About Carols

Carols History

Adelaide’s first Carols by Candlelight was held at Elder Park on Christmas Eve in 1944, where it’s estimated nearly 10% of South Australians gathered to celebrate Christmas.

On this night, Commercial Travellers Association men’s choir led the crowd through popular Christmas songs and carols from the rotunda that still stands at Elder Park today. Since the very first concert in 1944, thousands of South Australians have enjoyed Carols for more than 70 years while raising funds for charitable organisations across the state. 

As well as being an iconic South Australian event, Carols also offers a unique opportunity for friends and families to gather each year, lay a picnic rug on the lawn, and break bread while celebrating Christmas.

In 2022, St John Ambulance South Australia became the custodians of Carols by Candlelight, preserving this 80-year Christmas tradition for the community for years to come. 

St John Ambulance SA is a self-funded charity that has been supporting the wellbeing of South Australians for over 135 years. St John Ambulance helps tens of thousands of people across the state each year by delivering first aid at events, first aid training and products, and social inclusion programs.

St John Ambulance SA

Each and every day, St John Ambulance SA works tirelessly within the SA community to save lives. You can read more about our community impact within our Annual Report.

As a not-for-profit charity, it would be impossible to do this work without the ongoing support from both the general public and our sponsors and partners.

Through the St John Carols by Candlelight, St John can secure much-needed community support to continue its life-saving work across South Australia.

St John is bringing the SA community together to share in the joy of Christmas and through that enhance social connection and mental wellbeing.

If you want to support St John, please visit St John SA to donate directly or purchase a lottery ticket from the St John SA lottery website.