Carols organiser Lindsay Hanchett said there was strong confidence the event on Sunday night would go ahead despite heavy rainfall in Wodonga on Thursday, with drainage at Willow Park of a high standard.

“We have been liaising with Council, the SES and others to ensure we put on a safe and enjoyable Carols, no matter the weather conditions over the past two days,” he said.

“The sun is out today, and the drainage on Willow Park is of a very high standard, so we are confident water will not be a problem come Sunday night”. 

This year’s layout will be different, however.

“When the stage was being constructed early on Friday morning, it was simply too wet to have the stage and set-up trucks out on the middle of the oval playing surface,” Mr Hanchett said.

“The stage is now going to be placed in front of the Willow Park kiosk building, on solid ground, and facing out to the oval.

“This move will actually double the amount of space available for Carols goers to lay out picnic rugs and chairs, so we won’t be crammed in at all this year.”

Organisers confirmed that without the change to the layout, the event may have been at risk of not going ahead.

“We are doing everything we can to ensure candlelight is cast over Willow Park on Sunday night, moving the stage is one of those decisions,” Mr Hanchett said.

Pre-carols entertainment, food vans and face painting will begin at 6pm, with the main event from 7:30pm.

This year’s event will see more than 70 singers on stage, made up of Albury-Wodonga Sing Australia, St Augustine’s Glee Club, New Life Chapel singers and Bandiana Primary School Choir, as well as the main carol singers and the 35-piece Wodonga Brass Band.

And of course Santa will be making an appearance.

Traditional and electronic candles will be for sale for $3, with all proceeds going to the Albury Wodonga Health Palliative Care Unit.