“It was a tremendous success,” said Taree Carols in the Park organiser, Amanda Tate from LJ Hooker Taree.
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“We ran out of sausages very early, which I fell really bad about. So I hope most people got fed!”
Amanda is still on a high after the carols took place in Fotheringham Park on Sunday, December 9.
She was expecting around 4000 people, at least 1000 less souls than actually did turn up on the night.
“It was huge. It was the biggest yet, and the park was full to the brim,” Amanda said.
She was bowled over by the quality of local talent, particularly the younger performers.
“Gee we’ve got some talented kids coming up,” she said, particularly citing Cassidy Donovan and Luca Saunders. Luca, and her father Andy Saunders, who emceed the evening, charmed the crowd “bouncing off each other”.
The stand out performance for Amanda, and many others, was Cassidy Donovan singing O Holy Night.
“That young girl is 13 years old and the voice on her is just…” Amanda was left wordless.
“She came off stage and she was exhausted emotionally. That’s how much she put into it.”
“But they were all so good,” Amanda said of the other performers.
Other entertainment included the PCYC Gymaroos, Kerrie Renee Dance Studio, Taree West Public School, Cundletown Public School, Zachary Fire Dancer, vocalists Katelyn Davidson, Chloe Hicks, Kalin Woods, Patrick Hayes, Samuel Stephens, Jess Yi, Stacey Evans, students of Stacey Lee’s Centre Stage, musical group Dynamic Divas, OneLife and cast members from Taree Arts Council’s Les Misérables.
The evening was capped off with spectacular fireworks from Ka-Boom Fireworks.
“They were massive – bigger than New Years here and in Forster,” Amanda said.
“They’re incredible, those guys. We’ve been dealing with them for a long time and they just know that it’s a really good event.”