![DRAWCARD: Cyrus Villanueva will headline Carols Of Hope in Belmore Park on December 22. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images. DRAWCARD: Cyrus Villanueva will headline Carols Of Hope in Belmore Park on December 22. Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-FkT3ZusFw5YrTvZCipmLUF/95161572-3be4-4c2c-a15b-fdf67063f148.jpg/r0_0_3352_5035_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
X-FACTOR’s Cyrus Villanueva will headline Goulburn’s Carols Of Hope on December 22.
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Villanueva, crowned the reality show’s 2015 winner just weeks ago, will appear as one of five celebrity entertainers at the event.
Justice Crew, Paulini, Pete Denahy and The Idea Of North will also perform.
Organiser Peter Mylonas told the Post he expects some 10,000 people will journey to Belmore Park for the show.
“In 24 years, I’ve never known there to be such excitement in the community,” Mr Mylonas said.
“When I look back at when it first started, I would be lucky to get two main acts. Now I’ve got five and some locals as well. It’s on another level.”
The Goulburn Regional Conservatorium ReZone8 Youth Vocal Group, Mereki Leten and Angela Abakah will represent the City on stage.
But as for the main attraction, Mr Mylonas said regardless of the X-Factor result, he had his eye on Cyrus from the beginning.
“I’ve been watching him, as I watch all the X-Factors and The Voice to try pick out who will complement the community,” he said.
“He was left until the last minute as I couldn’t negotiate with the owners until X-Factor was over.
“Once it was, I was on the phone the next morning. He is the hottest property around at the moment and has become the centre point of the event. He seems to resonate with the community, word has spread right around.”
Mr Mylonas said he was keen to welcome back Justice Crew, “a great bunch of guys”, and Paulini, “she appeals to people of all different ages”.
He admitted while each year he says “this is the last one”, that this year he has changed his tune.
“I’ve changed my whole philosophy,” he said.
“Every year I say ‘Peter, make this the last year you are ever going to do it and make sure it’s the biggest and the best’, but if I’m around next year I’ll have the same philosophy… to go out giving it the best shot for the City.
“I find life is a gift so we shouldn’t hesitate. You don’t know what tomorrow brings but you’ve got to make it the best.”
The event, as always will be a “balancing act” of traditional Christmas carols and a little bit of celebrity flair.
Artists are able to choose whether they would like to perform original pieces or join in on the carols.
This year, in a bid to lend aid to those who need it, Mr Mylonas said the volunteers would be introducing a Tent of Hope.
“It will be a tent manned by professional doctors, nurses and counsellors, because in the midst of all the partying and celebration there is a lot of pain,” he explained.
“Three days after the Carols is Christmas and you will find a lot of the families there are from broken homes.”
“Christmas is not a happy time for a lot of people and we need to be sensitive for those who are in pain. If there’s even just one person we can help, it will be worth it.”
While set times are still being finalised, Mr Mylonas expected the event to kick off between 5pm and 6pm, with confirmation to come.