Pilgrimage to Italy
9th Annual Choral Festival 2025-2026
Christmas Season in the Vatican
Darren Dailey, Festival Director
December 29, 2025–January 5, 2026
Dear Choristers:
I am excited to extend this invitation to you to join us for the 9th Annual Choral Festival during Christmas Season in the Vatican!
We will celebrate Christmas with our families at home. Then, we will travel to Rome to celebrate the season in Vatican City! We will arrive in Rome ahead of New Year’s Eve. It is the Holy Father’s custom to visit the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square following First Vespers for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God—and we will be there, awaiting his blessing, prepared to spontaneously sing our most treasured Christmas Carols!
A highlight of our pilgrimage will be attending a Papal Mass on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, celebrated by Pope Leo XIV! During our pilgrimage, you’ll see people from all over the world gathered in Rome to participate in activites of the Christmas season. You will join your voices with other festival singers throughout our time together. This will be a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the sites, tastes, and sounds of Rome, and the enchanting streets of Florence and Assisi.
As the scheduling of musical details and preparations are underway, we hope you will consider joining us for this joyous festival, including many wonderful performance opportunities bound to lift our hearts and voices in great joy!
Darren Dailey
President and Artistic Director
Jacksonville Children’s Chorus
Full package price including airfare: $3,895
from Jacksonville International Airport, per person, double occupancy
Air and Land Package
Cost is $3,895 per person sharing a room when paying by cash/check. $4,095 if paid by credit card.
Land Only Package
For Land Only travelers not requiring air transportation, the cost is $2,795 per person when paying by cash/check. $2,995 if paid by credit card.
Would you like your own room?
For single travelers wishing to have their own room, the cost is an additional $695 per person for a single room.
Enrollment Deadline: June 30, 2025
($500 non-refundable deposit due)
Full Payment Deadline: September 15, 2025
(Non-refundable balance due)
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To make your tour deposit by check, click the button below.
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