14 holiday concerts around Columbus that will have you rockin' around the Christmas tree

Editor's note: In the lead-up to the holidays, The Dispatch's entertainment team is rolling out lists of things to do around Columbus to celebrate the season, including concerts, movies, shows, family events and more. For regular suggestions for fun in Columbus, sign up for our Life in the 614 email newsletter.

Holiday music is back in full force this year, refreshed with new songs created during last year's recess.

The next month's packed concert schedule offers something for everyone.

Those who like a like a little sensory overload with their holidays can opt for arena-set Trans-Siberian Orchestra shows, while those who enjoy a more peaceful version of the season can head to an acoustic concert by Over the Rhine.

You can also pick your instrument this holiday season: piano by Jim Brickman, saxophone by Dave Koz or violin with Lindsey Stirling. Or you can opt for a cappella groups either sweet or sassy with Pentatonix or Straight No Chaser.

Looking for a fix of Irish music? Head out to see Fialla or the Drowsy Lads. Prefer a rockabilly sound? JD McPherson has you covered.

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Check out the listings below to see what suits your fancy. And be sure to check with the venues for any last-minute changes before heading out.

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Events are listed in chronological order:

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER

PALACE THEATRE, 34 W. BROAD ST.

Details: The New Age rockers roll happily into through their fourth decade celebrating the season with semi-classical Christmas music. The group has capitalized on its holiday success by splitting into two touring bands, but the concept of the original 1984 album remains the same.

Showtime: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3

Admission: $39 to $89

COVID policy: masks and proof of full vaccination or negative test

Contact: 614-469-0939, www.capa.com

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WINTERFEST

BICENTENNIAL PARK, 233 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE

Details: L.A.-based electronic “dream pop” artist Absofacto will headline the outdoor concert, supported by local favorites Honey & Blue and the New Basics Brass Band. Enjoy craft beer and cocktails and the wares of food trucks while enjoying the music.

Showtime: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 4

Admission: Free

Contact: www.sciotomile.com

OVER THE RHINE

DAVIDSON THEATRE, 77 S. HIGH ST.

Details: Expect some comfortably poignant acoustic performances from husband-and-wife duo Linford Detwiler and Karin Bergquist, who make up Over the Rhine. Promising that they will be “leaning into some harmonies,” they will play a combination of Christmas songs, original and traditional, and others from their long career.

Showtime: 8 p.m. Dec. 4

Admission: $37

COVID policy: masks and proof of full vaccination or negative test

Contact: 614-469-0939, www.capa.com

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LINDSEY STIRLING

PALACE THEATRE, 34 W. BROAD ST.

Details: Classical violin and Christmas music both get a new spin when Stirling hits the stage. The alumna of “America's Got Talent” and “Dancing With the Stars” is known for mixing violin with dance and even aerial acts, and those attending her show should expect spectacle aplenty.

Showtime: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8

Admission: $48.63 to $103.75

COVID policy: masks and proof of full vaccination or negative test

Contact: 614-469-039, www.capa.com

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DAVE KOZ AND FRIENDS

PALACE THEATRE, 34 W. BROAD ST.

Details: Smooth saxophonist Dave Koz, making his yearly appearance, will be joined by South African guitarist Jonathan Butler, fellow saxophonist Richard Elliot, trumpeter Rick Braun and vocalist Rebecca Jade for an evening including Christmas tunes, a Chanukah medley and a few non-seasonal numbers.

Showtime: 8 p.m. Dec. 9

Admission: $50.50 to $92.50

COVID policy: masks and proof of full vaccination or negative test

Contact: 614-469-0939, www.capa.com

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FIALLA: IRISH CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

RAMBLING HOUSE, 310 E. HUDSON ST.

Details: Join in a sing-along of lively Celtic tunes and English carols with Columbus-based traditional Irish trio Fialla, whose members play a total of 19 instruments. Proceeds from the show will be donated to charity.

Showtime: 7 p.m. Dec. 10

Admission: $10

COVID policy: proof of vaccination or negative test required

Contact: 614-468-3415, www.ramblinghousemusic.com

CHRISTINE'S CHRISTMAS

DAVIDSON THEATRE, RIFFE CENTER THEATRE COMPLEX, 77 S. HIGH ST.

Details: The 18th annual celebration of the life of Christine Wilson, who died in an arson fire, will raise funds for Special Olympics Ohio, the Childhood League Center and other local children's charities. Director and pianist Mark King will be joined by Capriccio Columbus, the Chamber Music Columbus Conservatory Orchestra and other musicians and vocalists.

Showtime: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11

Admission: $52 to $102

COVID policy: masks and proof of full vaccination or a negative test

Contact: 614-469-0939, www.capa.com

PENTATONIX

NATIONWIDE ARENA, 200 W. NATIONWIDE BLVD.

Details: The glitzy Texas-based a cappella quintet will celebrate the season with holiday numbers enhanced with some beat-boxing. The group, best known for their cover of “Mary Did You Know?,” will highlight music from their new Christmas album, “Evergreen.”

Showtime: 7 p.m. Dec. 12

Admission: $59.50 to $149.50

COVID policy: masks and proof of full vaccination or negative test within 72 hours

Contact: 614-246-2000, www.nationwidearena.com

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FOR KING AND COUNTRY

VALUE CITY ARENA, EAST LANE AVENUE AND OLENTANGY RIVER ROAD

Details: Christian pop duo Joel and Luke Smallbone, transplanted from Australia to Nashville, Tennessee, will give their popular 2020 album, “A Drummer Boy Christmas,” the arena treatment, with an emphasis on traditional songs such as “Joy to the World” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”

Showtime: 7 p.m. Dec. 17

Admission: $21

COVID policy: masks required

Contact: 614-688-3939, www.schottensteincenter.com

JD McPHERSON

COLUMBUS ATHENAEUM, 32 N. 4TH ST.

Details: Singer-songwriter McPherson applies his gift for '50s-era rockabilly to the original songs from his “Socks: A Christmas Album,” including “Santa's Got a Mean Machine” and “Ugly Sweater Blues.”

Showtime: 8 p.m. Dec. 17

Admission: $25

COVID policy: proof of full vaccination or negative test

Contact: 614-286-2954, columbusathenaeum.com

DROWSY LADS CHRISTMAS

NATALIE'S GRANDVIEW, 945 KING AVE.

Details: The Columbus-based quintet will play some rousing traditional Irish tunes, mixed in with a bit of bluegrass and even classical. Each member of the band plays multiple instruments, so expect the usual fiddles to be joined by banjo, whistles, accordion, flute, guitar, bodhran, bouzouki, Uilleann pipes and more.

Showtimes: 6 and 9 p.m. Dec. 18

Admission: $15 to $20

COVID policy: proof of full vaccination or negative test

Contact: 614-436-2625, nataliesgrandview.com

STRAIGHT NO CHASER

PALACE THEATRE, 34 W. BROAD ST.

Details: The spiffy nine-member male a cappella group, best-known for their tongue-in-cheek interpretation of “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” used their pandemic time-out to make a new seasonal album, “Social Christmasing.” They're likely to perform new versions of old standards such as “Frosty the Snowman” and “The First Noel,” as well as originals like “I'm Your Snowman” and “Office Party Blues.”

Showtime: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21

Admission: $46.50 to $64.50

COVID policy: masks and proof of full vaccination or negative test

Contact: 614-469-0939, www.capa.com

JIM BRICKMAN: THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

SOUTHERN THEATRE, 21 E. MAIN ST.

Details: Ohio-raised songwriter and pianist Brickman will tickle the ivories in a show infused with comforting New Age sounds. Audiences can anticipate originals such as “Sending You a Little Christmas” and “I Wish It Was Christmas All Year,” as well as seasonal favorites from the creator of albums like last year's “Soothe — Christmas.”

Showtime: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22

Admission: $34 to $69

COVID policy: masks and proof of full vaccination or negative test

Contact: 614-469-0939, www.capa.com

TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA

NATIONWIDE ARENA, 200 W. NATIONWIDE BLVD.

Details; Trans-Siberian Orchestra looks back 25 years to “Christmas Eve and Other Stories,” created by the group's late founder and composer, Paul O'Neill. Expect a flashy light show and high-decibel renditions of “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” and “Wizards in Winter.”

Showimes: 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 26

Admission: 3 p.m.: $46.50 to $76.50; 8 p.m.: $66.50 to $86.50

COVID policy: masks required

Contact: 614-246-2000, www.nationwidearena.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: 14 fun Christmas concerts coming to Columbus this year