Carols in the Park has been a well-established tradition in the Parkes community for a long time, and this year it is getting a makeover!
The popular event will still have all the hallmarks of Carols in the Park as you know and love it, but it was time to step outside the box and bring an increasingly engaging, entertaining and inclusive event to the community.
This Sunday, Carols in the Park will have a big screen with song words and video content, free souvenir programs and an extended event. The most exciting addition is the two-hour preshow from 4:30pm called Carols in the Arvo featuring local musical acts performing Christmas songs in their own style.
Four unique and eclectic acts will be performing including the Doug Richards Trio jazz band, the Lachlan Regional Orchestra and gospel-soul singer Belinda Boland. In addition, alt-country singer songwriter Raechel Whitchurch will be joining the preshow stage from 6pm.
Raechel and her husband, Ben, will be performing favourite Christmas songs in their signature chilled-out Americana style. “Parkes is an incredibly special place to me,” said Raechel. It is my husband’s hometown, it is where my family and I settled after years of travelling Australia, and it is where I feel most at home. Ben and I feel so lucky to have been asked to come home and perform some songs at this year’s event!”
Carols in the Park will begin at 4:30pm for the Carols in the Arvo preshow, Parkes Shire Concert Band will perform from 6:30pm and the Community Carols will start at 7:30pm. BBQ food, snow cones, barista coffee and baked goods will be on sale until 7:30pm.
Parkes Carols in the Park is sponsored by BDN Kitchens & Joinery and presented in partnership with Parkes Shire Council.
By Emma Brown