Calgary carol festival 2025

November 29, 30, and December 01

Calgary Carol Festival – 47 years and going strong!

In 1978, Frank McKitrick, Knox United Church’s Director of Music, and Knox United Church introduced the first annual Christmas Carol Festival, inviting a wide variety of choirs from the City of Calgary to perform over three evenings.  The Downtown Rotary Club initially sponsored the event for the first three years. CBC Radio continued the sponsorship by recording the choirs’ performances and re-broadcasting their music during the holiday season. 

In 2009, the event was renamed the Calgary Carol Festival to emphasize the broader community celebration of the event.  Each year over thirty choirs from diverse backgrounds, ages and parts of the city come together to share in song and celebration.  Knox United Church is honoured to host this beloved community celebration and kick-off to the holiday season. We are pleased to partner with the Calgary Food Bank with all proceeds benefitting Calgary’s food insecure population.  Last year, over 1200 people attended this 3-day event, over 2700 lbs of food was collected and over $11,000 was given to the Food Bank. Since 1997, this event has helped raise nearly two hundred thousand dollars in food and funds!

Once again, all choirs in the City of Calgary will be invited to participate in the event. 

Calling all Calgary Choirs

With the festive season right around the corner, start prepping those pipes and practice hitting those high notes as the Knox CarolFest is quickly approaching. Once again proceeds from the festival will help the Calgary Foodbank.

Admission to the CarolFest is free with money and non-perishable donations accepted at the door. There are no fees for choirs to perform in the CarolFest and your participation is regarded as a donation itself to the cause and the Calgary community.

Please use the following REGISTRATION FORM. When completing the form, please keep in mind the following items:

• MUSICAL SELECTIONS:
10 minutes (entry, performance, applause, and exit) total with 2 selections to be approximately no longer than 7 minutes.

• SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Microphones, room, and chairs for additional instruments etc., Please make note on the form.

• FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE CONSIDERATION:
Because each evening’s program is tentatively planned to feature only 12 choirs per night, choirs will be accommodated on a first come, first serve basis, i.e. choirs may not necessarily get their preferred date and time of performance.

• AVAILABLE NIGHTS TO PERFORM:

If possible, check off at least two nights that your choir is available to perform. This will assist in trying to accommodate the other choirs' schedules.

Forms must be received by October 22nd via email: knoxcarolfest2025@gmail.com. Please include your contact information for us to confirm that we have received your registration form. Please be sure to type clearly and make sure all information is accurate. Please include pronunciation of directors, accompanists, music titles and composers to assist our MCs for the evenings.

Thank you again for your interest and we look forward to both seeing and hearing your choir. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

2025 Knox Carol Fest - Holiday Night Market

Celebrate the season with our Holiday Night Market during the Knox Carol Fest! Knox’s Annual Carol Fest brings over 30 choirs from diverse backgrounds, ages and parts of the city together to share in song and celebration. While enjoying the music each night, we are inviting attendees to also explore a rotating selection of local artisans offering handmade gifts: beadwork, jewelry, Indigenous art, soaps, toys, candles, pet treats, and more—perfect for friends, family, or yourself.

We want to invite you to be a part of this three-day event by purchasing a table at our first simultaneous Holiday Night Market.

This year, we are inviting artists and vendors to sell food and goods during the Carol Fest.  Over the three evenings, more than 1500 people will be on-site at Knox and you will have the opportunity to sell and be visible to this diverse audience.  For this inaugural year, we will have a limited number of tables available at $100/night. To reserve your space, please fill out a vendor application form.  Please don’t hesitate because tables at this event will sell out.  

Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact Sue Forsyth at office@kxcalgary.com.  Thank you for your consideration in supporting the Knox Carol Fest. 

Vendor Information

Dates:   November 29, November 30, December 1, 2025

Location: Knox United Church, 506 4th St SW, Calgary, Labyrinth Room

Hours:

  • Setup: 1:00–4:30 pm

  • Market open: 5:30–9:30 pm

Vendor Cost: $100/night for 1 table + 2 chairs

What We're Looking For:
Vendors offering handmade goods in a festive, diverse, and inclusive spirit. We welcome Indigenous artists, 2SLGBTQIA+ artisans, newcomers, and community members.

How to Register for a Table:
Complete the vendor application form.  Applications open June 15. 

Logistics:

  • Parking at Barclay Parkade (6th Ave) across the street from Knox

  • Easy loading access via 4th Street entrance and elevator

  • Tables will be labelled with vendor names in the Labyrinth Room

  • Bring a tablecloth and battery-powered lights if needed

  • Knox volunteers ("Santa Choristers") will assist with setup and take-down

Important Notes:

  • Vendors manage their own sales and pricing

  • Knox takes no commission

  • Market closes at 9:30 pm; teardown follows immediately

  • Security is present, but vendors are responsible for their goods and earnings

  • No tables shall be left unattended for the market

  • A locked room will be provided to secure your personal possessions if desired

  • The event is covered by Knox’s general event insurance but vendors are responsible for their own goods. 

  • Marketing & Promotion:  The market will be promoted through Knox’s programs, website, social media, choir networks, and more. Vendors are encouraged to promote the event as well.

Knox Carol Fest 2025 Sponsorship Opportunities


$150 – HOPE OF THE SEASON CIRCLE MEMBER

  • Name listed in program

$500 – GOODWILL TO ALL CIRCLE MEMBER

  • Name listed in program

  • Reserved seating in the balcony for 2 people

$1,000 – DECK THE HALLS CIRCLE MEMBER

  • As above, plus:

  • Reserved seating in the balcony for 4 people

  • Short words of thanks from our emcee at the beginning of the night

$3,000 – OH, JOYFUL NIGHT CIRCLE MEMBER

  • As above, plus:

  • Naming rights for one entire night of the Knox Carol Fest in all reporting of the event; in all digital promotional material and (if confirmed before November 1) in all printed promotional material (night choice is first-come, first served)

NOTE: Any amount contributed may be designated as a donation by the giving organization. In this case, no sponsorship benefits will be provided. However, Knox UCC will issue a charitable-giving certificate applicable for 2025 tax reporting.

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Past Programs

Click on the images below to take a look at some of the programs from past Carol Festivals

Carol Fest Facts

A History of Community Service

In 1978, Knox United Church introduced the first annual Christmas Carol Festival, inviting choirs from all over the City of Calgary to perform over 3 nights. Championed by Frank McKitrick, Knox’s Director of Music at that time, the event was originally sponsored by the Downtown Rotary Club, after which (in 1982), Knox United Church took over as sole sponsor of this beloved community celebration.

In 2009, the event was renamed “Calgary Carol Festival”, to emphasize that this is a community celebration for the entire city.

Since its inception, this event has been an opportunity for community giving. For over 20 years, Calgary Carol Festival has been a major fund-raising event for the Calgary Food Bank, with whom we are proud to partner in such a joyful way.

A History of Diversity

Over its 3 nights, Carol Fest welcomes diverse choirs from across the city, a cross-section of our communities and demography, in 2023, for example, 32 choirs performed including:

ConocoPhillips Choir (Historic Oil Patch choir from the business community), Pereveslo (Ukrainian), Mount Royal University Zhi-Yin Choir (Chinese), Calgary Music Makers 50+ Choir, Mount Royal Children's Choirs, Yodler Club Heimattreu, Western Canada High School Choirs, Korinnya Ukrainian Folk Ensemble, Calgary Girls Choir, Youth Singers of Calgary Choirs, as well as church choirs from the United Church, Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist traditions.

So far this year, more than 20 choirs have volunteered their time, and we are not even in October yet.

A History of Fighting Food Insecurity

The covid pandemic forced Carol Fest into hiatus for 2 years. Since returning, Carol Fest’s fund-raising has gone from strength to strength
· 2022 (Carol Fest 44) raised 1,350lbs of food and over $8,000
· 2023 (Carol Fest 45) raised over 1,500lbs of food and over $14,000
· 2024 (Carol Fest 46) – with your support, the sky’s the limit!

A Unique Start to the Holiday Season for so many Calgarians

Knox UCC is open to all. We are the oldest Affirming church community in Calgary. Carol Fest is our biggest event every year. There is no entry fee. Anyone can attend and will be made to feel welcome.

In addition to the choir performances, our guests join in multiple sing-alongs throughout each evening, led by a host choir and an expert MC. Ugly sweaters are encouraged.

In 2023, over 1,500 people kicked off their holiday season at Carol Fest 45. We can’t wait to see how many come to sing, smile and share in Carol Fest 46.