IT will be another silent night at Swan Hill’s Riverside Park in the week leading to Christmas, with Carols by Candlelight cancelled for the second year in a row.
Carols by Candlelight committee member Jacqui Price said said the committee met last month and voted to cancel the festive family tradition.
“Unfortunately, as a committee, we had to make the call last month about carols and decided not to go ahead this year,” she said.
“As we are all volunteers, the requirements to run carols was very extensive.”
“To try to adhere to all the guidelines was going to be too much for us financially and also manpower.
“So disappointed for our community, and hope to be back in action next year.”
The event attracted more than 1000 people in 2019, when it was last held before the COVID pandemic.
Local schools, musical bands and choirs took to the sound shell to perform countless classic and contemporary carols.
Ms Price has been involved with the Carols by Candlelight committee for about 15 years and said the event had been running for well over 20 years.
“In the current format, we run it as a completely free community event with a barbecue, face painting, jumping castle and the carols,” she said.
Last year the committee decided to stage a Carols on the Street event, with two carols played via the radio station to encourage people to gather outside their homes and spread the spirit and sing together.
The lyrics to Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas were printed in The Guardian.
