August 9, 2004
Sun Herald
Did you ever answer a knock at your door during the Christmas season to find yourself suddenly greeted by a gregarious group of Yuletide carolers? If Waveland businesswoman Kathy Pinn has her way, that city will experience something similar on Dec. 11 during its annual Festival of Lights celebration. Only this holiday "choir" may be bigger. Much bigger.
Pinn hopes to gather more than 520 people on the steps of City Hall to sing in unison for a minimum of 20 minutes of tunes. Why so many merry folks? Well, Ebenezer, to set a Guinness record for world's largest Christmas caroling assembly, of course. "I just happened to be watching TV around Christmas last year," Pinn said, "and saw where 519 people were doing this in front of New York City's main post office. I thought, surely, we in Waveland could do even better than New York."
Thus, an idea was born.
In January, Pinn began a several month process of petitioning the famous Guinness Book of Records for permission to attempt the record, which included completing considerable paperwork and agreeing to specific criteria. "The Guinness people are very thorough," said Pinn, who recently received final approval for December's event.
Carolers must be signed up to be properly counted, and the group must sing the same songs together for at least those 20 minutes to set the record. Pinn is thrilled with the local response to her plan, which is being sponsored by the Coleman Avenue Coalition, a community group seeking to improve Waveland's business district.
"The city recently unanimously approved the idea, and we currently have some 100 people committed to it," she said. Various city and civic associations also are supporting the caroling. Volunteer "captains" have been enlisted as recruiters, Pinn said, although she is still looking for a someone to work with her."We're encouraging anyone from all up and down the Coast to join," she said, adding that individuals, as well as church and choral groups and civic clubs, are invited. Does Pinn think it can be done in time for the Jingle Bells to really rock? "I do, I really do," she said. "I wouldn't have done it otherwise."
Once I read this article it occured to me that this might me a great way for a community choir or chorus to get some local press, attract new singers and have some fun. I would hate to rain on this ladies parade but I'm pretty sure there's some existing singing groups that, with planning, could have a good shot at the record... Editor
Posted by acapnews at August 9, 2004 9:15 PM
