San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Seasonal festivities at a healthy distance
Santa is not the only good part about December. Here’s a guide to holiday excitement you can find at home or around the Bay Area.
Ragazzi Boys Chorus Presents: Beyond the Stars: Ring in the holiday season with a livestreamed choral concert. The ensemble will present a program featuring seasonal works, plus songs of hope and resiliency, with choristers performing live and together, from their homes. 4 p. m. Sunday, Dec. 13. Free, donations encouraged. Available to stream on their website, YouTube and Facebook channels. 6503428785. ragazzi. org
Face2Face Sonoma: Holiday Year End Virtual Gala:
An annual event, presented online this year, featuring performances from the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, comedian Aidan Park and other surprises; including the announcement of this year’s Mert Preston Award.
5 p. m. Sunday, Dec. 13. Free, registration required. 7075441581. f2f. org
Palo Alto DriveThru Christmas Experience:
Drive through a series of interactive traditional advent themed stations and celebrate some of the history and meaning of the Christmas holiday season with safe social distance measures in place.
58 p. m. Sunday, Dec. 13. Free. First Christian Church, 2890 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. paloaltochristmas. com
Manual Cinema and Cal Performances Present: ‘ A Christmas Carol’:
The arts collective presents the world premiere of its online performance, based on the Dickens holiday classic. The production follows holiday skeptic Aunt Trudy as she struggles to recreate her late husband’s annual “Christmas Carol” puppet show for a Zoom Christmas celebration with her family. As she becomes more in tune with the holiday spirit, the puppets come alive and transform the virtual gathering into a cinematic adaptation of the classic tale. 5 p. m. Thursday, Dec. 17; 7 p. m. Friday, Dec. 18; 1 p. m. Saturday, Dec. 19. $ 1560. calperformances. org
Lu’s Jukebox: Have Yourself a Rockin’ Little Christmas with Lucinda Williams:
The Freight and Salvage. in collaboration with the artist, presents a holiday concert with the awardwinning singersongwriter featuring her full band streaming live from the studio. 5 p. m. Thursday, Dec. 17. $ 20$ 215. 5106442020. thefreight. org
The Golden Girls Live: The Christmas Episodes 2020:
Two holiday parodies, based on episodes of the popular television series, are set to be presented online, as a drag sendup and loving tribute to the show’s popular characters. With San Francisco drag stars Heklina, Matthew Martin, D’Arcy Drollinger and Holotta Tymes.
The live stream is set to feature beloved holiday carols, and a limited number of VIP ticket virtual meet and greets. Because these shows are produced live, each performance will be a little different. 7 p. m. ThursdaySaturday; 3 p. m. Sunday. Dec. 1720. $ 30$ 50. thegoldengirlslive. com
San Francisco Symphony Presents: Deck the Hall Virtual Celebration:
Daniel BartholomewPoyser plans to host a program of holiday favorites and singalongs with organist Jonathan Dimmock and members of the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus.
3: 30 p. m. Saturday, Dec. 19 on NBC Bay Area. Free. 4158646000. sfsymphony. org
Old First Concerts Presents: Kitka’s Wintersongs:
The critically acclaimed women’s vocal ensemble presents their winter holiday program showcasing seasonal music from a variety of Eastern European ethnic and spiritual traditions. This year’s livestreamed event is set to feature new performances, as well as highlights from previous years. 7 p. m. Saturday, Dec. 19. $ 20 suggested donation. oldfirst concerts. org
Winter’s Gifts: Treasures: The annual holiday concert collaboration with the San José Chamber Orchestra will take place as a livestreamed event this year. The event is set to include music from the organization’s archives celebrating the winter season, Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas. 7 p. m. Saturday, Dec. 19. $ 30. 4082954416. wintersgifts. com
Ongoing
The Great Dickens Christmas Fair at Home: In lieu of an inperson event, the organizers plan to add a section on their website with new content each weekend. It will include access to videos of “A Christmas Carol” presented as a serialized reading, performances of traditional Victorian songs from the Coventry Carolers and the Bangers & Mash Band, eraappropriate craft projects and a virtual party on Christmas Eve. Through Dec. 24. Free. dickens fair. com
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Presents: Simple Gifts:
The Bay Area theater company is set to host a livestreamed celebration highlighting holiday songs and traditions from around the world. It will feature local theater performers sharing music and memories, as they explore a variety of winter celebrations, including Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukkah, Noche Buena, Diwali, and Las Posadas. Each performance is set to be followed by postshow conversations with the cast.
7 p. m. ThursdaySaturday; 2 p. m. Sunday. Through Dec. 27. $ 10 donation. Ondemand viewing available Dec. 28– Jan. 1. 6504631960. theatreworks. org
American Conservatory Theater Presents: “A Christmas Carol: On Air”: The Charles Dickens classic comes to life as a radio play that the whole family can enjoy from home. With adaptation and direction by Peter J. Kuo, the tale of reckoning and redemption will feature the music, spooky ghosts and other elements that have made the production a cornerstone of the ACT repertory, as well as a beloved holiday tradition for many Bay Area families. Through Dec. 31. $ 40–$ 60. Tickets available online or call 4157492228. www. actsf. org
San Francisco Ballet Presents: “Nutcracker Online”: The San Francisco Ballet’s annual “Nutcracker” performance is set to come to your home this year as a new virtual, interactive experience. Patrons will get a chance to watch a recorded performance of the full ballet and experience a digital tour of War Memorial Opera House packed with interactive activities. Send downloadable holiday pictures to friends, enjoy historical highlights from the long history of San Francisco Ballet’s “Nutcracker” long history and learn steps from the choreography. Through Dec. 31. $ 49, includes 48hour access to the programming. 4158652000. sfballet. org