TALK ABOUT MUSIC FILLING THE AIR

On Saturday, December 9th, citizens of the Wausau area will be attempting to set a new World's Record for Christmas Carol singing. Last year about 2,000 people gathered at the 400 block in downtown Wausau to sing. According to Wausau Area Events Executive Director Leah Alters, the group is striving to get 4 times that many singers this year.

The current World record is held by Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. in which they got together 7,514 carolers on December 3rd of 2004. Alters feels that although breaking the record is a daunting task, she feels that Wausau can do it.

There was some controversy regarding last year's event relating to choice of secular or religious songs. But direct appeals to Wausau churches appears to have solved the problem. The group is counting on some church choirs to be in attendance as part of the carolers.

The event will not be easy to pull off as the 400 block square is 1.34 acres. This meens that each participant in a record breaking crowd would have a 2.5 square foot area to stand it. But whether or not the record is broken, gathering such a very large group to sing carols together will still be a very special thing. Best of luck in the effort and "We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you............."

Note: the photograph is a Wausau Daily Herald shot of last year's event.