Forbes Town Band and guest entertainers Kimberley Ryan, James Whalan and Shannen Toole delivered everyone's favourite carols and the community was in fine voice.

Santa Claus took time out of his busy December schedule to hear some Christmas wishes from local kids, and was a very popular guest.

Victoria Park, which did have to be fenced for compliance with COVID-19 regulations, was a beautiful venue for the night with baubles of light suspended in the trees and the Christmas tree and reindeer lighting up as darkness fell.

The brand new Gingerbread Greetings light show played out on Town Hall to the delight of the kids; head down town of an evening if you haven't seen it yet.

In a special message in this year's Carols program, the organising committee said they hoped the evening would give people a chance to relax, unwind and enjoy the spirit of Christmas.

"The message of Christmas that can be heard through the words of many carols we sing, both old and new, reminds us that love is a gift to be given as well as received and that love begins small but always grows," they wrote.

"It is a special time of year that invites us to pause and to reflect on the year gone by, to spend time with friends and family and to have hope for the New Year ahead.

"In the midst of these hard times the people of Forbes still gather together and celebrate the wonderful community that we have."

Indeed they did: the Lions barbecue sold out, Rotary Ipmoea did a roaring trade in glo candles and headbands, and the ice cream van was popular with the hundreds of kids out to enjoy the night.

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