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LAPLACE — Caroling, crafts, games and more will be offered to the community during the second annual Comet Christmas from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 8 at the St. Charles Catholic Chapel Courtyard.

Admission is free, and guests are encouraged to bring a blanket, lawn chairs and Christmas cheer. Holiday attire is encouraged.

St. Charles Catholic Stagehands director Greer Millet said Comet Christmas began in 2020, when students were searching for creative ways to sing and perform within the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Christmas caroling down neighborhood streets wasn’t possible, the Stagehands brought Christmas caroling to the SCC Courtyard with a beautiful truck and hay barrel motif near the Chapel. The event drew a small crowd of parents and alumni.

With Comet Christmas now in its second year, Millet was determined to make the event bigger and better, with more opportunities for interaction with the community.

Several of St. Charles Catholic’s clubs will bring their own “stations” to Comet Christmas this year. For the first half of the event, families will be able to visit the stations to get into the holiday spirit, whether by taking pictures in front of the Ambassador Club’s photo backdrop, signing an ornament for the Art Club’s Christmas tree, coloring with the Student Council or enjoying the Creative Writing Club’s festive snow globe balloons.

Then attendees can join in a joyful caroling session to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

“I think after what we’ve been through, we just need to take a big breath, count our blessings and realize that our sense of community is very, very important,” Millet said. “It’s a free event. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this, especially with your children. It’s a good way to get into the Christmas spirit.”

During Comet Christmas, the Stagehands will draw the winner of a raffle for four matinee “Cats” tickets that were donated to the school. Despite the challenges of the pandemic and Hurricane Ida, students are counting their blessings this Christmas season while working on a Santa letter campaign.

Current students were able to perform with alumni recently during a musical showcase called Broadway a la Carte. Millet said the enthusiasm generated from having past and present performers together in one room was the perfect kickoff to the Christmas season.