Carols by Candlelight returns for 26th year

Carols by Candlelight, the annual concert that raises money for Rady Children’s Hospital, returns for its 26th year on Dec. 11 and 12. This year, the leading act is popular country music act Lonestar.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for the raffle and auction preview, with the concert beginning at 8 p.m. Carols by Candlelight will be held at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido, at 340 N. Escondido Blvd.

Tickets for Carols by Candlelight range from $19 to $67 and are available online at www.carolsbycandlelight.com. Military gift tickets are also available for $25 each.

“This is Lonestar’s first time being with us, and I couldn’t be more excited,” said Steve Vaus, founder of Carols by Candlelight.

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.

Vaus said it was “crazy” that the concert had made it to its 26th year. “Man, I didn’t even know if it would go one year, let along 26,” he said. “We started as a free street concert. Now, 26 years later, we’re doing two nights at the biggest venue around here. It’s become part of the fabric of San Diego County’s Christmas. One family buys 50 tickets at a time to bring family and friends, that’s what this show means to people.”

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. Carols by Candlelight has donated about $1 million throughout its history.

In addition to Lonestar, Carols by Candlelight will also feature perfomances from Jamie O’Neal, Andy Griggs, Noah Guthrie, Mary James, Anna Vaus and Steve Vaus. “We have more music this year than ever before,” said Vaus. “It’s unusual for Lonestar to come do their huge hits, but also their favorite Christmas songs. It’s a unique way to see them perform.”

Lonestar has charted more than 20 singles on Hot Country Songs, including nine that reached no. 1, including “No News,” “Come Cry to Me,” “Amazed,” “Smile,” “What About Now,” “Tell Her, I’m already There,” “My Front Porch Looking In,” and “Mr. Mom.”

This is the third year Carols by Candlelight has done a live and silent auction. This year’s items up for auction include a guitar signed by country music star Brad Paisley and a “Guns and Hoses” event, offered by the Escondido police and fire departments, where the winner will spend half a day as a police officer and as a fireman, wearing the gear and learning how they do their jobs.

Following the concert, the performers and audience members head outside to the courtyard with candles and sing “Silent Night.” “As many times as I’ve seen it, it still gets me emotional,” said Vaus.