Hosted this year by the Presbyterian Church, more than 200 people turned out the Athenium Theatre for the 6pm carols on Sunday. 

Originally organised as an outdoor event, the singers were hampered by undesirable weather.

“We had to change it and move to the theatre because it was absolutely blowing a gale in the morning,” said combined churches organiser Cheryl Carter.

“It’s always nice outside, I love it when we can get the carols outdoors but it was still very good inside too.”

Afforded by the new location, carolers were able to take in an almost surrounded experience.

“We were filling up the seats on the ground floor quickly, and still people were going through,” said Mrs Carter.

“So we had to open up the top as well. It was really good to be able to look up and see them all there. 

“It was also good for those who were up there to be able to look down below where it was almost full too.”

This year’s crowd was a marked increase on the previous, which saw about 100 fill out the St Joseph’s Catholic Church hall.

“Everyone really got into it, which was good to see,” said Mrs Carter.

“The schools were really great, and a lot [of the crowd] were singing along with them.

“I love all [carols] but I really love Do You Hear What I Hear, which Junee Public did. I think I was singing it all night long.”

For the first time this year, Mrs Carter’s five-year-old granddaughter performed a carol with her school, Eurongilly Public.

“She asked me which one was my favourite, and I told her. She said she just loved Wish You A Merry Christmas.”

As always the particular highlight came through the town band and choir leading the crowd through the traditional songs of the season.

“It’s so good to be able to come together as a town, with all our churches and our band and choir singing these great songs.”