Festive voices stilled
Denis Walter reluctantly pulls pin on carols
ONE of Geelong’s favourite events on the festive calendar has been cancelled.
The city’s annual Carols by the Bay will not go ahead this year, joining a long list of events that have been scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Event founder and manager Denis Walter said it was disappointing to have to make the call to not proceed
“I’ve postponed a decision for as long as could,” he said.
“I was hoping we were probably going to be a bit further advanced by now, but it’s just pretty well impossible.
“I just don’t feel it’s possible for people this year to come along and totally relax and get into the spirit.”
Walter said he was still looking at alternative options to run the event — including holding an online version of the carols — but remained
I possibly pessimistic. “I just feel the whole concept of a carols concert is people getting together outdoors and gathering as families and as a community,” he said.
“I don’t think you’re going to get the same vibe sitting around a laptop.”
It is only the second cancellation since the inaugural Carols by the Bay was held in 1997, with heavy rain forcing the cancellation of the 2017 edition.
The event, held on Geelong’s waterfront, typically attracts thousands of people enjoying Christmas carols and modern festive music.
Walter said he was already looking ahead to a “bigger and better” event next year.
“We’ve already got some ideas of what we’ll do,” he said.
“It will predominantly be local people on stage in 2021 and just celebrating all things Geelong.”