Calgary carol festival
2024

Sponsorship Opportunities

46th Annual Calgary Carol Festival – Sponsorship Opportunities

Since the 1980s, Knox United Church has hosted Calgary Carol Fest, a joyful fundraising event for the Calgary Food Bank.  It is a chance for amateur, volunteer choirs from all over the city to come together in community to sing and raise funds and awareness to address ever-growing food insecurity.  For many, (over 1,500 people last year), Carol Fest at Knox kicks off the holiday season - ugly sweaters, carol-sing-alongs and seasonal giving. 

For over 40 years, Knox has been Carol Fest’s sole sponsor.  This is now unsustainable.  To ensure Carol Fest goes from strength to strength in 2024 and into the future, this year, we are reaching out to the people we know value this community-giving event for any interest in making a contribution to covering costs.  This may be a personal donation, an individual sponsorship package or a corporate sponsorship package.  Even if you don’t have the ability to contribute yourself, perhaps you know some small business owner, or corporate manager whose company might value the chance to do good and raise their profile across the city.   

We have a “package”, comprising a cover letter, fact sheet and the list of formalised sponsorship packages available in hard or soft copy, either from the Office (Please contact Sue: office@kxcalgary.com) or from Karen Harrison at nuzashto@yahoo.co.uk.  

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES

Gifts under $150 will be treated as designated donations to Knox UCC only to be used in support of the Calgary Carol Festival. These are eligible for a charitable-giving certificate, which may be applied to the organisation’s 2024 tax return.

We will be delighted to work on a bespoke sponsorship package with you, if the amount you want to contribute is not shown below.

$150 – Hope of the Season Circle Member

· Name, logo and short text (to be agreed) on the KXCalgary Calgary Carol Fest webpage and in at least 5 Knox UCC social media posts about the event.
· A3 size poster on our notice public notice board during the event and for 1 week before (seen by all groups using the church facilities).
· Reserved seating in our VIP balcony for 2 people.

$500 – Goodwill to All Circle Member

· As above, plus:
· Reserved seating in our VIP balcony for an additional 4 people (to a total of 6).
· One slide (of your design) on rotation on our Sanctuary monitors during all 3 nights of the event.

$1,000 – Deck the Halls Circle Member

· As above, plus:
· Merchandise table at the Sanctuary or 4th Street entrance.
· Reserved seating in our VIP balcony for an additional 6 people (to a total of 12).
· Short words of thanks from our MC at the beginning and end of the night (text to be agreed).

$5,000 – Oh, Joyful Night Circle Member

· As above, plus:

· Naming rights for one entire night in a wording of your choice to be included throughout the building; in all reporting on the event; in all digital promotional material and (if confirmed before 20th October) in all printed promotional material (night choice is first-come, first served).
· Name on our Garden Sign (corner of 6th Ave SW/4th Street SW) during the week before the event
· Speaking rights up to and including MC of the night sponsored.
· Front 2 rows of our VIP balcony reserved for you.
· Sponsor reception (up to 20 people) in the Pastor’s Parlour from 5:30 – 6:45pm on the night sponsored.

NOTE: Any amount contributed may be designated as a donation by the giving organisation. In this case, no sponsorship benefits will be provided. However, Knox UCC will issue a charitable-giving certificate applicable for 2024 tax reporting.

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.