For the 90th Year, Basking Ridge Gathers 'Round for Caroling

As if on cue, the snow began to fall to make even more magic the gathering of hundreds of local residents for this year's Christmas Eve caroling in downtown Basking Ridge.

Even with the modern cars, and the cell phones used to capture quick pictures, a little video or a selfie, the decades seemed to fall away as the brass band led the crowd in singing — on this Christmas Eve, for the 90th time.

The band played the classics on the steps of The Presbyterian Church of Basking Ridge. The carolers, with song sheets, sang "Silent Night," "Deck the Halls" and other carols that likely were sung decades ago as they huddled for warmth in front of, behind and alongside the holiday tree erected on the green off South Finley Avenue and Oak Street.

"It's like 'It's a Wonderful Life,'" one man commented on the way to "the Sing," which began promptly at 7 p.m.

Hot chocolate was much appreciated, as temperatures plummeted on Tuesday night to just below freezing, cold enough to bring out some flakes to partly replace the snow that had just melted on a very warm Sunday.

After the singing had ended, church bells rang and many in the crowd walked to Christmas Eve services in local churches.