It’s only a few weeks until the Buderim Community Carols will once again herald the beginning of the Christmas session.

This year’s event presented by the Buderim War Memorial Community Association (BWMCA), with the support of the Community Bank Buderim Bendigo Bank, will be on Sunday, 8^th December, from 5.30pm, at the Buderim Village Park, Church Street, Buderim and the BWMCA Carols Committee has been working for months, planning the event, which will be the best yet.

BWMCA Carols organiser Andrew Butterworth said last year’s event attracted over 3,000 people, with families coming from across the Coast to celebrate together.

“This year’s entertainment is once again directed by local entertainment professional Riley Cope, and we are delighted that Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli joining us again as MC.

Riley Cope said this year’s program would feature performers from Buderim Youth Theatre, Musical Theatre Holiday Intensive and Cope Creative.

“There will also be plenty of opportunities for the community to join in and sing together,” he said.

Mr Butterworth said more community organisations were also getting involved to offer a wide range of food for sale so families could really make a night of it, enjoying dinner or some treats while enjoying the Carols.

Food and refreshments available for purchase will include a sausage sizzle from the Buderim Scout Group, hamburgers from the Buderim Rotary Club and hot dogs from the Buderim Lions Club as well as fairy floss from the Buderim Foundation. These volunteer organisations will be raising funds for their local charities. Entry to Carols is by gold coin donation, and safeflame candles and other fun products will also be available for purchase, with funds raised going to the BWMCA to help fund the event.

“We hope the Buderim community will join in on the spirit of peace and goodwill as we head into Christmas, and we would love to invite families from communities throughout the Coast to join us,” Mr Butterworth said.

“So bring your chairs or picnic rugs and come and celebrate together.”

The new Community Bank Buderim Bendigo Bank branch manager James Gibson said the Carols would once again be a great way to welcome in the festive season and come together as a community.

“This will be my first Buderim Community Carols, but definitely not the first for our bank. We are so fortunate to have such a talented line-up of performers. It will be a very special event and one which the Bank again is very proud to support,” Mr Gibson said.

Mayor Rosanna Natoli said she was looking forward to sharing the event with the people of Buderim.

“I simply adore Christmas and carols in particular. It’s not often we can come together as a community to celebrate something as pure, universal and heartfelt as the joy of sharing time with family and friends at this time of year.

“I love singing and candlelight – so to be able to combine them for an evening is simply heaven for me!”, Mayor Natoli said.

The event is made possible through the generous support of event partners including major sponsor Community Bank Buderim Bendigo Bank and proudly supported by the Sunshine Coast Council’s grants program, Hopkins Manttan Solicitors, the Rotary Club of Buderim, Reflected Image PRoductions, Cope Creative, JPG Print and Design, Fenwicks Fruit Emporium, and 104.9 Sunshine FM.

Like last year, in addition to printed programs, there will also be electronic programs available via QR code so you can get Carol lyrics on your phone or mobile device. Grab the QR code from the BWMCA Facebook page – it will be posted a couple of days prior to Carols or ask one of the volunteers at the event.

Parking close to the Buderim Village Park is available at the Buderim Mountain State School, Main Street, Buderim and will be operated by Buderim Lions. $2 donation on entry.To keep up to date with weather conditions in the lead-up to the event, stay tuned to 104.9 Sunshine FM and the BWMCA Facebook page – www.facebook.com/buderimwarmemorialcommunityassociation. In the event of severe weather, the show will go on in the Buderim War Memorial Hall next to the park. Numbers attending will be limited to the hall capacity.