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Home for the holidays: 25 festive Boston-area concerts and shows coming to town for 2024
This year’s holiday show lineup in and around Boston spans concerts, musicals, ballets, and variety shows.
Between the chilly weather, the street decorations, and holiday cheer galore, there’s no better time to see a show in Boston than during the holidays. Plenty of classics have become annual family traditions, like Boston Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” and the Holiday Pops at Symphony Hall. Others have earned their way into the “traditions” category, though maybe without the “family” aspect — like “The Slutcracker” at the Somerville Theatre, now in its 17th season. Read on to read up on all types of holiday shows coming to town this year, from those at the big, bold venues to the more intimate, independent shows.
Concerts
Brett Eldridge: GLOW – Welcome to the Family
The country music singer and songwriter once again goes on tour for a holiday show, stopping by the Wang for two shows the weekend after Thanksgiving. Since 2010, Eldridge has racked up seven No. 1’s on Country Radio along with several CMA and ACM Awards. Among his eight studio albums are three Christmas albums, the most recent of which, “Merry Christmas (Welcome to the Family),” came out this past September. You’ll catch plenty of his hit holiday covers at this year’s tour, likely including his popular version of “Baby It’s Cold Outside” with Meghan Trainor. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 29-30 at 8 p.m.; Boch Center-Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St.; $39.50-$139.50
Handel and Haydn Society – Handel’s Messiah
The Handel and Haydn Society celebrates its 171th consecutive year performing this famed oratorio. Led by artistic director Jonathan Cohen, this phenomenal centuries-old Boston tradition returns to Symphony Hall for three performances over three days. Boston’s Grammy-winning H+H Society performs Baroque and classical music with a vigor and creativity that inspires and encapsulates the beauty of the Christmas season, featuring soloists like Jeanine De Bique and Reginald Mobley. Friday-Sunday, Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at 3 and 7:30 p.m.; Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave.; $15-$111 — EF
David Benoit’s Charlie Brown Christmas
Grammy-nominated jazz pianist and composer David Benoit heads to the North Shore on Dec. 5 to pay homage to Vince Guaraldi’s iconic holiday soundtrack “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Joined by vocalist Courtney Fortune, bassist Roberto Vally, and drummer Daniel Schnelle, Benoit breathes new life into the 1965 album that inspired him to become a jazz pianist at the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport. Thursday, Dec. 5 at 8 p.m.; Shalin Liu Performance Center, 16 Main St., Rockport; $49-$69
Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time
For a lot of people, it’s not Christmas until they hear Mariah Carey’s 10-million-selling “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” from her 1994 album “Merry Christmas.” And for a lot of other people, it makes them long for the coming of January, when it will have been mercifully retired for another year. That second group of people likely won’t be there when Carey hits the TD Garden for her annual holiday tour, singing that original classic along with more traditional holiday fare. Monday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m.; TD Garden, 100 Legends Way; $149-$269
The Holiday Pops
Another Boston holiday tradition, the Holiday Pops return for a month of shows at Symphony Hall. Led once again by conductor Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops will put on their annual holiday show 32 times this December, featuring classic holiday songs and a visit from Santa. Singing along is encouraged at this joyous, family-friendly production — the Boston Pops are known for their fun, lively shows, called by Lockhart the “perfect orchestra for people who don’t know they like orchestras!” Dec. 1-24 at 7:30 p.m., with 3 p.m. matinees most days; Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave.; $55-$242
Back Bay Ringers
One of the nation’s leading handbell organizations, Back Bay Ringers was the country’s first handbell ensemble dedicated to friends and members of the LGBTQIA+ community. They’ve performed at Symphony Hall and collaborated with organizations like the Handel and Haydn Society and the Boston Pops, and they celebrate their 20th anniversary this year. This December, they’ll put on a handful of holiday shows at various smaller venues like Emmanuel Church on Newbury Street and Shalin Liu in Rockport. Dec. 7-15 at 2, 5, or 7:30 p.m.; Wellesley Village Church, Emmanuel Church, Christ Congregational Church, and Shalin Liu Performance Center; $20-$25
Straight No Chaser – Top Shelf Tour
Gold-certified a cappella group Straight No Chaser continues to slay with their imaginative renditions of pop, yacht rock, and traditional favorites. For over two decades, the group has soundtracked the season and their annual fall tours have become part of family holiday traditions. The nine-member group is equipped with not only musical talent, but humor, too. Their 1998 version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” remains notoriously funny and witty. Sunday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.; MGM Music Hall at Fenway, 2 Lansdowne St.; $25-$79.50 — EF
NEC Chamber Singers, Symphonic Winds, Navy Band Northeast: Into the Holidays!
On Monday, Dec. 9, the New England Conservatory Chamber Singers are joined by NEC Symphonic Winds and Navy Band Northeast for a family-friendly choral and winds concert. Taking place at the Conservatory’s Jordan Hall, the evening show is free and open to the public and features plenty of popular holiday tunes along with a singalong. Monday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 p.m.; Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory, 30 Gainsborough St.; free admission
Mary Fahl: Wintersongs
The former lead singer of October Project visits City Winery for one night this December, performing songs from her album “Winter Songs and Carols” along with some other holiday classics. The singer-songwriter is known for her powerful contralto voice and her esoteric, cinematic songs. Saturday, Dec. 14 at 12 p.m.; City Winery, 80 Beverly St.; $25-$55
Love for the Holidays with Darlene Love
Darlene Love once again returns to the Cabot in Beverly this year to perform her annual holiday show. Since the ’60s, Love has thrilled audiences with her singing and acting, from her stint with girl group The Blossoms to her annual live performances of her hit “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” on “The Late Show With David Letterman” for 29 years before Letterman retired. (Now she shows up on “The View.”) Sunday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.; The Cabot, 286 Cabot St., Beverly; $47.50-$149
Windborne’s ‘Music of Midwinter‘
The folk vocal quartet comprising Lauren Breunig, Jeremy Carter-Gordon, Lynn Rowan, and Will Rowan is known for their lush vocal harmonies and innovative, polyphonic arrangements. Windborne releases a new album in time for the holidays this year — “To Warm the Winter Hearth” — and they’ll perform selections from the album when they head to City Winery this December for “Music of Midwinter.” Sunday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m.; City Winery, 80 Beverly St.; $30-$45
Midwinter Revels: The Selkie Girl and the Seal Woman
For the 54th year, the Cambridge-based Revels presents its annual midwinter show, this year called “The Selkie Girl and the Seal Woman.” A holiday tradition for thousands of annual visitors, this year’s show is a Celtic and Cabo Verdean celebration of the solstice. While they’re best known for their yearly holiday show at Harvard’s Sanders Theatre, Revels puts on other song and dance performances throughout the year dedicated to bringing to life cultural and folk traditions from around the world. Dec. 13-28 at various times; Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy St., Cambridge; $45-$105
F*ck That! Erin McKeown’s Anti-Holiday Spectacular
For those who don’t exactly do holiday cheer, folk-rock singer-songwriter Erin McKeown has you covered. Their Anti-Holiday Spectacular is filled with profanity and irreverence, and is self-described as the world’s first “anti-capitalist, pro-queer, suspicious of christmas-as-patriotism” holiday show. McKeown will perform some anti-holiday classics along with some new songs, too. Thursday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m.; Club Passim, 47 Palmer St., Cambridge; $30
Eric Roberson – Holiday Show
Two-time Grammy nominee and winner of the Soul Train Music Award for Independent Artist of the Year, Eric Roberson brings his smooth soul and R&B music to City Winery for a festive, soulful holiday show. Friday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m.; City Winery, 80 Beverly St.; $45-$75
Dance
Grand Kviv Ballet: ‘The Nutcracker‘ and ‘The Snow Queen‘
The Ukraine’s Grand Kviv Ballet brings two shows to Boston on the weekend after Thanksgiving. On Nov. 29 they perform “The Nutcracker,” the classic Christmas ballet by Tchaikovsky. And on Nov. 30 they’ll put on “The Snow Queen,” adapted from the same Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale that inspired Disney’s “Frozen.” Both shows take place at the Emerson Colonial Theatre and are one night only. Friday-Saturday Nov. 29-30 at 7 p.m.; Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston St.; $39-$154
Boston Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker‘
One of the country’s most prestigious versions of the timeless holiday show, Mikko Nissinen’s “The Nutcracker” continues to delight audiences year after year with its stunning sets, impressive choreography, and glittering costumes. The show is set to Tchikovsky’s iconic score and follows the story of Clara, a young girl who receives a nutcracker from her Godfather at a Christmas party — which then comes to life and whisks her away on a magical journey for the night. Nov. 29 to Dec. 29 at various times; Opera House, 539 Washington St., $25-$235
Cirque Dreams Holidaze
The longest-running Cirque holiday theatrical event comes to the Shubert for six performances on the first full weekend of December this year, bringing with it a Broadway-style production of contemporary circus arts like acrobatics, juggling, and aerial circus arts. The dream-like show brings holiday storybook characters to life, incorporates classic holiday music, and feels like watching the magic of Christmas through a child’s eyes. Friday-Sunday Dec. 6-8 at various times; Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St.; $39.50-$79.50
The Slutcracker
This fun, raunchy, sexy adaptation of Tchikovsky’s classic ballet once again returns to the Somerville Theater this December for its 17th season. The burlesque show features classical ballet along with other, saucier types of dance, like belly dancing, pole dancing, and hula hooping, as it follows a grown-up Clara while she explores the Kingdom of Sexual Sweets (the show is 18+, natch) for a performance that’s inclusive, impressive, and hilarious. Dec. 6-Jan. 5 at various times; Somerville Theater, 55 Davis Square, Somerville; $35
Anthony Williams’ Urban Nutcracker
This yearly Boston tradition takes the story of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker” and its well-known music and blends it with more modern sounds like Duke Ellington’s jazz. The multicultural show, set in present-day downtown Boston, is rooted in classical ballet but incorporates other dance styles like hip-hop, tap, jazz, and even flamenco. Anthony Williams’ “Urban Nutcracker,” which first ran in 2001 at Dorchester’s Strand Theatre, is produced by the City Ballet of Boston. Dec. 14-22 at various times; Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St.; $29-$125
Theater
Winter Wonderettes
The Winter Wonderettes return to Greater Boston Stage Company in Stoneham this holiday season for a “festive extravaganza” of holiday hits from the 1960s. The musical features classics like “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” “Santa Baby,” and “Winter Wonderland,” all performed in four-part harmony. The show runs for two hours including a 15-minute intermission, and was directed by Sara Coombs. Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at 2 and/or 7 p.m.; Greater Boston Stage Company, 395 Main St., Stoneham; $25-$69
The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show
The Queens of Christmas, BenDeLaCreme & Jinkx Monsoon, are ready to jingle your bells and meet you under the mistletoe with their unforgettable holiday show. The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” icons entertain with comedic skits, brand new songs, and annual favorites. Now on their seventh annual round of holiday shows, the fabulous extravaganza is bigger and better than ever. Monday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m.; Boch Center-Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St.; $49-$109 — EF
Thorgy Does Christmas
Another “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star comes to town for a holiday show this year — Thorgy Thor brings an intimate Christmas show to City Winery this December. The variety show will feature live singing, dancing, violin-playing, and even a real-time gift wrapping competition on stage with audience members. Monday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m.; City Winery, 80 Beverly St.; $25-$65
A Christmas Carol
North Shore Music Theatre once again performs “A Christmas Carol” this December for the 35th year at the Beverly theater, with David Coffee returning to play Scrooge for his 30th season. Based on Charles Dickens’s classic Christmas tale, the original musical follows Ebenezer Scrooge as he’s visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, and features traditional carols like “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” God bless us, every one! Dec. 5-22 at various times; North Shore Music Theatre, 62 Dunham Road, Beverly; $40-$100
ChristmasTime
This year marks the 40th anniversary celebration of “ChristmasTime” at Reagle Music Theatre. The holiday variety show features over 100 performers, a live orchestra, precision dancers, a living nativity, and over 20 festive holiday tunes, along with a visit to the North Pole and a glimpse of Victorian Christmas in Boston. The show performs eight times at the Robinson Theatre in Waltham, and on Friday, Dec. 13, puts on its 40th anniversary show followed by an exclusive post-show reception. Dec. 7-15 at various times; Robinson Theatre, 617 Lexington St., Waltham; $25-$125
Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Dr. Seuss’s holiday tale hits the stage with this musical rendition of the popular book and movie. Featuring all the hits like “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and “Welcome Christmas,” the show tells the tale of the Grinch who steals Christmas from the holiday-loving Whos in Whoville. The family-friendly show runs for 85 minutes with no intermission, and plays at the Wang. Dec. 10-23 at various times; Boch Center-Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St.; $35-$170.50
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