47th Annual Knox Carol Festival and Holiday Market
Nov 29, 30, and Dec 01, 2025
Doors Open: 6:00 PM | Concert Begins: 7:00 PM
Admission by donation to the Calgary Food Bank (canned goods or cash)
Knox Carol Festival – 47 years and going strong!
In 1978, Frank McKitrick, Knox United Church’s Director of Music, and Knox United Church introduced the first annual Christmas Carol Festival, inviting a wide variety of choirs from the City of Calgary to perform over three evenings. The Downtown Rotary Club initially sponsored the event for the first three years. CBC Radio continued the sponsorship by recording the choirs’ performances and re-broadcasting their music during the holiday season.
Each year over thirty choirs from diverse backgrounds, ages and parts of the city come together to share in song and celebration. Knox United Church is honoured to host this beloved community celebration and kick-off to the holiday season. We are pleased to partner with the Calgary Food Bank with all proceeds benefitting Calgary’s food insecure population. Last year, over 1200 people attended this 3-day event, over 2700 lbs of food was collected and over $11,000 was given to the Food Bank. Since 1997, this event has helped raise nearly two hundred thousand dollars in food and funds!
Once again, all choirs in the City of Calgary will be invited to participate in the event.
2025 Knox Carol Fest - Holiday Night Market
Celebrate the season with our Holiday Night Market during the Knox Carol Fest! Knox’s Annual Carol Fest brings over 30 choirs from diverse backgrounds, ages and parts of the city together to share in song and celebration. While enjoying the music each night, we are inviting attendees to also explore a rotating selection of local artisans offering handmade gifts: beadwork, jewelry, Indigenous art, soaps, toys, candles, pet treats, and more—perfect for friends, family, or yourself.
We want to invite you to be a part of this three-day event by purchasing a table at our first simultaneous Holiday Night Market.
This year, we are inviting artists and vendors to sell food and goods during the Carol Fest. Over the three evenings, more than 1500 people will be on-site at Knox and you will have the opportunity to sell and be visible to this diverse audience. For this inaugural year, we will have a limited number of tables available at $25/night. To reserve your space, please fill out a vendor application form. Please don’t hesitate because tables at this event will sell out.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact Sue Forsyth at office@kxcalgary.com. Thank you for your consideration in supporting the Knox Carol Fest.
Knox Carol Fest 2025 Sponsorship Opportunities
$150 – HOPE OF THE SEASON CIRCLE MEMBER
Name listed in program
$500 – GOODWILL TO ALL CIRCLE MEMBER
Name listed in program
Reserved seating in the balcony for 2 people
$1,000 – DECK THE HALLS CIRCLE MEMBER
As above, plus:
Reserved seating in the balcony for 4 people
Short words of thanks from our emcee at the beginning of the night
$3,000 – OH, JOYFUL NIGHT CIRCLE MEMBER
As above, plus:
Naming rights for one entire night of the Knox Carol Fest in all reporting of the event; in all digital promotional material and (if confirmed before November 1) in all printed promotional material (night choice is first-come, first served)
NOTE: Any amount contributed may be designated as a donation by the giving organization. In this case, no sponsorship benefits will be provided. However, Knox UCC will issue a charitable-giving certificate applicable for 2025 tax reporting.
Past Programs
Click on the images below to take a look at some of the programs from past Carol Festivals
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.