Listening to Christmas music is a great way to get in the Christmas spirit and the sounds of the season can be found at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

The V105.5 Caroling Contest will have the final night of competition Saturday at 7 p.m. just after the Downtown Vicksburg Christmas Parade of Lights, which starts at 5 p.m.

“Saturday night we will choose the winners,” Station owner and general manager Mark Jones said.

The 44 choirs, soloists, duets, trios and ensembles performed on three separate preliminary nights in eight different divisions and were narrowed down by three judges to the 18 finalists who will perform Saturday night.

In division eight: elementary and junior high soloists, the finalist named were Lee Denton and Brelynn Beck. Division seven: high school soloist and ensembles, had the finalists Mason Moak and The Turner Trio of Alex, Wyatt and Brandon. For division six: adult soloists and ensembles, the finalist were Katie Locke and Tessa Scandizzo. Then division five: high school, named finalists Clinton Colla Voce and Clinton High School Vivace.

“Both finalists in division six wrote their own songs,” Jones said.

Division four: junior high, finalists were Sumner Hill Junior High Mixed Choir and Warren Central Junior High Choir. In division three: upper elementary, the finalist named were Warrenton Elementary Honor Choir, Pearl Upper Elementary and St. Francis 5th and 6th Grade Choir. Next in division two: middle elementary, named finalists were Brandon Elementary Young Singers and St. Francis 3rd and 4th Graders. Finally, in division one: lower elementary, had the finalists Stonebridge Elementary, Redwood Holiday Choir and Sherman Avenue 1st and 2nd Graders.

“As the divisions go up in number, the contestants go up in age,” Jones said.

This year’s judges were Glenda Arrendondo, Mike Gillis and Bobby Banks. Jones typically picks different people every year who he doesn’t know as well and are music oriented people. Sometimes they are even past contestants. This year’s judges, he said, have done a good job of taking their job seriously and really considering each performance.

The winners will be chosen Saturday night, but each of the 18 finalists made up of groups and soloists will split $10,000 in prize money. This year the contest reaches the mark of giving out nearly $100,000 in its 11-year history in Vicksburg.

Jones started the contest 22 years ago in Alexandria, La., and he brought it to Vicksburg 11 years ago because of the huge success the event had been in Louisiana.

“When he came here he thought it’d be well received,” VCC executive director Annette Kirklin said.

While it has been held in different venues over the years, the contest now finds it’s home at the VCC.

“I love seeing people,” Kirklin said. “We had a packed house tonight (on the final preliminary night).”

Kirklin encouraged people to get to the VCC as soon as the parade is over because they expect the contest to be standing room only.

Admission is $5 per person and children 12 and under are free.

The performances will be played on V105.5 starting at 9 a.m. on Christmas Eve.

“Maybe next year we’ll consider airing the contest live on the radio,” Jones said.