Carols by Candlelight returns for 25th anniversary
By Emily Sorensen
This year marks the silver anniversary for Carols by Candlelight, which has been using music to raise money for children’s charities for 25 years.
The concerts will be at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13 at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondidio Blvd. Tickets are $55 for mezzanine seats, $65 for orchestra seats. You can also purchase orchestra VIP tickets, which includes a meet and greet with the performers, for $87. Military gift tickets are $25. Tickets are now available by calling the box office at 1-800-988-4253 or online at www.CarolsByCandlelight.com.
“The coolest thing is that (Carols by Candlelight) has turned into this wonderful gift of music to the community, and a wonderful gift of hope to Rady Children’s Hospital,” said Steve Vaus, the founder of Carols by Candlelight.
This year will feature a stellar line-up of performers, including America, Juice Newton, Berkley Hart Selis Twang and Mary James. Also performing will be Vaus and his daughter Anna Vaus.
“We’ve always been blessed with great talent,” said Vaus. “Big name folks who are loved here in this area.”
Vaus said that he was looking for a way to commemorate the show’s 25th anniversary.
Carols by Candlelight began in 1990 as a free concert in Horton Plaza, founded by Vaus and Wayne Nelson. Over the years it outgrew its original location and moved to the Poway Center for the Performing Arts and then to its current home at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
Despite some hard times a few years ago, Carols by Candlelight has rebounded. “A few years we didn’t raise much, and we weren’t sure it would go on,” said Vaus. “We always managed to do something to keep it alive.”
Currently, Carols by Candlelight donates its proceeds to Rady Children’s Hospital. In the past, several children’s charities have benefited, including the San Diego Center for Children, the Cox Kids Foundation and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Vaus said that he estimated that Carols by Candlelight has donated about $1 million dollars throughout the past 25 years.
Being able to give back to children, especially Rady Children’s Hospital, is something that is personally important to Vaus. “From the get go, this has been a labor of love for me,” he said.
Vaus said he was inspired by the death of his younger sister to create Carols by Candlelight and give back. His sister was very ill, and died before she was a year old. “The only Christmas she had was spent in the hospital,” said Vaus. “I remember being amazed at the love and care she was given. It stuck with me, and I wanted to repay what she was given.”
Following the concert, the performers and audience members head outside to the courtyard with candles and sing “Silent Night.” “The most memorable moment every year is when we go out in the courtyard with candles and sing Silent Night. It’s a wow. It’s a goose bump kind of thing.”
Vaus said that the audience always leaves Carols by Candlelight happy. “Without a doubt, every year we’ve done the show, folks walk out with their hearts a few sizes larger and feeling the true meaning of Christmas,” he said. “If that’s all I accomplish in my life, I’m good with that.”
