Making the Season Merry & Bright: 25+ Holiday Shows & Concerts

From Scrooge to the Nutcracker and everything in between

Take one part Scrooge, two parts Nutcracker, and more Christmas music than you can shake a sleigh bell at, and there you have it. It’s beginning to look (and sound) a lot like Christmas.

Once again, venues are throwing open their doors to welcome throngs of merrymakers, song and dance people, actors, musicians, and all the folks who make the holiday festivities so darn festive. Among the holiday happenings are orchestral favorites, indie-pop, dancers, actors, films, and—wait for it—Nutcrackers. Tchaikovsky’s ballet has lived on more than 130 years after his death, and its Christmas Eve setting and the fact it involves somewhere between 50 and 150 dancers make it a tradition like no other.

Here are some of the shows to get you in the holiday mood.

Cheboygan Opera House
The Opera House’s resident dance program, Cheboygan Area Arts Council School of Dance, presents its Holiday Showcase Dec. 12. There will be two shows, 2pm and 6pm. There’s also a free film screening: The beloved children’s tale The Polar Express fills the screen on Dec. 17 at 4pm.

Great Lakes Center for the Arts
On Dec. 5 at 4pm, Allen Fitzpatrick brings to life Scrooge, Tiny Tim and the ghosts of Christmas past, Christmas present and Christmas yet to come. His one-man version of A Christmas Carol actually follows in the footsteps of author Charles Dickens, who performed public readings of his immortal story until the year he died. The story has been adapted for over hundreds of stage, film, opera, and radio productions, featuring stars such as George C. Scott, Bill Murray, and the Muppets. Alone on stage, Fitzpatrick creates 26 different characters in his one-man show.

On Dec. 6, enjoy holiday cinema with The Man Who Invented Christmas at 2pm and Bruce Willis’s cheery holiday favorite, Die Hard, at 7pm.

The Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra goes the extra step Dec. 10 and 11 for Messiah By Candlelight. Handel’s beloved score is complemented this year by Mendelssohn’s “Hear My Prayer.” The 7pm performances also feature the GLCO Chorus, led by André Strydom, and guest soloists from the Michigan State University Graduate Opera Studio. On Dec. 12, the orchestra segues into carols, sing-alongs, and other seasonal favorites with its Family Holiday Pops. And rumor has it a special guest may show up, making the trip all the way from the heights of Mount Crumpit.

Also at GLCFA, Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet presents The Nutcracker Dec. 19 and 20 at 3pm. Miami City Ballet stars Taylor Naturkas and Alexander Peters will join the troupe for the second year in a row. 

Finally, Tony and Grammy nominee Michael Cavanaugh brings his “Merry Rockin’ Christmas” Dec. 22 at 7pm. Hand-picked by Billy Joel to star in Movin’ Out on Broadway, Cavanaugh mixes classic and modern holiday favorites with music by modern piano men including Joel and Elton John.

Crooked Tree Arts Center
On Dec. 11, the downtown Petoskey arts center welcomes the men’s vocal ensemble TBD A Cappella. The seven-member group will perform pop hits and holiday classics at 7:30pm. On Dec. 19, the Blissfest Winter Solstice celebrates the return of light as the days grow longer (if colder). Doors at 6:30pm, music at 7:30pm.

Interlochen Center for the Arts
Enjoy seasonal classics and jazz-inspired arrangements of holiday material at 7:30pm Dec. 6 with the Jazz Combo Holidays Showcase.

More Nutcracker? Of course. On Dec. 10-12, ICA dance students and community members join in to bring Clara, the Mouse King, and the title soldier to life with 7:30pm shows, as well as matinee shows Dec. 12 and 13 at 2pm.

The annual Sounds of the Season musical showcase takes place Dec. 17 at 7:30pm. The show features Interlochen Arts Academy music, theatre, and interdisciplinary arts students, and a visit from a special elf, all the way from the North Pole.

Finally, the Accidentals are joined by the Kaboom Collective Studio Orchestra at the Sonus Borealis Holiday Concert Dec. 18. The hometown heroes and 32-piece youth orchestra perform tracks from their holiday album of the same name.

City Opera House
A Magical Motown Christmas on Dec. 12 at 7pm will feature a cast of Motown performers in dazzling costumes performing seasonal hits by legends such as the Temptations, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Michael Jackson, the Spinners, and more.

The stage presentation I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas on Dec. 19 at 1pm finds everyone at the Ypsilanti Zoo eagerly anticipating the birth of Bella, the zoo’s first baby hippo. When the unexpected happens, only one person can save the day and reunite the zookeeper’s family for the holidays—but will Santa arrive in time?

On Dec. 20, comic Kristin Key’s The Chosen Family Christmas with The Carlile Family Band will focus on original holiday-themed comedy, music, and more. What more? Guess you’ll have to attend to find out.

Traverse City Philharmonic
Head on Home for the Holidays on Dec. 19 and 20 to Let it Swing! The Traverse City Philharmonic will fill the air at Corson Auditorium with seasonal favorites. Showtimes are 7:30pm on Dec. 19 and 3pm Dec. 20.

Northwestern Michigan College
The NMC Children’s Choirs share their magical sound and holiday songs from around the world Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. St. Francis Church. On Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. the NMC choirs—NMC Aurora, NMC Grand Traverse Chorale, and Canticum Novum—take the stage for a performance of holiday favorites at Central United Methodist Church.

Things take a jazzy turn on Dec. 5 when the NMC Jazz Bands perform “Swingin’ for the Season” at 7:30pm at Milliken Auditorium. The NMC Concert Band rounds things out with its holiday music show Dec. 11 at 7:30pm at Traverse City West Senior High.

Little River Casino
Did someone say (or sing) Silver Bells? Celtic Woman Silver Bells Christmas takes place Nov. 27. Beloved holiday classics, soaring Irish melodies, and fan favorites, all accompanied by the full symphony orchestra. 

Ramsdell Regional Center for the Arts
The Sleighbell Spectacular at the Ramsdell is part of Old Christmas Weekend in Manistee. This holiday show is filled with singing, dancing, even a few magical surprises. It takes place Dec. 4 and 5 at 7:30pm, with 1pm matinees Dec. 5 and 6. While at the Ramsdell, be sure to check out the Lakeside Club of Manistee’s annual Festival of Trees. It features Christmas trees, wreaths, and holiday décor created by local artists, businesses, and community groups.

Gaylord Community Orchestra
You can anticipate a bevy of familiar favorites Dec. 12. The orchestra will perform its winter concert at A.L. Gornick Auditorium at Gaylord High School at 7pm.

Antrim County Community Choir
The community group performs two shows featuring community members and local scholarship recipients performing holiday classics. The Dec. 6 show is at First Presbyterian Church in Elk Rapids, and the Dec. 7 show will take place at Bellaire’s Church In The Hills. Both performances will be at 4pm.

Kirkbride Hall
Enjoy the ambience of two candlelight concerts in the cozy confines of Kirkbride Hall. The Listeso String Quartet performs Christmas Carols on Strings, Dec. 19 at 6:30pm, featuring familiar carols like “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” and “Good King Wenceslas.” At 8:45pm, the group returns for Christmas Classics, including “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” from The Nutcracker, “Let It Go” from Frozen, Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” and more.

Photo courtesy of Interlochen Center for the Arts

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