Jingle All The Way
an Afternoon of Music with Kevin Friedrich & Friends

The Lighthouse Function Center in Dargaville, New Zealand was filled to capacity for the second time in 2019 for an Afternoon of Music with Kevin Friedrich and Friends, this time for a variety Show featuring Christmas and Holiday Music performed by an array of accordionists and entertainers from New Zealand. The Holiday show 'Jingle All the Way' served as a fundraiser for the Dargaville Museum and included a Victorian style Christmas Carol Sing-Along joining the global celebration in honor of Queen Victoria’s 200th Anniversary.
 
The show opened with the North Shore Music Makers Accordion Orchestra conducted by Christine Johnstone, and included the popular Snoopy's Christmas and Feliz Navidad. Other guest artists included vocalist Wendy Hilliam, Sharon Hunter who read a local writer’s prose, former local resident Jone Yelcich, the Kaipara Ukulele Orchestra, Narrator Barbara Adams, outstanding Auckland vocalist and accordionist Lionel Reekie, Ray Palmer and the Whangarei Handbell Choir, Alanah and Maurice Jones, Percussionist Linda Emmett Litt and Dargaville’s very own songsters, the Rivertown and Take 6 Singers.
 
Items ranged from Country songs like Tennessee Christmas to popular favorites White Xmas by Irving Berlin and O Holy Night. Readings included locally written The Christmas Card by Brian White and the famous ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. To conclude the Variety Show, there were surprise appearances by three of the most famous characters of the Season including a big Reindeer with a red nose, a dancing Snowman and of course, the man in Red himself.

The concert concluded with a Victorian style Christmas Carol Sing-Along. It's hard to imagine now, but at the beginning of the 1800s, Christmas was hardly celebrated. Many businesses did not even consider it a holiday. However by the end of the 1800s, it had become the biggest annual celebration and took on the form that we recognise today. Many attribute the change to Queen Victoria, and her marriage to the German-born Prince Albert who introduced some of the most prominent aspects of Christmas. In 1848 the Illustrated London News published a drawing of the Royal family celebrating around a decorated Christmas tree, a tradition that was reminiscent of Prince Albert's childhood in Germany. Soon every home in Britain had a Tree bedecked with candles, sweets, fruit, homemade decorations and small gifts. The Christmas Card and Christmas Cracker from this era were featured during the concert. Queen Victoria has been remembered worldwide in celebration of the 200th Anniversary of her birth and Dargaville was excited to have the chance to join in these celebrations by hosting a Victorian style Sing-Along of favorite Carols like Silent Night, Away in A Manger, O Come All Ye Faithful etc…

Meanwhile, the next Afternoons of Music with Kevin Friedrich and Friends will be the 13th Annual Concert on 29th March 2020 and another Holiday Christmas Show on the 29th November 2020.