Masterful Christmas cooking at Carols

SUNDAY, 19 December will be packed with Christmas cheer and song as Carols by Candlelight returns, welcoming tens of thousands to Mars Stadium.

The program also won’t be without festive food, as the city’s Toastie Tzar and former MasterChef contestant Tim Bone presents a masterclass on the main stage from 6pm, before the carollers perform at 7pm.

“I’m looking forward to getting up on stage and having lots of fun and banter with Jules Zass,” he said.

“I’ll be cooking a toastie recipe that people can use for Boxing Day. It will give families an idea about how to utilise all those leftovers from Christmas day in a toastie.

“I’ll have my Tim’s Toasties stall at the Carols throughout the day and night, so people will be able to buy Christmas-themed toasties, with options like turkey and cranberry, and Christmas ham.”

A SpringFest ambassador alongside Zass, Bone said he was heartbroken when the Rotary Club of Ballarat made the tough decision to cancel their 2021 Market Sunday fundraiser, and opt to run their online raffle for a second year.

But with the recent announcement that the SpringFest was partnering with the Carols committee to deliver a Christmas market in the afternoon lead-up to the show, Bone couldn’t be more pleased to be part of the combined festivities.

“To have it back in some way, and to have two iconic Ballarat events and institutions team up like this is all in the spirit of Christmas,” he said.

“Everyone’s looking to have some fun and spread some Christmas cheer after the last two years. It’s going to be a massive, unbelievable event for the city.”

Ballarat Carols by Candlelight will raise funds for the 3BA Christmas Appeal, while the SpringFest Market will boost its own community partners.