Adelaide City Council investigates ways to support Carols by Candlelight in Elder Park
Adelaide City Council is doing its best to save the much-loved Carols by Candlelight event, voting unanimously to investigate funding support.
- Elder Park’s Carols by Candlelight could be extinguished
- Carols event seeks SA company to be naming rights sponsor
- Mitcham Council votes to reinstate its own Carols event
Adelaide City Council has thrown its support behind a much-loved Carols by Candlelight event that risks being extinguished unless it secures a naming rights sponsor.
The council voted unanimously to investigate ways it can help organisers reduce costs, which could include some funding, so the Elder Park event goes ahead.
Currently, organisers face a funding deficit of $350,000, which means the carols risk being cancelled unless a major sponsor is found by next month.
It comes as organiser Kay Lawrence, general manager of the Christmas Network, told The Advertiser she had some tentative inquiries about potential sponsors.
Deputy Lord Mayor Houssam Abiad, who was behind the push, said the council could help by waiving fees and post-event park remediation.
“Everything we can do to assist, that would be great … at least so they can carry through this year,” Cr Abiad said.
“It is a great event in the city, a lot of ratepayers attend it and people outside the city attend it as well.”
The Advertiser revealed the 75th edition of the event did not have a naming rights sponsor, which brings in $250,000.
The Adelaide Carols by Candlelight event – which attracts a 30,000-strong crowd – has been unticketed since 1944.
Insurer QBE ended a two-year naming rights sponsorship deal after last year’s event.
The State Government has a $98,000-a-year funding deal with the event, which runs until 2021.
With a new naming rights partner, organisers could “scramble” the rest from smaller donors.
Cr Robert Simms suggested the council look at whether it could offer a financial contribution.
“I would like to see if there is any flexibility within our Christmas budget to maybe increase our contribution,” Cr Simms said.
“Maybe there is an opportunity to put some money on the table to help, and ask the State Government if they can contribute a bit more money as well.”
The event, which raises money for charity Novita, is televised nationally.
Visitors are encouraged to make a folded-note donation, with money going towards Novita’s Christmas Appeal to help children with disabilities and their families.
Confessed “Christmas grinch” Cr Alex Hyde also supported the push.
“I loathe Christmas, but I do support this because tradition is important and it is bringing our community together,” Cr Hyde said.
“All I can say is thank god we didn’t go down the path of the City of Mitcham where even flirting with the idea of cutting Christmas they have all signed their political death warrants.”
Ms Lawrence said she was “really happy” with support.
“There seems a genuine desire to keep the event going, I even heard a Cr say ‘Christmas is saved’ after the motion was carried,” Ms Lawrence said.
“Any fee reduction they can offer will be enormously helpful as even with a new naming rights sponsor we will still have budget pressures.”
A report about ways to help is expected to be presented to council next month.