Walter Michalak, who now lives in France, started the local group Nonstop Christmas Carolers in 2007 to bring high-quality, old-fashioned caroling to Whatcom County.

He developed a CD and songbook called "Sing We Now of Christmas" to teach people how to sing a cappella Christmas carols by learning individual parts as well as how to sing in a chorus. The materials are still available at nonstopmusique.com.

Wearing period costumes courtesy of Louise Sager of Ferndale, the dozen or so carolers perform several annual public performances, and visit retirement homes and other facilities where people can't get out to see live entertainment.

Their public performances include 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at Hotel Bellwether; 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at Ferndale's Olde Fashioned Christmas; 2:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Allied Arts Holiday Festival of the Arts; and 5 p.m. Dec. 16 at Village Books.

Reach Margaret Bikman at 360-715-2273 or margaret.bikman@bellinghamherald.com.