A night full of carols cheers the city

THE triumphant return of Ballarat Carols by Candlelight had young and old in song, and in the Christmas spirit on Sunday evening, just six sleeps out from the big day.

Approximately 10,000 residents rolled out their picnic rugs, unfolded their camping chairs and sat down to enjoy a classic list of traditional and contemporary carols on the Mars Stadium ground, hosted by radio personalities Aimee Craig and Gavin McGrath.

Local performers included headliners Sarah Landy and Jason Wasley, the casts of Ballarat Grammar’s Matilda the Musical and Ballarat Lyric Theatre’s We Will Rock You, SoundCheck Studios and Ballarat Centre for Music and the Arts students, Twilight Gypsi, The Drum Line and many more.

Even Santa Claus came to Carols, with Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer guiding him onto the stage.

Singing alongside her partner, musical theatre star Landy was “honoured” to be part of the night of quality music.

“I’m such a Christmas person. It’s a magical time, and I love, love, love carols,” she said.

“Everyone involved in Carols by Candlelight were volunteers, and there was such a high standard of performances.

“It was so special and exciting to have my two-and-a-half-year-old son see me perform for the first time on stage.”

‘Carols Crew’ volunteer and orchestra violinist Tom Corcoran got to enjoy the show from a different angle to most, performing all night from the back half of the stage, and watching the joyful faces of children in the crowd.

“I loved being part of the team bringing the Christmas cheer to everybody, and being a part of the Ballarat arts community,” he said.

After these COVID times, Carols has been a real highlight of the year.”

The evening was not only a space for song, but a chance to generate some funds for the 3BA Christmas Appeal, with donation wells at the Stadium’s entry points.

But Carols’ presenting partner Harcourts Ballarat almost stole the show, when director Peter Ludbrook made an extra special donation of $16,363 to the Appeal live on stage at the end of the evening.

“On behalf of Harcourts and everybody here tonight that’s helped to raise funds, this is a little bit of a boost to the Appeal,” Mr Ludbrook said.

“Hopefully this will help to ensure that there’s nobody in Ballarat that misses out this year.”

3BA general manager John Fitzgibbon received the cheque and said the “generosity of Ballarat knows no bounds.”

“Ballarat has really stepped up and helped us out. We think we can fulfill our goal of making sure that everybody that wants to celebrate Christmas this year gets to celebrate Christmas,” he said.

“Thank you to the organisers of the Carols, all the performers, the orchestra, and everybody out in the crowd that’s donated.”