The Misfits Caroling sings “Dominick the Donkey” in German Street Coffee & Candlery on Dec. 17. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Eight years ago, Shepherdstown resident Jenny Haynes decided that she and her fellow employees at The Press Room should begin bringing some extra holiday cheer to town. And so, during the last week before Christmas, they used the day that The Press Room is closed every week — Tuesday — to go caroling together.

The activity has become an annual tradition, known as “Misfits Caroling.” And on Tuesday evening, Misfits Caroling was once again held in Shepherdstown, with a number of original members and new additions from The Press Room and the community joining together, to fill the town’s shops and restaurants with entertaining Christmas songs.

“We always do three songs when we visit each of the businesses in town: ‘Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Dominick the Donkey,” Haynes said, noting the final song is a lesser known Christmas classic, about a donkey that filled in for Santa Claus’ reindeer in Italy, because the reindeer were unable to scale the country’s steep hills.

“Those are the only songs we’re good at!” Haynes said, with a chuckle. “You don’t want to hear us sing ‘Silent Night’ — it was bad. We had tears.”

But Haynes noted that their general lack of musical ability is the whole point behind the event’s name. Regardless of musical ability, anyone who wants to join the group and spread Christmas cheer around Shepherdstown is welcome.

Over the years, the Misfit Carolers have had a lot of fun together, acting like a flash mob, by surprising many people with their musical performances.

“We’re not like traditional caroling, because we only have three songs and it’s not about being drunk. We just do our thing and have fun doing it!” Haynes said, mentioning sometimes the Misfit Carolers have taken over a crosswalk in town square and performed their set for nearby drivers and pedestrians alike. “We have also been known to chase Santas, so it can get a little crazy!”

One of the original Misfit Carolers in this year’s group was Lindsay Gaynor, who is now a travel nurse based out of Shepherdstown.

“I have a lot of fun, every time I do it,” Gaynor said of Misfits Caroling. “I haven’t been able to do it for the last five years, because of my work schedule, but I got off this year. I did it with Jenny, when I worked at The Press Room — I enjoyed it and spending time with this group of people.

“I like the fact that none of us are good singers. None of us are practiced — we’re just here to have fun,” Gaynor said. “We don’t take it too serious.”

For current The Press Room server Shelley Viands, Misfits Caroling has become a tradition that she looks forward to participating in every Christmas season.

“This is year three for me,” Viands said, mentioning she has done it every year since she moved back to Shepherdstown. “We get together and have a lot of fun with it!”