Skip to content

Ladysmith musicians will share the stage Dec. 21 for Celebration of Light

The Ladysmith Celebration of Light, a fundraiser for the Ladysmith Food Bank, will take place Fri., Dec. 21 at the Eagles Hall.

Last year’s Celebration of Light fundraising concert raised about $5,000 plus two car loads of food for the Ladysmith Food Bank.

And this year, Ladysmith Celtic rock band Skellig, who organize the event with a lot of help from the Rock Christian Fellowship, Starbucks, local volunteers, musicians and the Ladysmith Eagles, is hoping to raise just as much money.

“January can be a difficult time for them, and we want to make sure they have enough resources this year to see people through the winter months,” Skellig fiddle player Lisa Burness says in a press release.

Last year, the show was sold out, as it has been each year that it has taken place.

“Everyone agreed it was a night of festive fun and entertainment,” said Burness.

The Celebration of Light event returns to Ladysmith Eagles Hall on Fri., Dec. 21. Doors open at 6.30 p.m., and the festivities go from 7-10 p.m.

The program this year includes Ryan McMahon, Dylan Wickham and Steph Humphreys, Skellig, Erik Virtanen and Tasha Cyr, and Rev Up and the Deadbeat Deacons, a fantastic blues band from Victoria. A local brass band will also be playing carols at the door.

“It will be a lovely opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit, with a hot cup of Starbucks coffee, tea or hot chocolate with all the trimmings, some cookies, listening to some great music, as well as bringing some hope to those who may not feel so cheery by raising the much-needed funds to support our local food bank,” said Burness.

There are only 160 tickets available for the Celebration of Light at $7.50 each, plus a donation of food. The list of preferred items for the food bank includes peanut butter, canned meat, tinned chili/soup/stew, pasta sauce (in tins, not glass) and rice/pasta.

Tickets sold out very quickly last time, so Burness encourages people to get theirs early.

Tickets include all drinks and food, and they are available from the Ladysmith Community Health Centre and the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association. You can also reserve tickets by calling 250-734-1766 or e-mailing lisa.burness@hotmail.com.

“Please come prepared to bring extra cash donations to fill the jars, which will be on all the tables,” added Burness.

Burness says people who are unable to attend the event itself but would like to donate anyway can call 250-734-1766 to arrange to send a cheque, or they can drop off cheques or cash donations to the Rock Christian Fellowship, which meets Sundays from 6 p.m. onwards at the Ladysmith Eagles Hall. Tax receipts are available from the Ladysmith Food Bank for donations over $50.





Secondary Title