Several choirs in the Comox Valley are collaborating to host a Drive-In Messiah Sing-Along event at the Comox Mall.

The drive-in part is exactly as it sounds - people driving up to spot in the parking lot where they will be able to tune in to the live event on their car radios and sing along - from the safety of their own cars.

The event consists of North Island Choral Society鈥檚 artistic director Paul Colthorpe leading about 30 singers, from the Valley鈥檚 leading choirs - including Celebration Singers, Just In Time, NI Choral Society, Grace Notes, and Island Voices to name a few - in eight choruses from Handel鈥檚 Messiah, predictably ending with the ever-popular Hallelujah chorus. There will be a carol sing led by the Valley鈥檚 most cherished music directory, Jenn Forsland, to wrap things up.

This is a fundraiser for the Comox Valley Children鈥檚 Choir, and some of their singers will start off the event at 2 p.m. on Dec. 19.

The Valley鈥檚 newest singing group - The Quarantones - will also be on hand to start things off with a couple of numbers before singers launch into the mass sing-along of Messiah - Handel鈥檚 most enduring and popular work .

There is room for about 100 cars at this drive-in event - and if everyone brings a few friends and family members from their immediate bubble - there could end up being over 500 people lending their voices to this uplifting and seasonal Christmas sing-along.

Participants will receive the frequency as they arrive for the event.

鈥淲e do have our own small FM transmitter with a special event permit from Industry Canada for the occasion,鈥� said Jean Sarrazin, adding that there will be a couple of remote broadcasts of the event as well. 鈥淲e are planning to circulate the details to the folks at Stevenson Place and Berwick (for free) so that they can join the sing-along from the comfort of their homes.鈥�

As the event starts at 2 p.m., attendees are asked to get to the parking lot earlier, to receive the radio frequency.