By Molly Taylor
THE traditional Blue Lake Carols will proceed this year but under a virtual format due to COVID-19.
Typically held outdoors at the Mount Gambier Railway Lands, performers will instead take to the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre stage with the event to be broadcast on December 13 from 7.30pm across Youtube and Facebook.
A staple on the region’s festive event calendar since first held at the Mount Gambier Showgrounds on a cold and wet Christmas Eve in 1947, it will be a major change for organisers, who have been prepared to adapt rather than cancel the much-loved community event.
The Blue Lake Carols typically attracts an audience upwards of 5000 people but organisers new concessions would be made when planning started in June due to coronavirus restrictions and health measures around large public gatherings.
As well as the on stage items, the broadcast will feature performances by the Mount Gambier City Band and the Mount Gambier Library Ukuleles.
The full list of performers include Simon Fisher and Danni Reade as emcees, Phoenix Choir, Alison Newman and Emma Anderson, Scott Maxwell, Fiona Unger, Gabriel Strachan, Jordanna Jones, Trish Thompson, Tamara Seeley, Ben Hood, Lilli Fulwood and Louise Adams.
