By Danielle Kutchel
Christmas carol events across Casey will look a little different this year thanks to the global pandemic.
In Hampton Park, where carols organisers had been looking forward to celebrating their 20th year with a bang, the event will now be streamed online on Friday 18 December from 7.30pm.
Organisers and pastors of Aspire Church, Graham and Julie Shand said running the carols online had presented some unique logistical challenges.
Some segments will be pre-recorded but many will happen live on the night.
Cranbourne Lion’s Club Band, Sophie’s Dance School and representatives from local schools will perform along with special guest artist Ricky Muscat from The Voice 2020. Former Casey councillor Wayne Smith will co-MC the night.
“The decision-making process we went through was that the community needs to celebrate Christmas,” Julie said.”We just want it to be that spark of light in our community to bring joy in these tough times.”
Viewers will be able to go to facebook.com/carolsonline, the Hampton Park Carols By Candelight page. The event will be streamed live there and on YouTube on the Aspire Church channel. Viewers will be able to interact and comment while the show is played.
“We want to in many ways mirror what we were doing when we were on the oval [last year],” Graham said.
A “wow moment” grand finale will surprise and delight at the end of the night, he added.
Julie added that the organisers wanted to create a sense of community after a difficult year for all.
“We’re encouraging people to watch it together, to make it a personal experience in their homes and turn it into a get-together,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Gethsemane Church has announced that its annual Clyde Carols By Candlelight will also go ahead as a television special.
On Saturday 19 December, guests from Norway to Nashville will appear as part of the event, which will screen on Channel 31. There will also be a live stream on the Gethsemane website, from 6.30-7.30pm.
Santa will also make a special appearance on a fire truck during the event.
Gethsemane Church’s annual Christmas Miracle will be incorporated into the event and will provide extra special festive cheer to children from the community.
Pastor Kerrigan La-Brooy encouraged anyone who knows someone who is doing it tough to get in touch with the church about providing them with a Christmas gift.
Holly De Krestser, pandemic response manager at the City of Casey, said the council was aware that many carols events had gone virtual this year and encouraged organisers of onsite events to adhere to the Department of Health and Human Services’ public events framework to ensure they meet safety obligations.
The Berwick and Cranbourne Carols by Candlelight events will not be going ahead this year.
