The event that signals to many Weyburn and area residents the start of the Christmas season, the 51st annual Quota Festival of Carols, will take place on Sunday, Dec. 5 at Grace United Church, with two performances.

There will be six groups performing at the 2 p.m. performance, and seven groups will take to the stage for the 7 p.m. performance.

There is no admission to watch the Carol Festival, but a silver collection will be taken at the door, with proceeds to help Quota International of Weyburn with their local projects.

"We'll have many of the same groups who've performed for us before, with a mixture of both old and new carols for everyone to enjoy," said organizer Marcie Labbie of the Quota Club.

Both performances will be preceded by carol singing, led this year by Kathy Coroluick, with a song by the Quota choir before going into the program.

The afternoon performance will include the sign-language group Signature, along with Grace United Chancel Choir, Souris School choir, Rotary Club, St. Vincent de Paul Church and the Grace United Church Men's Choir.

In the evening, the groups include Variations, the Weyburn Comp Gr. 10/11 choir, the Gr. 11/12 choir and the STARS Show Choir, the Free Methodist Church choir and new this year is the chorus from the Diamond Cavalcade musical.

As in past performances, early seating is encouraged in order to get a seat as often there is standing-room only at the festival.