Members of the Chamber of Commerce suggested the carols should have a new venue in 1980 and Sir Roden Cutler Park was chosen.

In 1986 more than 4000 people filled the park on Sunday, December 21, to watch the carols performed by the Dubbo Band and local entertainers.

Two Thompson Bros Transport semi-trailers pushed together acted as the stage and Myer sponsored the decorations and constructed a house-looking set with a sloped-roof, a chimney and Santa's reindeer and sleigh out the front.

During the carols Santa climbed out of the chimney and moved down to the sleigh where he waved to the children.

Eighteen trees on the banks of the Macquarie River were lit up with flood lights and Mr Kelly related how he had constructed a colour wheel to change the colours projected on them.

"I put different colours on a bike wheel and kept them spinning with a motorised rotisserie," Mr Kelly said.

"The trunks were lit up with one colour and the foliage with a different colour."

The then-manager of Myer, Mr Flynn said as he was setting up he worried people were not coming, but was pleasently surprised.

"We thought 'where is everyone?' Then they all came," he said.

"Many families arrived hours before the evening and enjoyed a picnic in the park."

The car park filled and families set up, many purchased candles to use during the carols.

He added the sloping location below the West Dubbo Bowling Club made for "open air music bowl-shaped grounds" with excellent sound.

Mr Kelly said the river was the "perfect backdrop" for the carols and the location provided "nature's own grandstand."

He added it was a lot of work, but the lasting effect it made on those that attended was rewarding.

"There were a lot of people and a lot of people enjoyed it," Mr Kelly said.

"People still talk about it."

"The whole atmosphere was electrifying and wonderful, it was a magical and magnificent event in Dubbo's natural music bowl," Mr Flynn agreed.