The Lacombe Rotary Christmas Carol Festival is returning this year.
The popular family holiday tradition is celebrating its 60th anniversary, a significant milestone in the community.
This year, the annual festival is set for Dec. 1st and Dec. 2nd at the Lacombe Memorial Centre (LMC), starting at 7 p.m. both nights.
Lacombe Rotary Member Shealagh MaClelland said the long-standing tradition in Lacombe is one of the ways the Rotary Club helps enhance the community’s Christmas spirit.
“It’s a tradition in Lacombe,” she said. “It’s really impressive the festival has been running for 60 years.”
Only four years after forming, the Lacombe Rotary Club began hosting the festival in 1955. It was created as a way to provide an opportunity for local music groups and choirs to perform for the public. At the time, all the churches in the area had choirs. Today, there are fewer church choirs and fewer school concerts, so the festival is a much welcomed holiday tradition.
MaClelland said seven local groups will perform each evening - some from churches, schools and even the local band.
The festival will include Christmas carols and holiday songs, with booklets for attendees to follow along with each song being sung and which group is performing. A brief sing-a-along will also be held each night for those who want to join in in the Christmas spirit.
“There will be just enough singing to get them in the mood,” said MaClelland.
Last year the festival was cancelled due to poor weather, so organizers are very happy it is rolling ahead this year.
The festival is still popular today with a great turnout each year, organizers said. Each showing is expected to be a full house so attendees are encouraged to arrive early to get a seat.
The Rotary Christmas Carol Festival will be held at the Lacombe Memorial Centre on Dec. 1st and 2nd starting 7 p.m. Admission is free but food bank items and/or monetary donations to the Lacombe Food Bank will be accepted to help meet the increased demands of the Christmas season.
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