The sounds of the festive season were in fact emanating from St Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Coquet St.
The Rev Rose Luxford, of the Waitaki Presbyterian Parish, said traditional Christmas music had been played in the past, but not in recent times.
It was recorded by church organist June Cameron on a keyboard using a bell effect and then played through a laptop hooked up to a sound system, and finally through the bell tower’s loudspeakers.
"I guess it’s celebrating our season of Christmas and people do like the traditional Christmas carols, so it adds to the season, I think."
Carols included Joy to the World and First Noel and could be heard clearly in central Oamaru and beyond.
"I think people quite like it. It might be a bit loud for some people, so we are conscious that we want people to enjoy it and it not be too much. But if it’s just for a little bit every day it’s not too much. It’s quite amazing how it carries through town."
The music was being played for about an hour each day from Sunday until Christmas Day.
Mrs Luxford was not aware of Christmas music being broadcast from other churches in North Otago.
Hymns had been played from St Paul’s in the past, she said.
