While most people were cozying up with family and festive films, 63-year-old Dave Purchase was making musical history, singing Christmas songs for an astonishing 42 hours straight in an effort to break the Guinness World Record for the longest marathon performance of holiday carols. The event took place at Gloucester Docks, where Purchase a local café owner transformed the once tranquil waterfront into a lively festive hub. Starting at midnight on December 10 and continuing until 6 p.m. on December 12, Purchase powered through a repertoire of 684 songs, ranging from beloved classics like “Jingle Bells” to modern favorites by Mariah Carey and Wham!.
Purchase adhered to strict Guinness World Records rules, which allowed only a five-minute rest for every hour sung and brief 20-second pauses between songs. Despite facing extreme fatigue including hallucinations as he neared the 32-hour mark he persevered with the help of enthusiastic community support and appearances by a local dementia choir and children’s choir. “It was not just a vocal challenge it was a physical one,” Purchase said afterward, reflecting on the intense effort required to sustain such a marathon performance.
Around the Clock and On Song
Total Time Singing: 42 hours
Total Songs Performed: 684
Previous Record: 40 hours (set in Nigeria in 2024)
Purchase chose a set list of 38 unique Christmas songs, repeating each multiple times but never breaking the rule against repeating a track within one hour.
Throughout the marathon, locals gathered to cheer him on, often dressed in festive attire and joining in on the merriment. The shared experience turned the record attempt into a community celebration of holiday spirit and perseverance. Now that his performance has concluded, Purchase and his team have submitted video footage, time logs and witness statements to Guinness World Records for official verification. If confirmed, his feat will stand as the new benchmark for the longest continuous Christmas carol performance.
