It’s been said that the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. Although this may just be a line out of the holiday movie “Elf,” the Cedar Valley Christmas event put on a show to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. 

This event, presented by the Cedar Valley Boys and Girls Club and the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier was held at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center on Monday. Numerous choirs throughout the Cedar Valley area had a chance to showcase themselves and lead a group sing-a-long of old fashioned Christmas carols. 

The third annual Cedar Valley Christmas event included nearly three hundred people on stage and fourteen hundred people in attendance. Not only did this event kick off the holiday season it also raised awareness for a cause. 

“After Thanksgiving it’s all about buying things, with Black Friday and Cyber Monday and things like that, we just wanted people to hang out with their family once all the craziness is done and ring in the Christmas season,” said Chuck Rowe, CEO of the Cedar Valley Boys & Girls Club.

The Boys and Girls Club of the Cedar Valley serve youth in Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Dunkerton and Evansdale. Numerous programs such as computer training, sports education and mentoring help youth gain confidence along with needed skills. 

 “It’s a lot of fun because after the choir sings every couple of songs, what we do is have the audience sing a Christmas carol, and then the choirs will sing again and at the end of the night, we started a tradition for everyone to sing the Hallelujah chorus,” Rowe said, who was expecting another sold out show. 

Choirs from all over the area joined in and offered their musical talents to raise money and awareness for this organization. Just like the two previous years, Rowe said that this event was also likely to be a success.