In 1975 Wodonga Brass founded Wodonga Carols by Candlelight
Now, nearly 50 years later, Wodonga Carols is our community’s biggest annual event and our celebration of all things Christmas.
The beginnings
Wodonga Brass initiated Albury Wodonga’s first public Carols by Candlelight in 1975.
The Band has organised Wodonga's Carols ever since and has overseen the event's development from an initial crowd of 400 in Woodland Grove, performed on the back of a truck at Martin Park, to an event at Willow Park that regularly attracts crowds in excess of 7,500.
Commitment to community
Wodonga Carols by Candlelight has survived extreme weather and the COVID-19 pandemic across its half a century. Between bushfires and electrical storms, Wodonga Brass work hard to ensure the show goes on for our community.
Pictured is the 2020 Wodonga Carols, held indoors at The Cube, with no crowd because of COVID pandemic restrictions.
City of Wodonga support
Whilst Wodonga Carols by Candlelight is a Wodonga Brass event, it would not occur without ongoing and significant support from the City of Wodonga and their staff.
Wodonga Carols also relies heavily on generous sponsorship from local businesses to make the event come together.
Albury Wodonga Health Partnership
Albury Wodonga Health is a big part of Wodonga Carols. All funds raised from Candle sales - traditional and electronic - support Albury Wodonga Health.
In recent years, funds raised have been directed to the Palliative Care Unit, improving the comfort of their patients and visiting families.
Wodonga Carols Choir
Choirs have always been part of Wodonga Carols by Candlelight, but in 2019, a dedicated Wodonga Carols Choir was formed.
Singers are drawn from various musical performance groups, church choirs, and community choirs across the North East and Border region.
Accessibility & AUSLAN Interpreter
The Wodonga Carols team wants to ensure our whole community can share in the Christmas spirit!
Every year we make Wodonga Carols more inclusive, now with a dedicated viewing area for wheelchairs with access via concrete paths, and the addition of AUSLAN sign language interpreters. This is truly an event for the whole community.
Generous volunteers
Wodonga Carols is a 100% volunteer run event.
The event could not occur without the over 100 volunteer performers on stage, plus support from organisations such as Wodonga Brass, SES, and St Johns, just to name a few. In all, over 40 organisations contribute in some way to deliver our Wodonga tradition.
Behind the scenes, Wodonga Carols is led by incredibly dedicated volunteers, such as, Lindsay Hanchett (20+ years of service), Jacob Mildren (10+ years of service - pictured), Fenella O’Sullivan (10+ years of service), Caitlin Clarke (20+ years of service).