Carols by Candlelight is returning to Poway after a 30-year absence, a move its co-founder, Steve Vaus, referred to as “bringing it home.”
The 36th annual fundraiser concert will be presented twice — at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13 in the Poway Center for the Performing Arts.
In addition to Vaus, the headliners will be country artists Mark Wills, Andy Griggs, Anna Vaus (Steve’s daughter) and Back to the Garden. They will perform their holiday favorites on a stage decked out in Christmas trees and hundreds of poinsettias while “snow” falls.
Country singer Mark Wills. (Courtesy of Carols by Candlelight)
The concert will once again be raising money for Rady Children’s Hospital, a cause Vaus holds near and dear to his heart.
“When I was a kid, my little sister, Alyssa, was born with challenges. She only had one Christmas on Earth, spent in a children’s hospital (in Oregon),” Vaus said.
The experience left a lifelong impression on Vaus, who is Poway’s mayor.
“I was amazed that there were so many kids sick, but I could still feel the spirit of Christmas,” Vaus said of his childhood experience. “That stuck with me. So early on (in my music career) I would take my guitar and sing to the (hospitalized) kids at Christmas time.”
As a musician, Vaus is a 2010 Grammy Award winner and multiple Emmy Award winner who has performed at the Grand Ole Opry and the White House. His credits include work with country artists such as Kenny Loggins, LeAnn Rimes, Randy Travis and Billy Ray Cyrus.
It was his experiences as a child and entertaining hospitalized children as an adult that inspired Vaus to start the fundraiser concert Carols by Candlelight. For the first five years it was held outside of Horton Plaza, but as crowds grew it needed another venue, he said. So for year six, it was held at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts, then for the following three decades held at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido.
“It was time to come home,” Vaus said about returning to the PCPA this year.
“It is a gift of music for the community and a gift of hope for Rady,” he added.
Vaus estimates that over the course of its history, Carols by Candlelight has raised approximately $2 million. Some years proceeds benefited groups such as Make-A-Wish and the San Diego Center for Children. But the most frequent beneficiary has been Rady Children’s Hospital because of the Vaus family’s experience in Oregon decades ago.
“Last year we raised $70,000 and I would like to … beat it,” Vaus said. “It’s hard to tell if that will happen as we’re in strange economic times and it relies on sponsors to step up to help underwrite it, as it takes $100,000 to put on, due to the crew and artists we hire. It’s a pretty heavy lift.”
The proceeds — a combination of ticket sales, silent and live auctions and sponsorships — will go to Rady’s general fund so the money is unrestricted in helping families with children needing medical care there, Vaus said.
Anyone who wants to be a sponsor or donate an auction item can get details at CarolsByCandlelight.com.
As for those joining Vaus on the PCPA stage this year, all have performed at the fundraiser at least once before.
Wills is a member of the Grand Ole Opry who has had 19 Billboard charting singles across seven albums, including eight Top Ten hits. He has had “some of the most enduring and recognizable Country Music Hits of the last 25 years,” according to his bio.
Country singer Andy Griggs. (Courtesy of Carols by Candlelight)
Griggs’ debut album “You Won’t Ever Be Lonely” was certified Gold. His first three singles were also Top Ten hits.
Anna Vaus is returning to her hometown for the concert. Now living in Nashville, she both performs and writes songs which have been recorded by Keith Urban, Maddie & Tae, Carly Pearce and others. She has over 15 million streams and counting. Her debut album was “Downhill From Here.”
While Anna Vaus has performed at Carols by Candlelight more times than anyone, except her father, this will be her first time back on the PCPA stage since graduating from Poway High in 2014, Steve Vaus said.
“The audience adores her and it is fun for dad (to have her onstage),” he said, adding they have sometimes sung together, but do not plan to do so this year.
Local favorite Back to the Garden will return to the Poway Center for the Performing Arts for Carols by Candlelight. (Courtesy of Carols by Candlelight)
Area favorite Back to the Garden is a San Diego-based band that has been known to sell out its Poway OnStage and Belly Up performances.
“The music is second to none,” Vaus said of the artists scheduled. “They will play their country music songs that were big hits along with their favorite Christmas songs.”
Each night will conclude with all in attendance leaving the concert hall and regathering outside on the PCPA courtyard, where with lit candles in hand they will sing “Silent Night.”
“We have done that from the beginning,” Vaus said. “It is the emotional high point, where you walk away with goosebumps. It is a remarkably warm, community-centric moment that you do not find these days.”
Tickets are $75-$99. Buy at CarolsByCandlelight.com. The Poway Center for the Performing Arts is at 15498 Espola Road.