GOOD TIDINGS!
Is your Christmas tree up already? Are you one of those people who looks forward to humming carols from the end of November through to the very last days of December? Can’t get enough of how the holiday season makes you feel? Tom Murray offers a roundup o
A (nearly) exhaustive guide to Edmonton’s Christmas entertainment options, from holiday classics to new seasonal gems.
In Edmonton, we start counting down the days with A Christmas Carol over at the Maclab Theatre in the Citadel. Julien Arnold is Scrooge in this holiday classic, which has multiple evening and matinee performances through the month; it runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 23. Tickets start at $30 and are available at the box office or in advance from the Citadel website.
Alexander Prior leads the ESO through Bach’s Christmas Oratio at the Winspear on Dec. 1 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 to $82, available at the Winspear box office or in advance from the website.
If theatre is your thing, the 12th annual Karol Wojtyla Nativity Play takes place on Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. at The Orange Hub Theatre. Tickets are $14 for adults, $7 for children and youth, and are available from Tix on the Square.
Also on Dec. 1, Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy are at the Jubilee Auditorium for A Celtic Family Christmas at 8 p.m. Tickets are $40 to $76, available at the door or in advance from Ticketmaster.
Gateway Chorus, HarpRouge Trio, and the Ukrainian Male Chorus of Edmonton have linked up for A Festive Mosaic over at McDougall United Church on Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students, available at the door or in advance from Eventbrite. Children 12 and under are admitted for free.
Also on that very busy Dec. 1, Te Deum Singers are presenting Deo Gloria, a Choral Christmas Concert at Lendrum Mennonite Church at 7 p.m., with a followup concert on Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. Admission is free, though donations are gratefully accepted.
The Alberta Baroque Ensemble is back for another Music for a Festive Season, taking place at Robertson-Wesley United Church on Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for youth and seniors, and $17 for youth, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square.
Also on Dec. 2, A Joyful Noise will spread holiday cheer with a Candlelight Christmas at Southminster-Steinhauer United Church at 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $25, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square.
Country pop singer Johnny Reid has two Christmas shows at the Winspear on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4. Home for the Holidays is at 7:30 p.m. on both days; tickets are $24 to $94, available from the Winspear box office and website.
The Greenwood Singers have a bit of a tradition going with their annual Many Moods of Christmas, taking place at First Presbyterian Church on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square.
They tend to go really, really fast, so make a point of snapping up tickets to the McDade’s Candlelight Christmas concert series at the John Walter Museum. It runs from Dec. 6 to 22, with afternoon and evening shows at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively. Tickets are $39, available from the City of Edmonton website.
The Alberta Ballet will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of Edmund Stripe’s The Nutcracker with afternoon and evening shows scattered from Dec. 6 to 9 at the Jubilee Auditorium. Tickets are $41 to $145, available at the door or in advance from Ticketmaster.
The Royal Canadian Artillery Band is inviting you to a Christmas Celebration on Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are free and available at the door.
Also free is the Salvation Army’s Festival of Carols, a family Christmas Concert, taking place at the Winspear on Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Make sure to grab your ticket in advance from the Salvation Army at 780-412-2736.
Dec. 8 and 9 the St. Albert Singer’s Guild bring A Christmas Delivery to the Arden Theatre in St. Albert; 7 p.m. on Dec. 8, and 3 p.m. on Dec. 9; tickets are $20, available at the door or in advance by calling 780-418-4184.
Festival City Winds will be singing such classics as I’ll Be Home For Christmas and White Christmas at Peace in Our Time on Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Robert Tegler Centre, Concordia University of Edmonton. Tickets are $12 at the door, with children 12 and under admitted for $15.
If listening is not enough then you might want to take part in the Sing-Along Messiah, taking place at Robertson-Wesley United Church on Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20, available in advance from Tix on the Square.
The Annotated Christmas Song Book at Holy Trinity Anglican Church offers the opportunity to find out more about classics like Jingle Bells and The Christmas Song. It also takes place on Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $20, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square.
All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral is where A Joyful Noise will be bringing their Classical Christmas on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $25, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square.
Dec. 9 is when Craig Brenan brings his yearly tribute to Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite to the Yardbird. The concert is at 2 p.m.; tickets are $26 to $30, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square.
If jazz isn’t your jam, you also have the option of checking out A Choral Christmas at First Presbyterian on Dec. 9 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, and $5 for kids 12 and under. They’ll be available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square.
Cantilon Choirs’ Christmas Storytakes place at the Winspear on Dec. 9 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 to $30, available at the door or in advance from the Cantilon Choirs website.
The gospel story is celebrated with bells on by Concordia School of Music, Bella Voce Community Chorus and Handbell Ensembles, and a whole host of other musical organizations with Noel on Sunday, Dec. 9 at 6 p.m. at Glory Lutheran Church in Sherwood Park. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors, available from Tix on the Square.
Also on Dec. 9, St. David’s Welsh Male Voice Choir at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church for Songs of the Season, starting at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door or in advance by calling Bob at 780-475-4140.
The Roxy on Gateway enters the holiday fray with 11 theatrical performances of the comedy Oh! Christmas Tree, from Dec. 11 to 23, all shows at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 to $22, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square.
The Backstage Theatre once again hosts The Best Little Newfoundland Christmas Pageant ... Ever from Dec. 12 to 23. The show runs at 7:30 p.m. most nights, with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Dec. 23; tickets are $22.95 to $28.95, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square.
The Singing Christmas Tree is not actually a Christmas tree, but humans pretending to be a Christmas tree; you can also expect dancing Santas, ballerinas and more at the show, which runs 7 p.m. nightly from Dec. 13 to 16, with 2 p.m. afternoon matinees on Dec. 15 and 16. It takes place at the Jubilee Auditorium; tickets are $33 to $99, available at the door or in advance from Ticketmaster.
The ESO and conductor Jean-Marie Zeitouni are teaming up for Handel’s Messiah, at the Winspear on Dec. 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $24 to $75, available at the Winspear box office or in advance from the website. They’ll be presenting Handel’s Messiah — Greatest Hits, on Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $39 to $49, available at the Winspear box office or in advance from the website. Youth are admitted for free.
Also boasting multiple performances, Kokopelli Choirs is presenting 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows of Wintersong at McDougall United Church on Dec. 15. Tickets are $15 to $25, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square. Children six years of age and under are admitted for free.
Edmonton’s own British-style brass band, the Mill Creek Colliery Band, have tabbed Dec. 15 for their holiday concert. Festive Brass takes place at 7:30 p.m. at All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral; tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square. Children 17 and under are admitted for free.
Pro Coro presents The Little Match Girl Passion, Dec. 16, 7 p.m. at Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Tickets are $20 to $25, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square.
You’ll have a far more gymnastic experience at the Jubilee Auditorium, with hosts Cirque Musica Holiday presenting Wonderland on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $44 to $109, available at the door or in advance from Ticketmaster.
A Swingin’ Christmas and Cool Yule is where fans of big band music should be on Dec. 19, as The River City Big Band and vocalist Chandelle Rimmer take over the Betty Andrews Recital Hall at MacEwan University at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20, available from Tix on the Square.
They’re going hard with Christmas concerts at the Winspear starting Dec. 20 with A Lightly Classical Christmas, with Bob Bernhardt conducting. It takes place at 8 p.m.; tickets are $15 to $92, available at the Winspear box office or in advance from the website.
From Dec. 21 to 23, is A Very Merry Pops, with Bernhardt once again in the driver’s seat. Friday and Saturday are 8 p.m. performances, with Sunday, Dec. 23 a 2:30 p.m. matinee concert. Tickets are $15 to $99, available at the Winspear box office or in advance from the website.
Fans of Old Blue Eyes might want to take note of A Perfectly Frank Christmas, bringing together the Don Berner Big Band and Johnny Summers for a night of Sinatra tunes. It takes place on Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Ottewell United Church. Tickets are $20 to $30, available from Tix on the Square.
Shumka bring their unique and wonderful version of The Nutcracker to the Jubilee Auditorium on Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22 to $94, available at the door or in advance from Ticketmaster.
Also on Dec. 22, the Richard Eaton Singers present Gaudete — Carols for Christmas, at McDougall United Church at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 for adults, $20 for students, available from Eventbrite.
The Rocky Mountain Ice House presents a Celtic Christmas with Derina Harvey on Dec. 22 at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $15, available from Yeglive.