Carols by the Sea makes “bigger and better” return

CLOSE to 5,000 people turned out over the weekend to attend Carols by the Sea Torquay, with committee members describing it as “bigger and better than ever expected”.

Held on Saturday, the event marked the first of its nature at the Torquay Common in three years and the community were said to have huge smiles on their faces as they sang, cheered and celebrated with their friends and families.

 

 

Organised by four of the local Surf Coast churches and overseen by City on a Hill Surf Coast, the event hoped to tell the story of the first Christmas in a fun and inclusive setting for all.

 

 

City on a Hill Surf Coast’s Louis Glazebrook said the event was bigger and better than what they could have ever imagined.

 

“We were so thankful to see so many people who seemed to be enjoying the event, the event had such an amazing community atmosphere,” he said.

“Food vendors sold out, there was kids running around having a great time and it was just a thrill to have people come out and celebrate Christmas.”

 

 

Glazebrook said the attendance far exceeded organisers’ expectations, to the point that the committee optimistically printed 1,000 lyric cards for attendees but well and truly sold them out within 20 minutes.

“The Common was full, it would have been hard for us to fit anyone else in,” he said.

“We had a guy donate an $80,000 speaker system and volunteers were running speakers down the lines to try to pump the sound out to cater for the huge numbers.

“It was incredible.”

 

Glazebrook said the performances from Local Vocals, The Living Room Sunday School and the City on a Hill Surf Coast Church were terrific and the children’s nativity Christmas performances were a “whole lot of cute”.

 

“It was a great honour to give our community an opportunity to connect and enjoy some great company,” he said.

“A massive thanks to our volunteers and everyone who turned out to celebrate Christmas.”