The perennial complaint for businesses in Red Deer is Christmas parties are uninspired affairs that have to be booked in November due to a lack of venues. That’s all changed this year, thanks to Central Music Festival. The group is hosting The Christmas Carol Project, the musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ legendary Christmas story on Thursday, December 20, 2012 on the mainstage at RDC’s Arts Centre.

The one-night-only performance brings multi-Juno award winner Bill Bourne home for Christmas with a stellar cast of Edmonton musicians, singers and songwriters. The production has been thrilling full-house audiences at Christmas since 1996, with more than 60 performances, in the Winspear Centre in Edmonton, the Yukon Arts Centre in Whitehorse, and other premier venues in Vancouver, Whistler and Calgary.

“We wanted date close to Christmas and this year we got lucky,” CMF spokesperson Rob Gilgan said. “This is an unforgettable Christmas party, a great send-off for the holidays, that will put your whole staff in the season’s spirit.”

Bill Bourne, as Ebenezer Scrooge is joined by Al Brant, Dave Clarke, Kevin Cook, Maria Dunn, Bill Hobson, Dale Ladouceur, Terry Morrison and Tom Roschkov in an exquisite sound and visual extravaganza highlighting great songwriting, storytelling and musical performances.

Tickets for the Christmas Carol Project go on sale September 17 at BLACK KNIGHT TICKET CENTRE, (at the Black Knight Inn - 2929 - 50th Ave.), Charge by phone: 403-755-6626 or 1-800-661-8793, Online at www.bkticketcentre.ca

The Red Deer Food Bank will be accepting donations at the event. For more information, please contact media@centralmusicfest.com