Welcome to the jingle
Carols night brings cheer to the needy
LAUREN McKew has happy memories of dancing to live Christmas carols under the tropical sun as a child.
The Cairns “born and bred” local reminisced yesterday as she joined her mother Kathy Guymer and two young daughters at Fogarty Park for the annual Carols by Candlelight concert.
“We come every year. It’s good to get out with the family,” she said.
“I used to go when I was a kid. It’s a great occasion.”
Her daughters Laylah, 4, and Haidyn, six months, were among the thousands of Far North children to bring festive spirit to the Cairns CBD.
After a heavy downpour at last year’s event, the crowds returned in force yesterday, with countless families arriving early in a bid to snare a prime position.
The 2017 Carols by Candlelight featured more than 350 performers from across the region.
Cairns Regional Council’s senior event officer, Raine Davies, said a total crowd of about 10,000 was anticipated.
“If you live in Cairns, then chances are you’ll know someone who is dancing or singing on stage,” she said. “It marks the start of Christmas.”
When asked about how much planning had gone into the event, Ms Davies said she had “started listening to Christmas carols in August”.
All funds raised from yesterday’s concert will be put towards the Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Appeal, which aims to provide food hampers for about 700 local families.
Cairns actor Peter James was one of many locals to volunteer at the event, dressing up as one of Santa’s helpers.
“It’s just a lot of fun ... making the kids laugh,” he said.