Reading nonprofit brings holiday cheer, Christmas tunes to Penn Street

Dec. 23—The wind was fierce, but the frigid weather and a burst of sleet couldn't stifle the Christmas spirit Friday afternoon as revelers enjoyed live music at Barrio Alegria's holiday window concert.

The event featured four local musicians and groups, who performed a mix of modern and classic Christmas songs outside of BCTV's headquarters on Penn Street.

Shortly after noon, a small crowd sipped hot chocolate, munched on cookies, and swayed to the mellow acoustic beat as Adrian Peters and Kyle Zaras teamed up to perform "Winter's Call."—an original song.

Zaras, also a college student at Alvernia, said playing Christmas music lifts people's spirits during a time of leafless trees and long, cold nights.

Musician Jamilette Santiago-Leon, of Reading, agreed and said Christmas songs are so popular because music gives people a reason to come together and be happy.

"Music is the one language we all speak fluently," said Santiago-Leon, who goes by the stage name Lilaria, "It brings us together, it helps you through tough times, it helps you process your feelings when you're feeling down, keep your mood up when you're feeling up."

Miguel Leon, Santiago Leon's husband, said events like Fridays give people a reason to celebrate with neighbors.

"It's the spirit of it all, to have all your friends and family here supporting you," Leon said.

Spotlighting local talent is a major reason Barrio Alegria puts on events like the concert, said Anthony Orozco, director of operations and communications at Barrio Alegria.

"It's about giving opportunities to local artists, to make sure that ecosystem is thriving, and people can make their passions a profession," Orozco said.

The nonprofit organization, whose name is Spanish for "Neighborhood of Happiness," also aims to foster camaraderie in Reading, according to Orozco.

"We try to create a sense of community, especially in Reading where there's such a high rate of transiency," Orozco said, "it's hard to get a sense of 'this is my home,' when you're moving from row home to row home."

Diana Guitierrez and her daughter, Viktoria Torres, 5, danced and sang along as Zaras strummed his guitar and played a cover of Jack Johnson's version of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Guitierrez said she was happy to see Barrio Alegria using music and art to bring people closer.

Later, Torres herself took to the stage to sing during Grupo Uarhani's performance of "El Burrito Sabanero," a Latin Christmas song.

Decked in reindeer bells and antlers, Kris Batista, volunteer with Barrio Alegria, cheered on artists and chatted with concertgoers.

"Sometimes it can be hard to keep sprits up in the winter when everything dies down, but it gets a lot easier when you're in a group," Batista said.

Barrio Alegria partnered with BCTV to host the concert, which was sponsored by local arts organizations including the Reading Musical Foundation and WCR Center for the Arts.