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100th Anniversary of the Basking Ridge Christmas Eve Sing

1924-2024
Come celebrate the 100th Anniversary
on the Basking Ridge Village Green – Dec. 24 @ 6:55pm

It’s like you’re in the real Whoville on Christmas Eve!”

Put this one on your bucket list

The History

Every year on December 24th, at 7pm on the ” Town Green”, residents, families, friends, and guests gather in Basking Ridge, New Jersey join together to sing Christmas carols, wish good tidings, then move on to their personal family traditions. Join the community and celebrate the 100th anniversary as the Church bells begin ringing at 7pm. 9 songs are sung and the caroling ends around 7:35pm, again with a round of ringing church bells. The “Christmas Eve Sing” is the oldest continuous Christmas Eve sing in New Jersey.

Watch the final song of the 9 songs that have been sung for the 100th time on the Basking Ridge Greene December 24, 2023.

Everything started back on December 24, 1924 when Basking Ridge resident and businessman Ray Moffet of Moffet Chevrolet in town took his Chevy truck to drive around town with his friends singing Christmas carols. Each year, Ray partnered alongside his friend John Carswell and they spread their holiday spirit traveling around town singing the night away.

In 1927, the event moved from a Chevy truck to “the Village Green”, where the event has been centered since 1927. The “Green” is a small patch of grass that stands at the center of Finley Avenue across the street from 1 East Oak Street, in front of the Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church. Moffet solicited $5 contributions from local businessmen to pay the cost of decorating a tree and providing music for the occasion. The event typically took place at 8:00pm, moving later to 7:30pm and now kicks off every year at 7:00pm.

All Volunteer Brass Ensemble

A welcome addition, in 1932, a brass ensemble that leads the carolers in song was added. The ensemble is all volunteer. A similar event was held at Olcott Square in Bernardsville led by William Van Houten and Charles Swain during the mid-1930s, but it did not last, leaving Basking Ridge to hold the area’s only Christmas sing.

Local resident Jim Felter has been the Christmas Eve Carol coordinator since 2006. Prior to 2006,  long time BRPC member George Fricke did it for 17 years. If you’re interested in participating, reach out to posaune007@gmail.com.

Join the all volunteer brass ensemble on Christmas eve. Just how up at the church at 6:00pm. Jim Felter, the organizer since 2006 is pictured in the center with his Santa hat playing his trombone. Source: Brooks Betz 2001.

Anyone can join to play. You just show up at Westminster Hall (BRPC) at 6:00pm. The “Carol Sing on the Green” for those who wish to sing typically bring a flashlight or a cell phone with a flashlight app so to read the carol sheets that are offered to anyone starting at about 6:45pm. The attendees sing a total of 9 songs (same every year), and the singing comes to a close with a generous ringing of the church bells from the Presbyterian and Methodist churches.  Then the area’s church doors open for an early service, and neighbors or strangers wish each other a Merry Christmas and go on their way. By 7:25 the green is deserted.

We have two years to celebrate 100. In 2003 we honor the 100th time the event has been held. Then in 2024 we honor the 100th anniversary 1924-2024. Sounds confusing but yes there are two 100s!

Back in Basking Ridge, John D. Carswell, who had led the singing and helped Ray for fifty years, died in May 1975. Richard Booth had been leading the ensemble. In 1975 Bob Verburg stepped in and served as chairman of the event. The 1975 all volunteer committee included a standing committee to support the Carol Sing included Harold M. Bieber, Norris Birnbaum, George L. Fricke, Dr. William J. Haines, Gregory Lane, Ernest R. Shears, Jean-Louis Terry, Robert M. Huggins, Burr Williamson and Robert M. Verburg. Serving on the general committee are Rev. Norman M. Post, Rev. Dale H. Crouthamel, Rev. Joseph A. B. Wade, Rev. Wilbur A. Thomas, Rev. Rudolf J.S. Keyl, Rev Dwight A. White, Dr. J. Calvin K. Jackson and Rev. Carl Abrahamsen Jr. In the 1980’s Gregory Lane led the singing followed by George Fricke for 17 years from 1987-2005. Since 2006, Jim Felter has been leading the way.

Supporting organizations have included: Moffet Motors, the Women’s Auxiliary of the Basking Ridge Fire Company, the Bernards Township PTA, The Ridge Home & School Association, and nine of the town’s religious congregations, And you can’t forget the Basking Ridge Fire Department who stands up and decorates the town tree every year.

A special thanks goes out to those who serve on the general committee: The Rev. Monsignor Sylvester J. Cronin, Pastor Bob Erbig, the Rev. John Greig, the Rev. Ted Harvey, the Rev. Paul Howden, the Rev. Dennis Jones, the Rev. Rick Morley, the Rev. Peter Pendell and the Rev. Dave Tillisch, Bill Corson, Jennifer Curran, Sally and Ron Horan, Gregory Lane, Wyman Wong, Dan Zugale and Sing Coordinator Jim Felter. Anyone interested in joining the brass ensemble meets at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve in Westminster Hall at Basking Ridge Presbyterian Church, 1 East Oak St.

A look back at a previous Christmas Eve caroling. See all our videos on our channel

They’re Here – They’re Gone!

One of the most amazing observations of the event. If you arrive at 6:30 you probably will be the only person there. At 6:45pm there’s probably about 500 people there. By 7pm there are literally thousands of people present. And as quickly as they came, by 7:30pm the town center is almost deserted.Many walk, some drive, and they park off the town green.

Hasn’t Changed Much Since 1938

The song list has varried little since 1938 when the cadence was as follows:
O Come All Ye Faithful, Hark the Herald Angel Sing, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, The First Noel, Silent Night Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Deck the Halls, We Three Kings, Joy to the World

Download Song Sheets

If you are lucky enough to make the sing there are volunteers that have been handing out the same colorful song sheets that have been almost the same every year. Why change it if it ain’t broke right? Today you can click the link below and save the sheet on your phone and read from there. Or use a flashlight and go old school.

Sing-A-Long Song Sheet
Click Here to download your own song list
For almost 100 years the town of Basking Ridge comes together to sing 9 classic songs on Christmas Eve. Here's the list. #realwhoville
In 2023, for 99 years and the 100th time, the town of Basking Ridge have been coming together to sing 9 songs on Christmas Eve. Here’s the list. #realwhoville – Here are two Basking Ridge Christmas Eve Carol Sheets from 2015 and 2014. Click image to enlarge. Click Here to download your own song sheet.

O Come All Ye Faithful
Hark the Herald Angel Sing
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
The First Noel
Silent Night Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Deck the Halls
We Three Kings
Joy to the World
Click and follow the fun all year. The Mr. Local History Project will be documenting the centennial celebration and history of this great event.
Follow along on our dedicated Facebook Page

Related Mr. Local History Stories

The Christmas Eve community sing is often referred to “as close to Whoville as you can get.” If you attend, you’ll see what we mean. #realwhoville

Originally posted: December 2015
Updated: November 22, 2023

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5 thoughts on “100th Anniversary of the Basking Ridge Christmas Eve Sing”

  1. My father was John Carswell who led the BR Carol Sing for many years. After a major heart attack, he led the event one last time in 1974 before his death in May 1975. My maiden name was Betsy Carswell, and I played trombone at the Carol Sing from 1947 until
    1993. What fun, despite the weather & occasional frozen trombone slide. I’m so glad this wonderful event continues. Thank you to all who make it happen.
    Betsy Carswell Richards, Eastham, MA betsyann35@aol.com

  2. I’ve been a North Dakotan for 53 years; right now on Maui. Every Christmas Eve means the Carol Sing no matter how long I’ve been away from home (BHS ’60). You have NO idea how much your live broadcast means to this expat and I’m sure many others. Thank you so very much for this. Of course I remember Mr Carswell leading us in song.

  3. May I offer the following corrections ~

    Morris Birnbaum should read “Norris” Birnbaum

    Rev. Rudolf J. Keyle should read Rev. Rudolf “J.S. Keyl”

    Best wishes and congratulations on the centennial anniversary of this event!

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