Rotary Christmas Carol Festival continues tradition

Nearly 80 years ago, a group of Regina residents thought the city needed more Christmas spirit.

Nowadays, citizens still can enjoy the fruits of that group’s labours. The 79th annual Rotary Christmas Carol Festival is on at Knox-Metropolitan United Church.

Its final two performances for 2019 are set for Wednesday and Thursday, starting each night at 7 p.m.

Mitch Zaba of the Regina Rotary Club says the festival was created to get people in the mood for the season, but also to raise funds for some of the city’s charities.

“People were really in need at that time, so it spun off as a fundraiser,” Zaba said during Wednesday’s Greg Morgan Morning Show. “At that time, they raised $450, which 79 years ago was a good chunk of change.”

The charitable nature of the festival has continued. This year, funds raised during the event are destined for the Access Communication Children’s Fund, the Salvation Army and the Regina Rotary Club Community Fund.

“We’re already at $10,000 (after performances Monday and Tuesday); that includes our sponsorships,” Zaba said. “We aim to raise about $15,000 a year.”

Donations can be made by attending a performance at the church, by calling in a pledge to the Rotary Charity line during a performance, or by clicking here.

School and adult choirs from Regina and the surrounding area are regular performers during the festival, but there also are a couple of solo artists on this year’s roster. Amy Nelson is to perform Wednesday, with J.J. Voss to be part of Thursday’s show.

“We have a list (of choirs) that we go back to every year, but we’re always looking for new choirs to participate in the event,” Zaba said. “It’s a good way to showcase their talent as it is streamed live on Access Channel 7.”

Zaba said anyone interested in being part of the 2020 festival can leave their name on the festival’s website. For many of the 60 or so choirs who already participate, being on the festival lineup is a given at Christmastime.

“I was talking to a conductor the other day and they’ve been coming for 25 years straight,” Zaba said. “Her husband also has (done) some performances and he has been for 30, 35 years.

“We’ve had a lot of support from the community on that and, for a lot of people, it’s tradition.”