Beachside Carols Strike A Chord

By Dan Hutton on November 27, 2012 in News

It’s time to warm up the vocal chords for another season of festive frivolity. Regardless of your religious persuasion, Christmas in Australia is a time for friends and family to get together and share in the joys of food, booze, good times and, of course, carols.

Even if the lyrics mean very little to you and you think the whole occasion is a load of codswallop, there is something strangely cathartic about opening your mouth and tearing a tune from somewhere deep within your diaphragm, so you’d be silly not to get into the spirit of things.

Both Waverley and Randwick Councils will be hosting big carols events in the lead up to Christmas this December.

Waverley’s event, known as Carols by the Sea, will be held in Bondi Park and will take place from 6-8.30pm on Wednesday, December 5. There’ll be children’s entertainment from 6pm-7pm followed by great Christmas tunes and, as you’d expect, lots of carol singing. Organisers ask that attendees bring a rug or cushion to sit on, a donation of cash or non-perishable food items for local charity Norman Andrews House and, of course, your best singing voices and Christmas spirit.

Meanwhile, Coogee Carols, hosted by Randwick City Council will be held at Goldstein Reserve on the foreshore at Coogee Beach on Sunday, December 16 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Now in its eleventh year, this free twilight concert is hugely popular with thousands of people turning out each year to let their larynxes run loose to the lingering melodies of Jingle Bells and Good King Wenceslas.

Locally based celebrities and performers will be on hand to perform both contemporary and traditional carols before the beautiful backdrop of Coogee Beach, all supported by an incredibly talented twelve-piece band.

At the time of print the details of this year’s entertainment line-up were yet to be released but previous presenters and performers have included the likes Amanda Keller, Tony Cogin, Dr Chris Brown, Katie Nejaim, Brendan Moar, Sophie Katinis, Simon Pryce, Martin Crewes and many others. More importantly, the most famous man in the world, Santa Claus, will be making an eagerly awaited appearance.

For more information about Carols by the Sea call the Bondi Pavilion on 8362 3400. To find out more about Coogee Carols call 9399 0999, email events@randwick.nsw.gov.au or visit www.coogeecarols.com.au.