Carols craziness on the coast

THE colourful and musically adventurous Jan Juc-based Bonnie Upwelling Choir will be performing on December 20 at 6pm at the Bob Pettit Reserve.

Many locals have enjoyed the sumptuous musical performance of the choir in previous years.

This is a one-off opportunity to enjoy not-so-traditional Christmas carolling, augmented this year by the vocal charms of The Bonnie Bambini choir and the Surf Coast Old Time Street Orchestra (SCOTSO), in an hour of musical enjoyment at no cost for the local community.

Bonnie Upwelling Choir’s musical director Lucy O’Grady said she loved the annual event and had seen the crowd grow every year.

“Each year the Bob Pettit audience has grown in scarily exponential ways, and last year their feedback was that they’d like us to stay a little longer and give the Jan Juc community more of a reason to stay and picnic with each other.

“My favourite thing about being the musical director is getting to envision a Christmas gathering that’s all about the spirit of community, beautiful music and Christmas.

“I had a beautiful musical experience of Christmas when I was living in Norway, and it’s such a joy to share my Australian version of that with my local community.”

Locals can launch into Christmas by immersing in themselves in a joyous performance of carol singing by costumed performers, who simply wish to share the joy of the festive season.

Anyone wishing to attend the performance is encouraged to bring picnic rugs. The Bob Pettit Reserve is located at 89 Sunset Strip, Jan Juc.

Those looking for a Christmas fix before Wednesday’s performance, should attend the Carols by the Sea this Saturday night. It will feature local artists Jessica Sherman, Amy Leposa and Noah Gray, together with local school and singing groups.

The Torquay Lions Club will be running a sausage sizzle, with candles and Santa hats for sale throughout the night, with children’s entertainer Willow Star also providing entertainment throughout the event. Carols by the Sea will be held at The Elephant Walk, The Esplanade in Torquay on Saturday, December 16 at 7.30pm, with pre-entertainment from 6.45pm.

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