A Caroling We Go: V105 Caroling Contest is just around the corner

VICKSBURG, Miss. – Over the last 20 years, V105.5 FM has hosted an annual Christmas Caroling Contest. People from all over Vicksburg and beyond have come together to perform in and support this event since it first started. This year for the 19th Annual Christmas Caroling Contest, V105 is giving away $10,000 dollars in prizes to finalists, which will be held on December 12 at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

Mark Jones, formerly known by his radio name, “Mark in the Dark,” MCs the Caroling Contest each year and looks forward to doing so each Christmas season. Jones said that many outstanding teens, including 2015 Miss Vicksburg’s Outstanding Teen Tori Ross, started off in the Christmas Caroling Contest. In a way, it’s acted as a spring board for several talented residents of Vicksburg.

“It’s been a unique experience,” Jones said, “There’s nothing like it in the area, we have given away over $150,000 dollars. It’s been great and we’ve had some great people. Some finalists have even written their own songs and one performed with a broken ukulele.”

Three new judges are selected each year to judge contestants on their vocal abilities, creativity, and difficulty of their performances. This year expects to see judges from the Jackson area. Individuals, duets, trios and choirs have all competed over the years, from as young as elementary school ages and up.

During and after COVID, the radio station put a halt to judging the preliminary and final rounds live in front of an audience and instead took to digital entries of contestants. This year, following last year’s suit, preliminary entries will be emailed via video to Christmas@vicksburgv105.com. The finalists will compete live at the Vicksburg Convention Center on December 12.

“We hope everyone will come out,” Jones said. “Admission is only $5 and that’s really to pay for the venue. It’s been really fun, and people have had really tremendous entertainment over the years.”

The deadline to enter is December 3. Jones added that if one is using a recorded track, V105 will need it along with the entry.

Below are the rules and requirements for entering the V105.5 Christmas Caroling Contest.