It’s the season to be jolly, and what other way can you do that other than listening to a few dozen Christmas carols?
No, not the store stuff you hear through crackly overhead speakers; we’re talking about live carolers, the folks who come to your door with enticing vocals, good humour and uplifting spirits.
Sooke isn’t a stranger to carolers, but the tradition has fallen a bit behind with the times, which is why Marion Schols and her group – Sooke Christmas Carolers – are planning to bring back the Christmas song.
“We decided that it would be fun to do some Christmas carols for a change, so we picked the most talented singers in Sooke, put a little group together and we’ll be performing all over the place,” she said.
The carols are performed in four-part harmony, Schols said. “We’ve got about 20 to 30 traditional Christmas carols, so it’s pretty cool.”
Schols, along with seven other members: Tom Southwood, Rhys and Tara Pugh, Derek Lewers, Melissa Curtis and Stephane Cote, plan to perform at two upcoming gigs at the Sooke Harbour House on Dec. 11 and 18, from 5 to 7 p.m.
It’s not just an amateurish production, either. Each member has lent their vocals to numerous other shows around Sooke, including Sooke Cabaret, Sooke Community Choir and Sooke Harbour Players.
One of the things on Schols’ bucket list is for the group to perform at Butchart Gardens in Central Saanich.
“We’re not there yet though,” she laughed.
People can make requests too, through the Sooke Christmas Carolers Facebook page.
If things go well, Schols hopes the group will continue to do more shows after the Christmas season, such as Phantom of the Opera or a similar classic.