Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events in Westchester

Explore our guide to family-friendly holiday events in Westchester this December:

 

December 9

Vienna Boys Choir

Vienna Boys Choir will perform on stage at the historic landmark Tarrytown Music Hall with a program that features a selection of renowned classical pieces, popular hits and holiday favorites. The “Christmas in Vienna” performance will showcase the pure voices of about 100 male choristers between the ages of nine and fourteen. The choir dates back five-hundred years with its roots in the Middle Ages. Its singers, led by conductor Manolo Cagnin, represent eleven countries, including Cambodia, China, France, New Zealand and more, and were each admitted into the group by an audition process. tarrytownmusichall.org

 

 

 

December 10 through 30

Mr. Dickens Tells a Christmas Carol

M&M Performing Arts Company presents the classic Christmas tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, a cranky and greedy man who is visited by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Actor Michael Muldoon will recreate Charles Dickens’ own performances of his timeless novel The Christmas Carol in the historic period setting of Lyndhurst Mansion, which will be specially decorated for the holiday season. Guests will travel throughout the main floor of the Gothic Revival style building as they meet the spirits and characters from the story. Throughout the course of the play, the spirits transform his view of the world, making him a kinder man. Muldoon will give each character its own persona with different voices and styles. lyndhurst.org

 

 

 

December 14 through 24

The Gift of the Magi

A production of The Gift of the Magi will return to the Schoolhouse Theater (SHT) stage this winter. With little to no money to their names, a young married couple, Della and Jim, set out to buy each other Christmas gifts. Della sells her long hair to buy Jim a fob chain for his family heirloom watch. Meantime, Jim sells the watch to buy Della combs which she can no longer use for her long, beautiful hair. The famously ironic ending leaves the couple with a lesson about their priceless love. The family-friendly play has been adapted from a celebrated O. Henry story by SHT’s Artistic Director Bram Lewis. schoolhousetheater.org

 

 

 

December 16

TENET

Vocal ensemble TENET will fill Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts’ Rosen House with the sounds of time-honored carols from America and Europe during its “Candlelight Carols” event. The New York-based quintet of singers will be joined by lutenist Hank Hejink for this night of intimate carols, both new and old. The program includes twenty songs, including the traditional French hymn Veni, Veni Emmanuel, Richard Dering’s Ave Virgo Gloriosa, and Francis Cutting’s Greensleeves. Guests can tour the Rosen House, a 1930s Mediterranean-style structure that will be decorated for the holidays, before the performance begins. caramoor.org

 

 

December 16 & 17

The Nutcracker Dream

Ballet des Amériques will present The Nutcracker Dream, a holiday production choreographed and coached by the organization’s Artistic Director Carole Alexis, in its Port Chester studio. The ballet is an adaptation of the classic The Nutcracker, which also takes excerpts restaged after Rudolph Nureyev. The story follows Marie, who falls asleep and dreams of a prince and of a fantastical world of sweet treats that is ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The production will feature students of the Ballet des Amériques School, who will be supported by the professional dancers of the company. Four performances will be offered on two days. balletdesameriques.com

 

 

 

December 17

Winter Pops

Westchester Philharmonic’s annual Winter Pops concert will feature Broadway star Laura Michelle Kelly at SUNY Purchase Performing Arts Center. The vocalist created the role of Mary Poppins on London’s West End before starring in South Pacific, Finding Neverland and more. Violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins will make a special appearance to perform her acclaimed solos from Fiddler on the Roof. The program, to be led by conductor Ted Sperling, will include Broadway and American Songbook hits (Shall We Dance, Get Happy, Almost Like Being in Love, Let It Go), holiday fare (Favorite Things, All I Want for Christmas is You, Joy to the World) and classical favorites by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. westchesterphil.org

 

December 17

Concert of Peace

For the 23rd year, Songcatchers will bring an evening of peace to Westchester County. The organization’s intergenerational concert choir and ensemble will present a program consisting of songs of peace, interfaith carols for Christmas and Hannukah and carols of different cultures, such as Spanish, African and Scandinavian songs. Holiday songs will include Carol of the Bells and Go Tell It On the Mountain for audience participation. The concert will be held at the College of New Rochelle Chapel. songcatchers.org

 

December 21 through 25

It’s a Wonderful Life

George Bailey will once again gain an appreciation for his life in Bedford Falls when Jacob Burns Film Center displays this classic holiday hit on the big screen. In this 1946 black and white film, George is visited by the angel Clarence after experiencing a particularly bleak period in his life. Clarence puts life into perspective for him by showing George what life would be like if he never existed. The film, which stars James Stewart and Donna Reed and was directed Frank Capra, will screen during Christmas week. burnsfilmcenter.org

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A version of this article first appeared in the December-January issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.