The 18th annual Voorheesville Community Christmas Festival will be presented Sunday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Voorheesville.
Organizer Ken George said about 30 to 40 people will be singing Christmas carols and secular music in a community choir made up of volunteers.
These are people who like to sing, George said.
He said the biggest event of the night is the Hallelujah chorus, when the choir invites people from the audience to come up and sing with them
`We try to make it non-church related. There is no collection, but only good singing,` George said.
Dianne Luci of Voorheesville has been singing in the choir for the past 35 years and has also taken part in Christmas choirs in Schenectady.
`The festival is adding music to the Christmas spirit and sharing this music with other people,` she said.
Belinda Gould, the First United Methodist Church’s pastor’s wife, said the event has been going on for many years.
`It’s fun to be a part of it,` Gould said. `Traditional music brings the season into a special frame of mind.`
`The festival brings joy and the anticipation of Christmas day,` Barbara Munderville of Slingerlands said.
Munderville, who has been singing in the church choir since 1998, said Christmas is the most important time of year for her.
`It makes me feel good and focused on the season where it belongs — in my heart,` she said.
Traditional songs such as `O Come All Ye Faithful` and `Silent Night` will be sung at the festival.
`We hope all members of the community will come to celebrate Christmas,` George said. “
