1 December 2004 Press Release Joburg festive season celebrations JOHANNESBURG is to be lit up like never before as part of its festive season celebrations. A slice of history will be written in lights on Wednesday the night of the 1st December 2004 at 17h30. The City has set aside R3.2 million for the festive celebration, which includes lighting the Oxford Road in Rosebank, the Old Potchefstroom road Mary Fitzgerald Square and the Thokoza Park in Soweto. The programme also includes a series of Carol by Candlelights at various parks throughout the city. For the first time ever the world famous township of Soweto will twinkle to the glow of Christmas lights as part of the 10 years of freedom and democracy celebrations. There was a time when Soweto's 896 995 people had to catch a bus, taxi or even a train if they wanted to see the Christmas lights in centre of town and other suburbs. This year will all be different. Searchlights will scan the skyline over Thokoza Park where starburst lights will shimmer beneath the stars. On what promises to be a night to remember more than ten thousand people are expected to sway to the sounds of some of the country's top performers including Malaika, Gloria Bosman, Amajika, the St Phillip Roman Catholic Church Children's Choir and Jennifer Ferguson. Safe parking and security will be abundant at this FREE event, and everyone is invited to celebrate another chapter in our nation's history books. On Wednesday night Soweto will light up with an enormous 11 metre Christmas tree, and colour will fill Old Potch Road. The lights will stay in Soweto where they will be used every year. Johannesburg City Park, the city's parks and cemetery utility, is working towards making this festive season special to residents of Joburg by inviting everyone to attend a series of Carol by Candle lights at city's beautiful facilities. Detailed Programme of the events (Entrance is free): I still do not have information about the Mary Fitzgerald Square events. Contacts: Nthatisi Modingoane 082 467 9228 Tel: 407 7354 E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za Media Liaison, Communications Dept, City of Johannesburg. Information Nation: informationnation@webmail.co.za Chris Bishop: 083 617 6082, Neil Ferguson: 082 856 3233 Nthatisi Modingoane Media Liaison Officer CITY OF JOHANNESBURG Tel: (011) 407 7354 Fax: 403 3494 Cell: 082 467 9228 E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za