at Paseo de Marianas in Garapan, Saipan, from 5-10 p.m., and is jointly organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority (MVA), PDM Promoters, Japanese Society of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Japan Northern Marianas Descent Association. As part of the fundraising for Super Typhoon Yutu relief, a raffle will be held for a Samsung Note 9 donated by IT&E. Raffle tickets will be $5.

Entertainment for the night will include the annual Mochitsuki Festival, featuring the Japanese traditional pounding of rice in preparation for the new year at 5:30 p.m., Marianas Ukulele at 6:30 p.m., Saipan Music & Dance Studio at 7 p.m., a magic show with Neil Fama at 7:30 p.m., Studio 29:11 at 8 p.m., Alana Ia at 8:30 p.m., Man Antigu at 9 p.m., and SuSan Band at 9:30 p.m.

The #MarianasSTRONG Year-end Celebration is intended to mark the resiliency and recovery of The Marianas following Super Typhoon Yutu in October 2018. Activities will include food and drink sales, games, free mochi-tasting, free bouncy house for children, one free round of yoyo play, one free Saipan-da bag per child, and one free Saipan-da pencil per child, while supplies last. Coupons for games were distributed to local schools, and a limited number of additional coupons will be distributed at the MVA information booth, while supplies last. #MarianasSTRONG t-shirts and a raffle ticket for the Samsung Note 9 will be given away for each donation of $15 or more, while supplies last.

The Yutu 5K Holiday Fun Run will be held at 5 p.m. from the pedestrian mall flag pole south along Beach Rd. to the Cabrera Center and back. The first 100 registrants will receive a holiday hat, and the first 100 finishers will receive a Yutu 5K Holiday Fun Run t-shirt. A special prize will be awarded for the best holiday costume. Registration opens at 4 p.m. Registration for the race is a $1 minimum donation, but larger donations are welcomed.

All donations will be given to Karidat Social Services and other relief organizations. Donations of canned goods, clothing, and other items are also welcomed.

For more information, visit The Marianas Calendar at www.mymarianas.com or contact the MVA Community Projects Divisions at communityprojects@mymarianas.com or 1.670.664.3210.