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Spreading holiday cheer

Lowell Hayes, second from right, is greeted by a passer-by as a group of carolers sings Christmas songs Wednesday in downtown Coeur d 'Alene. Other carolers are, from left, Barb McGregor, Janet Taylor, Laura Augusta, Chelsea Stillman and Shelley Cornelius.Lowell Hayes, second from right, is greeted by a passer-by as a group of carolers sings Christmas songs Wednesday in downtown Coeur d 'Alene. Other carolers are, from left, Barb McGregor, Janet Taylor, Laura Augusta, Chelsea Stillman and Shelley Cornelius. (Kathy Plonka/Kathy Plonka/ / The Spokesman-Review)
Taryn Brodwater Staff writer
Lowell Hayes, second from right, is greeted by a passer-by as a group of carolers sings Christmas songs Wednesday in downtown Coeur d 'Alene. Other carolers are, from left, Barb McGregor, Janet Taylor, Laura Augusta, Chelsea Stillman and Shelley Cornelius.Lowell Hayes, second from right, is greeted by a passer-by as a group of carolers sings Christmas songs Wednesday in downtown Coeur d 'Alene. Other carolers are, from left, Barb McGregor, Janet Taylor, Laura Augusta, Chelsea Stillman and Shelley Cornelius. (Kathy Plonka/Kathy Plonka/ / The Spokesman-Review)

It took a moment for some of the shoppers in the Penny Candy Store to realize the Christmas music they were hearing wasn’t the canned music that had been playing when they first got to the store.

A couple of shoppers stopped browsing the barrels of hard candy and taffies to listen to the small group of carolers gathered just inside the store.

As the singers from Candlelight Christian Fellowship finished “Deck The Halls” with a “fa la la la la, la la la la,” the small crowd of shoppers clapped. The carolers headed outside, regrouped on the corner and continued singing.

Today is the last day roving carolers will be entertaining downtown shoppers. From 3 to 7 p.m., two groups will tour the downtown singing Christmas carols. Free horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered also.

The Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association organized the caroling and carriage rides to help spread holiday cheer through downtown, said Chris Guggemos, of Handshake Productions. This is the third year carolers have strolled the streets to try to raise spirits.

“It’s a fun experience,” said Barb McGregor, caroling Wednesday for the second year. “You just feel like you’re giving, like you’re able to give a little gift for Christmas.”

Members of the Candlelight Christian Fellowship choir were joined by members of a barbershop quartet Wednesday.

Lowell Hayes, of Spirit Lake, is part of the Fishermen quartet, an offshoot of the Lake City Harmonizers Chorus. His group sings gospel music written for barbershop quartets.

Last week, Hayes’ quartet sang to diners at the Coeur d’Alene Resort. Earlier in the week, they entertained Target shoppers, then went to a fire station and a retirement home.

“We just pop into places and sing,” Hayes said. “We like to see the expression on people’s faces.”

The carolers worked their way down Sherman Avenue, stopping in front of businesses and venturing inside others. Outside the Brix restaurant, two women stopped to listen.

Both had smiles stretched from cheek to cheek.

Inside All Things Irish, the carolers stood next to a rack of Guinness sweatshirts and once again sang “Deck The Halls,” followed by “Silent Night.”

Some shoppers stopped and watched the group curiously. Others didn’t even look up or acknowledge the carolers.

“A lot of them are surprised,” Hayes said. “They’re glad to see us there.”

Sometimes, Hayes said, they ask people to join in. Often, they don’t even need to ask.

“We’ll have people follow us into a store and they’ll start singing with us,” he said.