Caroling Newport-style

June Casagrande

Christmas cheer will be heard on the water, even after the boat

parade is gone.

On Monday, about 50 ragtag carolers of varying musical ability

will bring the harbor to life with song when Adventures at Sea holds

its annual “Christmas Contrare” -- caroling on gondolas.

“We do it every year as just our way of giving back to the

community,” said Kathy Leek, spokeswoman for the Newport Beach cruise

company.

At 4 p.m. Monday, a dozen gondolas will depart from the docks

behind the company’s Mariner’s Mile headquarters, heading north

toward the Newport Island area to sing their preselected repertoire

of Christmas chanteys. Their tour will include musical stops at Chart

House and Villa Nova, two waterfront restaurants that Adventures at

Sea considers close friends in the business community.

“We’ll be singing all the way,” Leek said. “Anyone who wants to

listen can just come up to the shore and they can be back by the

water by either of those restaurants or even at the bridge at the

Newport Islands area or anywhere in there.”

Each gondola will have between four and six passengers aboard --

friends of Adventures at Sea as well as a few special guests.

“Every year, we find a charity to get involved, too,” Leek said.

Volunteers for the chosen charity are invited to come aboard and

sing along, she said.

“It’s a way to reward their volunteers who work so hard all season

or all year long,” she said.

The company’s gondoliers will lead the singing, adding a

professional touch to the sound.

“The singing will definitely be heartfelt,” Leek said. “It may not

be performing-arts quality, but the heart is there.”