WEYBURN – The Christmas season in Weyburn for many residents starts with the Carol Festival, which will be hosted by the Weyburn Rotary Club on Sunday, Dec. 4, at Grace United Church.
There will be two performances, one at 2 p.m. and then at 7 p.m., with several community groups and choirs taking part and sharing the music of Christmas.
“It’s really exciting that we’re back to two performances, and they’re going to be really interesting. We have a lot of children back singing this year, which is really nice,” said Heather Sidloski, organizer of the festival with the Weyburn Rotary Club, formerly with the Quota Club.
“This is a great way to kick off the Christmas season in Weyburn.”
She noted there are two special performers who will appear this year, with Lexi Mainil at the afternoon performance, and Kelly Gill at the evening performance, both accompanying themselves on guitar.
The afternoon will also include groups from Wheatland Community Church, the Zion Lutheran worship group, St. Vincent de Paul’s junior choir, as well as Legacy Park’s Grade 4 choir, and the Grace United Church’s Chancel Choir.
In the evening, Jean Fahlman will read the Christmas story, and groups include the Spirit Singers and Spirit of Grace, both directed by Kendra Gonczy; and from the Weyburn Comprehensive School there will be performances by the RISE Choir, and the WCS Senior Choir, directed by Holly Butz, along with the Variations community choir, directed by Colleen Weimer.
The Weyburn Rotary Club will sing at both the afternoon and evening performances, and both times will finish in the traditional way, with the singing of “Silent Night” by everyone present.
“We will keep a number of traditions, as we will be ending with Silent Night at both performances, and we’ll have community singing at the start, which will carry on from Quota,” said Sidloski. “I encourage people to come early to get a good seat, listen to the prelude, and the concerts will start at 2 and at 7 p.m.”
There is no admission price for the Carol Festival, but a silver collection will be taken at the door.
Sidloski noted this will be a special occasion as the Rotary Club will be hosting the event for the first time, after the Weyburn Quota Club organized and hosted it for the first 68 years. The Quota Club disbanded last year, and will be making a special presentation to Rotary at the afternoon performance.
“Having Rotary carry on this amazing tradition is so wonderful. I would urge people to donate generously, because Rotary does a lot of good work in the community,” she said.
After the pandemic forced the festival to be virtual two years ago, and only one performance last year, organizers are excited to have two full performances again this year.
“People are really embracing live music again, which is lovely,” said Sidloski.
