Christmas Carols with Baby
I’m looking for suggestions of where I can bring my 10 month old to hear some Christmas carols this holiday season. Either a concert by a choir (would need to be very chill/relaxed setting) or a group caroling event where all the attendees sing together. Ideally in Oakland or not too far. Thanks!
Nov 28, 2022
Parent Replies
There is a big caroling event just before Christmas at First Presbyterian Church Berkeley. I think it’s the one called hanging of the greens?
There is a traditional service called "Lessons and Carols" that most Presbyterian churches have (perhaps other traditions too - this is just the one I am familiar with!) The service is often held in the evening, outside of a regular church service, and is oriented around singing Christmas carols with a short reading after each carol. There may be short words from a minister, but there is not a full length sermon. There are always children present and this could be a great way to hear and sing along with some traditional Christmas songs!
If you can come up to Solano Ave in Albany -
"Work in Progress" Caroling
12/10 (SAT) 11:30am
1758 Solano
https://www.solanoavenueassn.org/events/winter-season/
Pretty much every church is probably doing Christmas carols this time of year. If you're not experienced in churches, you can check a website or signboard at churches in your area for "worship" or "service" times (not Bible class or Sunday school) and just show up. Most churches will sing around 3 songs (worship songs most of the year, but in the weeks leading up to Christmas they're often all Christmas songs) then transition into a sermon (lecture) time. No one is going to make you stay after the songs, and there is a natural transition in a lot of places where kids may sit with parents during the singing then go to childcare during the sermon, so it wouldn't be odd to get up and leave at that point if you're not interested in staying for a sermon. There are often 1-2 songs after the sermon as well. Be aware that these will be religious songs- think Silent Night, Joy to the World, Come All Ye Faithful, etc. rather than Here Comes Santa Claus, Deck the Halls, or Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, though I have been in churches that mix those in on Christmas Eve. There will be someone up front leading songs (a worship leader, band, or choir), and lyrics somewhere you can see them, and all attendees sing together. It's free, a reasonable length for a 10 month old's attention span, and you could go every Sunday from now until Christmas, either to the same church or a different place each week. Have fun!
There’s caroling on Fourth Street in Berkeley at 3pm this Sunday! http://www.fourthstreet.com/events/2022/11/12/holidays-on-fourth-street…
There will be caroling in Colby Park (lower Rockridge) Monday, Dec. 19 at 7 pm for probably an hour. A group of us that used to go around the neighborhood switched to the park during the pandemic, and it turned out to be much easier to have the neighborhood come to the carolers! Very casual - people come and go. Anyone welcome.