It's Christmas time in Louisville! Here's your guide to 18+ holiday concerts, shows & more
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It's the holiday season, which means it's time to treat yourself to a trip to the theater for a variety of concerts, performances and plays that will fill you with holiday joy.
From the iconic "The Brown-Forman Nutcracker" danced by the Louisville Ballet and award-winning a cappella group Pentatonix, to family-friendly events like "A Christmas Story The Musical" and "Once Upon a Snowflake," at the Derby Dinner Playhouse, there's something for everyone this holiday season.
In event date order, here are almost 20 holiday events sure to put a smile on your face as you celebrate the season. Did we miss an event? Send us a note and we'll add it.
Happy Holidays!
'A Christmas Story: The Musical'
WHAT: Derby Dinner Playhouse presents the movie classic that follows Ralphie on a desperate quest to ensure his perfect gift is under the tree. Featuring scenes from the movie.
WHERE: 525 Marriott Drive, Clarksville, Indiana.
WHEN: Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday, 7:45 p.m.; Wednesday, 1 and 7:45 p.m.; Sunday, 1:30 and 7:45 p.m. Now through Dec. 30
COVID-19 SAFETY: Mask required when not eating or drinking.
MORE INFORMATION: $39-$49. 812-288-8281, derbydinner.com.
'Once Upon a Snowflake'
WHAT: Derby Dinner Playhouse Children’s Musical Theatre presents "Once Upon a Snowflake," the musical about a small snow girl with big dreams.
WHERE: 525 Marriott Drive, Clarksville, Indiana
WHEN: Nov. 26, 27; Dec.4, 11, 18, 20. Breakfast at 9 a.m.; lunch at noon. A dinner performance only Dec. 20, 5:45 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: Breakfast, $17; lunch, $22. All performances feature a kid-friendly menu. Recommended for ages 3-12. 812-288-8281, derbydinner.com.
Louisville Orchestra 'Jingle Bell Concert'
WHAT: "Jingle Bell Concert." Tony DeSare and the orchestra will perform holiday favorites. A holiday sing-a-long will be part of the concert. Bob Bernhardt, conductor.
WHERE: Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.
WHEN: Nov. 27, 11 a.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $17.55. kentuckyperformingarts.org.
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Bourbon Baroque 'Händel's Messiah'
WHAT: “Händel's Messiah,” an oratorio in three parts performed with period instruments with a chamber choir of Early Music specialists.
WHEN: Nov. 27, 8 p.m.; Nov. 28, 3 p.m.
WHERE: Calvary Episcopal Church, 821 S. Fourth St.
MORE INFORMATION: Free, donation accepted. bourbonbaroque.com.
Louisville Orchestra 'Holiday Pops'
WHAT: "Holiday Pops." Tony DeSare, piano and vocals, leads the celebration with a fresh take on holiday classics. Bob Bernhardt, conductor.
WHERE: Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.
WHEN: Nov. 27, 8 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $31.59. kentuckyperformingarts.org.
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For King & County: A Drummer Boy Christmas
WHAT: For King & Country: A Drumm Boy Christmas 2021 Winter Tour
WHERE: KFC Yum Center, One Arena Plaza
WHEN: Nov. 28, 7 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Certain events may require face coverings and physical distancing, so specific COVID-19 policies may be adjusted and announced prior to the event.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $15. ticketmaster.com.
Cirque Dream Holidaze
WHAT: A whimsical, Broadway-style musical infused with contemporary circus artistry.
WHERE: Louisville Palace, 625 S. Fourth St.
WHEN: Nov. 28, 7:30 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $29. louisvillepalace.com
Louisville Orchestra 'Messiah'
WHAT: "Messiah." Featuring Christmas selections including "Glory to God," "Hallelujah!" and "Amen." With Kent Hatteberg, conductor and chorusmaster, and the Louisville Chamber Choir.
WHEN AND WHERE:
Dec. 3: Cathedral of the Assumption 433 S. Fifth St., 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 4: St. Michael Catholic Church, 3705 Stone Lakes Dr., 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 5: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1840 E. 8th St, Jeffersonville, 3 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $35. kentuckyperformingarts.org.
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'Nutcracker In a Nutshell'
WHAT: Magic Inc. (Making Art Grow in Children) presents this shorter version of the classic holiday story with Clara and the Mouse Kings.
WHERE: Louisville Palace, 625 S. 4th St.
WHEN: Dec. 4, 2 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $25. louisvillepalace.com.
An Acoustic Holiday Show
WHAT: Featuring Over the Rhine and Carrie Newcomer.
WHERE: Bomhard Theater, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.
WHEN: Dec. 9, 8 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $29.25. kentuckyperformingarts.org.
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Happy Hollerdays
WHAT: Celebrate the holidays Appalachian style with music, dance and storytelling curated by Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore. Performances from some of Kentucky’s best contemporary musicians, authors and creatives.
WHERE: Bomhard Theater, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.
WHEN: Dec. 10, 8 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $29.25. kentuckyperformingarts.org.
Louisville Chorus 'Christmas Family Holiday Treasures'
WHAT: "Christmas Family Holiday Treasures."
WHERE: Beargrass Christian Church, 4100 Shelbyville Road.
WHEN: Dec. 11, 1:30 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: $23, $20 seniors, $5 students. LouisvilleChorus.org.
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'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever'
WHAT: StageOne presents the story of the Herdmans. The worst kids in the world who lie, steal, and cheat and have bullied their way into the church's Christmas pageant.
WHERE: Bomhard Theater, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.
WHEN: Dec. 11 and 18, 2 and 5 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $20, $15 for children. kentuckyperformingarts.org.
The Brown-Forman 'Nutcracker'
WHAT: Louisville Ballet presents the classic story of Marie, her Nutcracker Prince, and their journey to the world of the Sugar Plum Fairy. Choreography by Val Caniparoli and music by Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
WHERE: Whitney Hall, Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St.
WHEN: Dec. 11-23, various times.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours.
MORE INFORMATION: louisvilleballet.org; 502-583-2623
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Pentatonix: The Evergreen Christmas Tour
WHAT: The popular a cappella group will perform Christmas favorites and more.
WHERE: KFC Yum Center, One Arena Plaza.
WHEN: Dec. 11, 7 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Proof of a negative test or COVID-19 vaccination to attend this event.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $32. ticketmaster.com.
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Louisville Chorus 'Canticles of Christmas'
WHAT: "Canticles of Christmas." Nativity carols.
WHERE: St. Brigid Catholic Church, 1520 Hepburn Ave.
WHEN: Dec. 12, 3 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: $23, $20 seniors, $5 students. LouisvilleChorus.org.
A Songbird Christmas with Sheryl Rouse
WHAT: With the Unlimited Band performing many of your favorite hits and some Christmas carols.
WHERE: Headliners Music Hall, 1386 Lexington Road
WHEN: Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours. Mask encouraged.
MORE INFORMATION: $25. headlinerslouisville.com.
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Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour
WHAT: Grammy-nominated and Platinum-selling saxophonist Dave Koz performs with special guests Jonathan Butler, Richard Elliot, Rick Braun and Rebecca Jade.
WHERE: Brown Theatre, 315 W. Broadway
WHEN: Dec. 12, 7 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $29.25. kentuckyperformingarts.org.
Kentucky Opera Holiday Celebration
WHAT: Featuring winter vignettes from operas and other popular holiday favorites performed by the Kentucky Opera chorus and soloists in full costume. Includes selections from "Hansel and Gretel", "Carmen," "King Arthur" and a singalong finale of traditional carols.
WHERE: Brown Theatre, 315 W. Broadway
WHEN: Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m.
COVID-19 SAFETY: Those attending must show a vaccination card or negative COVID test within 72 hours.
MORE INFORMATION: Tickets start at $52.64. kentuckyperformingarts.org.
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An exploratory lab production of 'A Christmas Carol'
WHAT: This lab production of "A Christmas Carol" will be the first opportunity to welcome audiences back into the theatre and will mix old and new media. This exploratory version experiments with motion-capture technology to immerse the audience in the ghostly story animating the imaginative, haunted inner journey of Ebenezer Scrooge.
This work is part of Actors Theatre’s continued reinvestigation of the classics, both in form and content, by utilizing emergent technology like virtual and augmented reality intersecting with in-person performance.
WHEN: Dec. 16-19, in the Bingham Theatre at Actors, 316 W. Main St.
MORE INFORMATION: actorstheatre.org
It's A Pilcher Pipe Organ Holiday Concert
WHAT: Festive holiday concert with various organists playing seasonal music on the World's Largest Pilcher Pipe Organ.
WHERE: Louisville Memorial Auditorium, 970 S. Fourth St.
WHEN: Dec. 19, 3 p.m.
MORE INFORMATION: $10. 502-584-4911; louisvillememorialauditorium.com
Reach features news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 18+ Christmas shows, concerts to see in Louisville 2021
