Carols in Elder Park, Strikers clash to go ahead despite storm warnings
The miserable weather is not going to dampen the festive spirit for these families as Adelaide’s biggest Christmas carols event braves the wet.
SA News
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SA may have copped its average Christmas rainfall in a single day but that hasn’t stopped the festive spirit for keen Christmas carolers.
About thirty people were already camped out for a prime spot at Saturday’s SeaLink Christmas Carols at Elder Park, even as the rain kept coming into the afternoon.
Paul Leverington said Carols by Candlelight is a Christmas event his family never misses out on.
“We come every year,” Mr Leverington said. “Every year we always see super early and get the spot.”
Mr Leverington - who came with his partner Tammy, 36, and three kids Jayden, 11, Nikole, 18, and Dalataya,13- said the rain did not stop the family fun.
“We always coming but the last two years has been like this,” Mr Leverington said.
“Usually it’s the other way, usually it’s hot”.
The state’s biggest annual Christmas concert,will proceed from 8pm, organisers say, with up to 25,000 people tipped to attend.
An event spokeswoman said they will continue assessing the weather conditions and notify the public of any changes to the program.
It comes after the Bureau of Meteorology issued flood warnings for some areas across the state, with rain predicted to bucket down on Adelaide for the next several days.
Meanwhile, thousands of properties across the state were left without power on Friday night.
The Adelaide Strikers’ home clash against Brisbane Heat will also go ahead at Adelaide Oval, with the first ball set for at 6.45pm.
A high of 17C was forecast for the city today, with rainfall between 10mm to 35mm.
The Adelaide Hills was expected to experience similar conditions, with a low pressure trough a cause for concern.
Warnings have been issued for Mount Lofty Ranges, Eyre Peninsula and the Mid North, with Saturday’s thunderstorms and showers predicted to result in floods on Sunday.
SES acting chief officer Liz Connell said emergency services were bracing for an onslaught as heavy rains began to batter the state.
Falls of between 30mm to 50mm are expected in the Mt Lofty Ranges region and falls of 40mm to 80mm around the Eyre Peninsula.
Ms Connell warned there was a high chance of flooding in a number of northern catchments, with initial flood warnings in place for the Mt Lofty Ranges, Mid North and Eyre Peninsula regions.
The extreme weather forecast has seen weekend events across the state being cancelled. A total of 29 events scheduled between Friday to Sunday have been cancelled and six events have been postponed.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF CANCELLED EVENTS BELOW
Among those include Salisbury Council’s Community Christmas Carols event, scheduled for Saturday evening, and Mitcham Council’s carols concert, also planned for Saturday.
On Thursday, Burnside Council canned its carols night after an extreme weather warning from authorities.
Whyalla City Council rescheduled their ‘Christmas on the Ave’ event to Wednesday December 20 from 6pm.
Amanda Martin and teenage son Lachy, from Highgate, know they’re lucky to be able to attend tonight’s Carols by Candlelight in Elder Park.
Lachy, 15, who has type 1 diabetes, collapsed suddenly in March while on his way home.
A St John Ambulance volunteer happened to walk by and came to Lachy’s aid, before ambulance crews took over and helped revive him.
“St John’s volunteers are amazing, they do tireless, thankless work,” said a relieved Ms Martin.
Saturday’s Carols event will raise vital funds for St John Ambulance.
Events cancelled
Friday, December 8
• Carols in the Park, Burnside, Friday
• St Nicholas Comes to Hahndorf
• Christmas Market at Hahndorf – postponed December 15
• Clare Christmas Pageant, Friday night
• Two Wells Twinkling Trail
• Christmas Outdoor Movie Night at Pt Pirie
Saturday, December 9
• Salisbury Community Christmas Carols
• Christmas in Prospect Street Party
• Gawler Community Christmas Carols
• Mitcham’s Carols at Kingswood Oval
• Dockside Festival, Port Adelaide
• Freeling Christmas Street Party
• St Clair Carols – postponed to December 23
• Tailem Bend Christmas Parade – postponed to December 23
• Whyalla Christmas Pageant
• Come and Try Stand Up Paddle Boarding at Port Noarlunga
• South Australian 500cc and Gilman 250cc Solo Championships – postponed to December 16
• Murray Bridge Sprint Meeting
• Murray Bridge Triathlon (day 1)
• Norwood Movie Nights at the Pool – postponed to January 27
• Victor Harbor Christmas Pageant
• Victor Harbor Artisan Market
• National Solo Championship at Gillman Speedway – postponed to December 28
• Barmera Pageant & Fireworks Spectacular
• Marion Outdoor Pool Movie Night
• Little Athletics SA Interclub Region 1 Carnival
• Hot Rod & Classics Picnic at Balhannah
• Rotary Christmas Fun For Kids Day at West Lakes
• Pt Broughton Christmas Festival
• Whyalla Steel City Drag Club Race
• Murray Bridge Speedway Christmas Cup
• All Adelaide Turf Cricket Association men’s, women’s and junior fixtures
Sunday, December 10
• Dawn vigil for victims of gender based violence, Port Noarlunga jetty
• Southern Community Christmas Carols
• Murray Bridge Triathlon (day 2)
• Rotary Club Carols at the Rotunda at Unley
• All Adelaide Turf Cricket Association men’s, women’s and junior fixtures
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