I was very hesitant to write a review for this event, as I was really disappointed in it, and I…read morehesitated to give a mediocre review to an event that is volunteer-based and gives so much to a worthy charity (May's Place, an amazing hospice organization for end-of-life care). But after much thought, I decided to post about my experience to let others know what to expect if they plan on going to this event next year, and perhaps so event organizers can improve on the details.
My kid and I went to the Yule Duel this past week, held on Water Street in Gastown. This was the fourth annual Yule Duel in Vancouver. It was advertised as taking place from 6-9pm, and I had been following this event for weeks prior, on its FB page. We were so looking forward to it, as we had attended the Figgy Pudding event in Seattle when we lived there and we loved it so! All the choirs and festive carols and seasonal treats and swag and lots of holiday spirit! We looked forward to this, thinking it would be like the Seattle event.
It was not.
We had a holiday dinner to attend at 5:30pm, so we didn't get down to Gastown until 7pm. And by then, all the choirs' singing and caroling was over! (It looked like there were many choirs, too). For the next 45 minutes, a "carnival band" composed of stilt walkers and brass musicians led everyone down Water Street to a large stage by the Gassy Jack statue, and there various event organizers talked about the event, thanked each other, and talked about May's Place. They then introduced a choir to the stage (I forget their name), and this large choir proceeded to sing various religious songs. And, I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all art is subjective, and I know that this choir was probably there on a volunteer basis, and I know that they said that their leader was not present (on tour in Germany, I think they said), and I know perhaps the sound system there out in the open elements was not ideal... I know all that, but still, still.... this group was SO SO bad. Like, SO bad. They were shouting, off-key, pitchy, it was so bad. My kid and I looked at each other and tried not to laugh. Others around us were commenting "OMG" and some were covering their ears. Some were laughing. After the first song, there was a polite smattering of applause, then this group began singing another song. (It didn't help that they were singing religious songs that nobody recognized, too). And then most of the couples and groups around us by the Jack statue started leaving. My kid and I stuck out the second song, thinking surely the organizers would have completed counting the votes by then and the top two chorus groups would be asked to the stage for a "sing off", so we could actually hear some fun, seasonal carols. But no! After the second song, the group on stage began a third song. And more people were leaving. And my kid and I just couldn't take another song from this group. As my kid described it, it was "disturbing". We were expecting Glee and, instead we got a religious Slipknot.
So we left after being there a good hour, without hearing one seasonal, harmonious or melodic choir singing.
SO... if anyone is planning on going to this event next year, be advised: if it begins at 6pm, be there at 6pm on the dot to hear the actual choir groups singing, as if you arrive an hour late, all the decent singing will be over.
