Few things are as social and fun during the holiday season as getting a group of friends together and heading out for a caroling party. To host the perfect event, it just takes a bit of organization to turn the evening into fun evening to remember.
Write a List, Check it Twice
Decide who you want to invite to your caroling party. You don’t need great singers – enough carolers will drown out a croaker so you don’t have to hurt feelings. You can limit the party to adults, or invite a smaller number of your friends who bring their children.
Create a Song List
Decide which songs your group will sing during the evening. Include a number of old-time classics and more recent Christmas pop songs. You’ll need to create printed lyrics sheets to give to each caroler (who knows the second verse to Silent Night?).
Have Some Snacks and Drinks
Not everyone will show up to your house at the same time, and you’ll need to rehearse a bit before you go out, so have plenty of snacks and drinks. You can have dry snacks and soft drinks, or set out heavier foods if you’re caroling on a weeknight and people are coming from work.
You can ask your guests to each bring a dish to pass, which you heat and serve after you get back from caroling and everyone’s worked up an appetite.
Check out these tips for an awesome, cheap holiday party!
Practice While You Party
Everyone’s not going to know all the songs, so review them before you hit the sidewalks. After everyone’s arrived at your house, pass out your lyrics sheets and practice your songs. Decide who your “conductor” for the evening will be and how you’ll start each song.
You might ask guests to bring their mini-flashlights so everyone can read the music in unlit areas. Decide how many verses of each song you’ll sing, and how many songs you’ll sing at each home. You might want to carole karaoke style, singing along with background music.
Have Extra Outdoor Gear
Not everyone will think to bring cold-weather clothing items. Have some extra coats, hats, scarves, gloves or hand warmers to pass around. When you send your invitations, includes a list of items people should remember to bring to keep their hands, feet, heads and noses warm (hint: dress in layers to trap heat between clothing items).
Make a thermos or two of hot coffee or chocolate to bring along during your outdoor singing. Jack Daniels nipping at your nose might sound like a fun option, but drinking alcohol actually lowers your core temperature and makes you colder (and more likely to sing off key!).
Carol Indoors?
If it’s too cold in your neck of the woods to spend an hour or more outside at night, consider entertaining retirees at a seniors center, children at a local hospital or members of the military at a local base.
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