Hanna Park Carols cancelled – organisers ‘heart-broken’ but Carols in the Backyard is on

The Hawkesbury’s iconic Hanna Park Carols which attracts as many as 6000 people just before Christmas to North Richmond’s Hanna Park has had to be cancelled because of Covid restrictions, but organisers want you to keep singing with Carols in the Backyard.

“We tried to make it happen,” Linnah Hahn, Missions and Community Ministry Leader at Hawkesbury Valley Baptist Church who have previously organised the event, told the Post.

“We are heartbroken we can’t do it this year,” said Ms Hahn. “We tried, but with Covid restrictions the most we could have had is 500 and even that number would have been hard to police. We figured we couldn’t safely hold the event given Covid.”

Instead the organisers are putting their weight behind Carols in the Backyard which will see a major online offering from 7pm on Sunday December 20, and everyone is invited to join in.

“We want people to invite up to 20 of their family, friends and neighbours and have a carols event in their own back yard,” said Ms Hahn.

Ms Hahn says the Backyard carols idea is also ideal for inviting those who live near you and who don’t have family and friends around them at Christmas.

“Look out for people who are alone at Christmas and extend an invitation, maybe they are widows, single people on their own, bachelors, senior citizens. Let’s reach out to our community and have them come to your backyard and celebrate Christmas together.

“This year has been a trying time. We need to experience hope. We need each other, we need to embrace community.”

More details on how to join Carols in the Backyard coming soon…