A large crowd is set to converge for an annual Christmas carols event that is expected to be better than ever.
More than 3000 people attended the Buderim Community Carols last year and a big turn-out is expected once again.
This year’s event is presented by the Buderim War Memorial Community Association (BWMCA), with the support of the Community Bank Buderim Bendigo Bank. It will be held on Sunday, December 8, from 5.30pm, at Buderim Village Park in Church Street, Buderim.
The BWMCA Carols Committee said it had been planning the event for months and it should be the best edition yet.
Organiser Andrew Butterworth said people from around the region were welcome.
“This year’s entertainment is once again directed by local entertainment professional Riley Cope, and we are delighted that Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli will join us again as MC,” he said.
“We hope the Buderim community will join in on the spirit of peace and goodwill as we head into Christmas, and we would love to invite families from communities throughout the Coast to join us.
“So, bring your chairs or picnic rugs and come and celebrate together.”
Food and refreshments available for purchase will include a sausage sizzle from the Buderim Scout Group, hamburgers from the Buderim Rotary Club and hot dogs from the Buderim Lions Club, as well as fairy floss from the Buderim Foundation. These volunteer organisations will raise funds for their local charities.
Entry to the carols will be by gold-coin donation. Safe-flame candles and other fun products will also be available for purchase, with funds raised going to the BWMCA to help fund the event.
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Mr Cope said this year’s program would feature performers from Buderim Youth Theatre, Musical Theatre Holiday Intensive and Cope Creative.
“There will also be plenty of opportunities for the community to join in and sing together,” he said.
New Community Bank Buderim Bendigo Bank branch manager James Gibson said the carols would be a great way to welcome in the festive season.
“This will be my first Buderim Community Carols but definitely not the first for our bank,” he said.
“We are so fortunate to have such a talented line-up of performers.
“It will be a very special event and one which the bank again is very proud to support.”
Cr Natoli was looking forward to sharing the event with the people of Buderim.
“I simply adore Christmas and carols in particular,” she said.
“It’s not often we can come together as a community to celebrate something as pure, universal and heartfelt as the joy of sharing time with family and friends at this time of year.
“I love singing and candlelight so to be able to combine them for an evening is simply heaven for me.”
Like last year, in addition to printed programs there will be electronic programs available via QR code so attendees can get carol lyrics on their phone or mobile device.
They can access the QR code from the BWMCA Facebook page – posted a couple of days prior to the carols – or ask one of the volunteers at the event.
Parking close to the Buderim Village Park is available at the Buderim Mountain State School, Main Street, Buderim and will be operated by Buderim Lions, with $2 donation on entry.
To keep up to date with weather conditions in the lead-up to the event, stay tuned to 104.9 Sunshine FM and the BWMCA Facebook page.
In the event of severe weather, the show will go on in the Buderim War Memorial Hall next to the park. Numbers attending will be limited to the hall capacity.
The event will be made possible through the generous support of event partners including major sponsor Community Bank Buderim Bendigo Bank and proudly supported by the Sunshine Coast Council’s grants program, Hopkins Manttan Solicitors, the Rotary Club of Buderim, Reflected Image PRoductions, Cope Creative, JPG Print and Design, Fenwicks Fruit Emporium and 104.9 Sunshine FM.