East Gippsland Music has been left wondering where the year has gone, with the festive season arriving faster than expected. The organisation — which includes East Gippsland Brass, East Gippsland Music and the East Gippsland Gentlemen’s Choir — performs around 50 times a year between them, so it is little surprise that Christmas has come
around quickly.
Community Bank Paynesville and District will present the Paynesville Carols this Saturday at Gilsenan Reserve, starting at 7pm. East Gippsland Music has acknowledged the enormous support provided by Bendigo Bank Community Bank Paynesville, which enables the group to continue delivering generations of Christmas joy to the local community.
This year’s Paynesville event has been scaled back slightly, with only a small number of food vans attending. The Bairnsdale Authentic Woodfired Pizza van will be on site. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or picnic rug — and their singing voices — for a relaxed and enjoyable evening.
The Bairnsdale Carols will follow on Sunday, held next to the Abilities Playground and Skate Park, also commencing at 7pm. Community members are invited to bring a picnic blanket or chair and some snacks to enjoy the evening.
Organisers have also encouraged people to consider the environment when planning their outfits. Decorations such as tinsel can shed plastic fragments, contributing to
plastic pollution.
Both events promise to be fun-filled, family-friendly evenings, with opportunities to sing along to favourite Christmas carols. The combined ensembles and choir will see more than 60 local musicians on stage, joined by guest artists Gaylene Bruce, Tony Porter and Linda Davies, who will help lead the carols.
As a special highlight, East Gippsland Music has been assured that Santa Claus will be making an appearance at both the Paynesville and Bairnsdale events.
