Carols to echo through Geelong on Sunday

CHRISTMAS is barely a week away and carols across Geelong are in full swing, from local church choirs to professional entertainers, the region is at a festive high.

Pastor of Geelong West Presbyterian Church Luke McSeveny will lead proceedings on Pakington Street from 5pm this Sunday, December 18 as people get to sing along to their favourite traditional carols.

Mr McSeveny said the free event, located at his church on 105-107 Pakington Street, was open to everyone from across Geelong, headlined by a local band and choir, a free sausage sizzle before the carols start, and free battery-operated candles for all children.

“This will be the first time we hold our carols in our new church following the burning down of our old one, so the community is extremely excited.

“Without a permanent home, we’ve had to hold our carols at Ashby Primary, the year coming out of COVID-19 we were in West Park, and now it’s finally coming back to the church.

“We see it as a great opportunity to build the carols up here on Pakington Street so it can become something residents look forward to each year.”

Pastor McSeveny has called Geelong West Presbyterian Church home for 17 years but assumed pastoral duties almost five years ago.

Ever since, he has looked forward to the church’s carols each year and looks forward to seeing as many people as possible, sometimes in the hundreds.

“It’s a time of the year that brings together all of our members to serve one another, to serve the city and to bring together all of our gifts, whether musically or vocally, we’re really pleased to host this event once again.”

Further in towards Geelong’s Central Business District, carols will also be sung as Piano Bar Geelong prepares to host its sold-out Carols by Candelabra and Christmas Queens show.

Piano Bar owner Andy Pobjoy said the period from mid-December to New Year’s Eve was extremely busy for his business but provides an excellent opportunity for members of his team based in Ballarat, Bendigo, and Colac to come together.

The Candelabra show will be full of Christmas favourites with all the “kitsch, sparkle, and camp fabulosity”.

Special guests include Shandelle Cooke, Dani Fry, Luke Tonkin, Nat Atkinson, Kara Ciezki and top-tier queens Lynnduh and Max Drag Queen.

“Our Candelabra event is the classic cocktail of all the things we do at Piano Bar,” Mr Pobjoy said.

“We’re a bit tongue-in-cheek with the songs we choose, it’s got the drag element, the entertainment element, the cabaret element, it’s just everything we love doing at Piano Bar mixed into one big Christmas cocktail.

“It’s an exciting time to be around, everyone is heading to their work break up parties and just getting through another year.”