Light Up For Carols By Candlelight Carols Song Book Starts Page 35

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday December 20, 2003

By KILMENY ADIE

GOT your candles, torches and loved ones ready? Wollongong's Carols by Candlelight is on tonight.

After months of planning, auditions and rehearsals the 2003 McDonald's Carols by Candlelight Christmas Spectacular is ready to begin.

More than 200 Illawarra performers and special guests will take to the specially constructed stage in Lang Park for the event, which is expected to attract more than 10,000 people.

Event producer Michael Cassel, from MC Productions, said that for the past two days a crew had been hard at work setting up the stage, sound and lighting equipment in time for tonight's event.

``It's just such a nice day today and everyone has got their fingers crossed for tomorrow," he said yesterday.

``The tip is to come with the Christmas spirit, Santa hats, bring candles, practise their rendition of Joy to the World and get ready for a good night.

``If there's bad weather we will still put on the show the best we can."

The free two-hour event will feature special guest artists Amity Dry, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and Stephen Fisher-King as well as a host of singers, dancers, musicians and soloists from the Illawarra.

The family carnival at Lang Park kicks off from 4pm, as does pre-show entertainment, while the carols start at 8pm. The show concludes at 10.30pm after a fireworks display.

From 3.30pm until 10.30pm the corner of Marine Dr and Harbour St and the corner of Crown and Harbour streets will be closed.

Get all the lyrics to your favourite Christmas carols in a special lift-out beginning on page 35 in today's Mercury.