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For a second year, downtown LaGrange invites the community to join together and sing Christmas carols on the square Saturday. 

The LaGrange Community Band will play Christmas music at Flagpole Park, beginning at 1:30 until 3:30 p.m. The volunteer band, led by Neal Brumbeloe, is a local favorite, made up of local musicians. Christmas caroling will begin at 5 p.m. Local choir directors, Darian Krimm, Rachel Krimm and Bettie Biggs will lead the community sing-along as traditional Christmas carols and classic seasonal songs are sung.

“LaGrange loves the holidays and our town is considered one of the state’s top places to experience the Christmas spirit,” said DLDA Director of Promotions and Marketing Barbie Watts. “This event was created with the intention of it becoming another longstanding holiday tradition for LaGrange. We decided to move forward with it because it is an outdoor event and can still be conducted safely for the people who feel they can safely attend by wearing masks and staying six feet apart from each other. We do encourage anyone who is not feeling well or has been exposed to someone with COVID-19 to refrain from attending this year.” 

Last year, the DLDA recycled the song books and candles they used but this year attendees will be asked to take them home. New ones will be purchased for the 2021 event. 

“Because LaGrange is such a musically talented community, it is our hope that this will become a beloved holiday tradition and will continue for as many years as the New Orleans tradition that inspired us,” Watts said. “Their celebration has existed for over 40 years, and I hope that our celebration will be able to claim the same longevity.” 

At last year’s event, Watts said more than 100 locals came to sing Christmas carols.  

“It was such a heartwarming community event. We are excited to hold it again and are requiring mask wearing for the safety of those who do attend,” Watts said. “The square is large enough that it permits people to physically distance themselves while they enjoy the event. I believe that the event should be loud enough that listeners from the sidewalks in front of the shops surrounding LaFayette Square will be able to enjoy it.”

Watts said members of the community are encouraged to bring their family and friends to sing along at the festive event.