Georgetown, Del., Oct. 28, 2008: Sussex County this year will celebrate a quarter century of helping the needy and singing in the holidays, with the 25th annual Caroling on The Circle scheduled for Monday, Dec. 8.

Sussex County Council is once again proud to host Caroling on The Circle, which marks its silver anniversary in 2008. The annual community singing event doubles as a food drive for the hungry and needy of Sussex County, drawing hundreds of residents who come out to sing Christmas carols while donating goods for area pantries, churches and food banks.

This year’s festivities will begin at 6:30 p.m. outside the historic Sussex County Courthouse. The program will feature a blend of traditional and Spanish carols performed by a number of singers, including local artists Ed Shockley and Kevin Short, and the El Centro Cultural group.

Cookies and hot chocolate will be served after the festivities at the Georgetown Fire Company, one block to the south of The Circle. And Santa Claus will take a break from his workshop for a visit with the children.

The event is free to attend. Participants are asked only to bring with them canned goods or other non-perishable food items for donation. Beginning Nov. 10, anyone who cannot attend, but who still wishes to contribute, can drop off canned goods Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the County Administrative Offices building, next to the courthouse, in Georgetown.

In recent years, Caroling on The Circle has attracted hundreds of participants and collected tens of thousands of canned goods and other food items. In 1984, its inaugural year, the event drew an estimated 3,500 people. Last year, Sussex Countians donated nearly 21,000 food items for the drive.

“We were thankful for the community’s support last year, and we will be thankful for whatever support the community can lend to the cause this year,” County Administrator David B. Baker said. “I know this year it might be a little harder, with the recent economic problems.

“But I am confident that our citizens will dig deep, as they always have, to do whatever they can and give whatever they can to help our less fortunate neighbors,” Mr. Baker said.

Caroling on The Circle will be held regardless of weather. In the event of rain or snow, it will be moved inside the fire hall on South Bedford Street. For more information, call (302) 855-7700.

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