Annual Holiday Caroling Outreach
Each December, the Govenaires Performing Arts Association brings holiday music and joy to assisted living and long-term care facilities in and around St. Peter, MN. This annual tradition is almost 40 years in the making, typically occurring on a Saturday in mid-December. The ensemble that performs these carols is composed of brass players, singers, and hand-held percussion. This group performs a wide range of holiday music, offered generously for and along with residents. This outreach activity provides a heartwarming opportunity for the community of Govenaires performers to connect with and perform for our greater community.
This outreach has its origins in the 1980’s when the Govenaires regularly performed holiday music as part of “The Big Turn On.” The city of St. Peter used to sponsor this event where, on the day after Thanksgiving, holiday lights strung all over businesses on Minnesota Avenue were simultaneously illuminated, with the Govies providing live music. When this town festival ceased operation, the Govenaires shifted to performing their carols in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Decades later, this annual outreach activity is still a tradition for the organization, even having survived the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic: in 2020 the corps produced videos of the Govenaires playing and singing holiday music in lieu of in-person carols.
This event is open to singer-performer-participants from beyond and within the Govenaires. You could but don’t need to play an instrument! Our singers sing traditional carols with no choral orchestration. Anyone can join us for “Caroling 2023!” Saturday, December 9th, 1-6:30pm.
