Christmas Carols on the River 2023

On December 9th, 2023, we hosted our annual “Christmas Carols on the River” charity event featuring the St John the Evangelist Choir. It’s been a year since our last Christmas carols event, and despite a break in 2020 due to COVID, the event continues to be a sellout since it began in 2018. This year, the choir once again delivered a memorable performance, creating a delightful evening for our guests.

We are thrilled to share we raised an incredible £1200 for Tom’s Trust, our chosen charity for the year. Additionally, in appreciation of the St John the Evangelist Choir’s wonderful contribution to our event, we will be donating £300 to support their charitable work, who amazed and entertained everyone with their carols.

It has been a challenging winter for our chauffeurs, navigating the extremely strong currents and wind. Not only did they do an excellent job punting with the weather conditions, but keeping all 8 boats in formation required expert skill. They kept the day running smoothly and allowed everyone to sit back, relax, and enjoy an hour of uninterrupted Christmas carols which St John the Evangelist Choir so wonderfully delivered.

Christmas Carols on the River

What looked like it was going to be a wet day, pleasantly surprised us with an incredible hour of sunlight. Punting past Kings College was a truly amazing sight as it glowed in the afternoon sun. If you watch our latest video recapping the highlights of the trip, you can see for yourself how beautiful it was! Make sure to check out the video – you will be able to see the incredible light on the colleges and even hear the choir renditions of Silent Night, The First Noel and O Come All Ye Faithful, to name a few.

Right on tradition, the tour concluded with the timeless and festive “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” inviting everyone to join in and test out their own choir skills. It was a classic and heartwarming way to wrap up the event.

Tickets for this event sold out within just a few days of going on sale, so if you would like to join us next year for some festive fun, be sure to grab your tickets early. We were thrilled to see so many people waiting on the riverbank and bridges, eager to catch a glimpse of the magical tour. The overwhelming turnout added to the festive atmosphere, making it clear that this has become a much-anticipated and cherished tradition for many.

Our charity:

Our charity initiative holds a special place in our hearts. Each year, we carefully select a charity to receive 100% of the ticket sales, and this year, we are proud to have chosen Tom’s Trust. This local organisation in Cambridge is dedicated to supporting children with brain tumours and their families. By directing the entirety of our ticket sales to Tom’s Trust, we aim to make a meaningful contribution to their vital work and make a positive impact on the lives of those they assist.

Kirsty Keegan, Head of Fundraising at Tom’s Trust, said: “We are so grateful to everyone who has helped to organise and got involved with Christmas Carols on the River and we are so thrilled that Tom’s Trust has been picked as the chosen charity. We’ve been supporting families following a child’s devastating brain tumour diagnosis for over a decade in Cambridge, but there is so much more to be done to give them the support they need at such a difficult time. The money raised will be a huge boost for our work and make a real difference to families, especially for those who are in hospital over Christmas. We hope everyone enjoys this unique festive event.”

We would love to say a huge THANK YOU to the choir, everyone who joined us, and our chauffeurs for creating an amazing day!