Holiday concerts, plays and ballets, light shows: Here's what Vermont events to mark down (2024)

(This story has been updated with new information.)

If the TV ads and store displays are any indication, the holiday season began about 12 seconds after Halloween ended. The holiday season is fun and all, but if we celebrate it for two months straight that kind of takes the specialness out of the whole thing, doesn’t it?

A more reasonable guideline for when festivities really get going is when arts events kick in. Nothing gets a person in more of a holiday-season mood than a little Scrooge here or some “Nutcracker” there. Oh, and maybe just a dollop of snow would be nice.

Here is a list of many of the events this year in Vermont that show fall out the door and welcome winter with a cool wave of refreshing, invigorating air.

‘Winter Lights’ shines at Shelburne Museuem

4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, the season debut of “Winter Lights” – when the Shelburne Museum decorates its sprawling campus with an illuminated spectacle – begins a run through Sunday, Jan. 5. It includes new features such as an enhanced circus display, sea creatures near the steamboat Ticonderoga that are modeled after the museum’s weathervanes and lights shining for the first time at the sawmill and covered bridge.

Cost: $10-$30; free for children under 3.

Website: www.shelburnemuseum.org

Albany Berkshire Ballet's ‘The Nutcracker’ dances into the Flynn

1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, the Albany Berkshire Ballet’s Northeastern tour of the holiday tradition “The Nutcracker” begins with two performances at the Flynn, Burlington.

Cost: $41.50-$63.50

Website: www.flynnvt.org

Maxine Linehan sings ‘This Time of Year’

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, Irish-born, southern Vermont-based singer Maxine Linehan returns with her solo holiday concert “This Time of Year,” Arkell Pavilion, Southern Vermont Arts Center, Manchester.

Cost: $25-$125.

Website: www.svac.org

‘Sing Nowell!’ at Latchis Theatre in Brattleboro

7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, the concert “Sing Nowell! Songs and Carols of Midwinter & Christmastide” brings the yuletide spirit to the Latchis Theatre, Brattleboro.

Cost: $25-$40.

Website: www.latchis.com

'Miss Sassy Holiday Show' for the season at Vermont Comedy Club

7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, the “Miss Sassy Holiday Show” has club co-owner Natalie Miller and comic Julia DiFerdinando delivering a holiday edition of their Broadway-themed musical send-up, Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington.

Cost: $5-$10.

Website: www.vermontcomedyclub.com

Bria Skonberg does holiday jazz

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4, jazz trumpeter Bria Skonberg brings a new holiday concert program titled "Jingle Bell Swing" to the Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College.

Cost: $5-$25.

Website: www.middlebury.edu/arts

'Santa Raves' and ugly Christmas sweaters at Higher Ground

8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, the holiday party “Santa Rave” invites attendees to dance to souped-up holiday favorites while wearing seasonal gear (maybe even an ugly Christmas sweater), Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington.

Cost: $16-$20.

Website: www.highergroundmusic.com

Enough good vibes – here’s ‘Rare Exports’

7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, Santa takes on a scary, Krampus-like persona in the gory, comedic Finnish film “Rare Exports,” The Screening Room @ VTIFF, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington.

Cost: $5-$10.

Website: www.vtiff.org

Handel’s 'Messiah' in Montpelier and Barre

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, the Vermont Philharmonic and Chorus presents a performance of Handel’s “Messiah,” St. Augustine’s Church, Montpelier, to be followed at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, by the same program at the Barre Opera House.

Cost: $5-$25.

Website: www.vermontphilharmonic.org

A jazzy holiday with Brian McCarthy

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, Vermont saxophonist Brian McCarthy, with special guest Ray Vega, begins a three-date run of his jazz orchestra holiday show, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury.

Cost: $15-$50.

He’ll follow that with performances at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, Vermont State University – Johnson and Sunday, Dec. 8, Vermont State University – Lyndon.

Cost: $10 general admission, free for VTSU community.

Website: www.brianmccarthyjazz.com

3 choices for Pops concerts in Vermont

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus presents the first of three-holiday Pops concerts, Barre Opera House ($10-$32), followed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, the Flynn, Burlington ($8.35-$62) and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, Paramount Theatre, Rutland

Cost: $18.20-$50.73.

Website: www.vso.org

Family+ Day in Stowe

(Editor's note, Nov. 21; this event has been canceled "Due to staff capacity," according to a news release from The Current.) 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, the annual Family+ Day celebration features the work of local artists in the Members’ Art Show and Sale as well as gingerbread-house building, art activities and tours, The Current, Stowe.

Cost: Free.

Website: www.thecurrentnow.org

Bella Voce Women's Chorus in Colchester

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, the Vermont-based Bella Voce Women’s Chorus stages a pair of holiday concerts, McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michael’s College, Colchester.

Cost: $5-$30.

Website: www.bellavocevt.org

Dwight & Nicole perform in Essex benefit toy drive

8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, soulful Burlington duo Dwight & Nicole performs a holiday-themed show with special guests to benefit Troy’s Toy Drive, The Double E Lounge, Essex Experience.

Cost: $25 in advance, $30 day of show.

Website: www.essexresort.com

Holiday concert in Hinesburg

2 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, the Hinesburg Artist Series presents its holiday concert featuring The South County Chorus and the Hinesburg Artist Series Chorus, St. Jude Church, Hinesburg.

Cost: Donations accepted

Website: www.hinesburgartistseries.org

Grand Kiev Ballet dancing ‘Snow Queen’ in Burlington

8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, The Grand Kiev Ballet stops by to present its fairytale story “Snow Queen,” the Flynn, Burlington.

Cost: $48.75-$69.75.

Website: www.flynnvt.org

Christmas songs at Radio Bean

7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, New England musician Dan Blakeslee – who each Halloween season comes to town to perform songs as the spooky Dr. Gasp – plays original and classic Christmas songs under his own name, Radio Bean, Burlington.

Cost: $10.

Website: www.radiobean.com

‘Two for Christmas’ in Montpelier

7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11-Thursday, Dec. 12, Lost Nation Theater presents a staged reading of “Two for Christmas” by late Vermont poet/playwright David Budbill, Montpelier City Hall Arts Center.

Cost: $10-$26.

Website: www.lostnationtheater.org

Vermont Stage back for ‘Winter Tales’ in Burlington

7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11-Saturday, Dec. 14, 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14-Sunday, Dec. 15, Vermont Stage is back with its annual holiday season story-and-song event “Winter Tales,” Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington.

Cost: $34-$64.

Website: www.vermontstage.org

'The Nutcracker' by the The Grand Kiev Ballet in Vermont

7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, four nights after the company presents “Snow Queen” in Burlington (see above), The Grand Kiev Ballet performs “The Nutcracker,” Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph.

Cost: $39-$69.

Website: www.chandler-arts.org

VSO joins with Counterpoint Chorus

7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet connects with the Counterpoint Chorus for the first of a series of holiday performances, Warren United Church.

Cost: Free; reservations required.

Other concerts are, at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, United Church of Newport; 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, Grafton Community Church (free, reservations required); and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, Manchester First Congregational Church

Cost: $20-$24, free for ages 18 and under.

Website: www.vso.org

Holiday party with Troy Millette

7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, Vermont musician Troy Millette and his band The Fire Below welcome Frankie White, Forest Station and Ryan Sweezey & the Midnight Walkers for his “Home for the Holidays” show to benefit Special Olympics and Northwestern Counseling and Support Services, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington.

Cost: $20 in advance, $25 day of show.

Website: www.highergroundmusic.com

Charlie Brown Christmas live on stage in Stowe

7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, a production of “A Charlie Brown Christmas Live in Concert” settles in for a run through Tuesday, Dec. 24, Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, Stowe.

Cost: $30-$65.

Website: www.sprucepeakarts.org

Judy Collins for the holidays

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, singing legend Judy Collins brings her "Holiday & Hits" tour to the Flynn, Burlington.

Cost: $40-$92.50.

Website: www.flynnvt.org

Celtic music group Coig takes Christmas tour

7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, the Nova Scotia-based Celtic group Coig includes a date on its holiday-music tour at the Chandler Center for the Arts, Randolph.

Cost: $10-$45.

Website: www.chandler-arts.org

Audrey Bernstein returns to the stage

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, Vermont jazz vocalist Audrey Bernstein performs a concert - her first in more than six years, she posted recently on social media - with a sextet featuring holiday music, as part of the University of Vermont Lane Series, UVM Recital Hall, Burlington. $7.80-$23.92. (The concert fills the slot recently vacated by singer Cyrille Aimee canceling her tour.) www.uvm.edu/laneseries

Concert by South Burlington chorus

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, the South Burlington Community Chorus performs works including Vivaldi's "Magnificat," John Rutter's "When Icicles Hang," Anton Bruckner's "Ave Maria" and the South African-inspired "Hope for Resolution," McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michael's College, Colchester.

Cost: $5-$15

Website: www.sbchorusvt.com

Hardcore-music holiday at Higher Ground

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, the bands Old North End and Dead Solace top a bill that includes Concrete Ties, Outnumbered and Miles of Fire in the local hardcore-music scene’s annual holiday show/food drive, Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington.

Cost: $10 in advance, $15 day of show.

Website: www.highergroundmusic.com

Barre hosts ‘Wizards of Winter’

8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, “The Wizards of Winter,” a group consisting of former members of musical acts including The Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Rainbow, Alice Cooper and Blue Oyster Cult, performs a holiday rock opera called “The Christmas Dream,” Barre Opera House.

Cost: $36-$45.

Website: www.barreoperahouse.org

Kat & Brett celebrate the holidays

2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, Vermont musicians Kat Wright and Brett Hughes make three Chittenden County stops on “The Kat & Brett Holiday Show” tour, including these two at ArtsRiot, Burlington ($40) and one at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, Richmond Library.

Cost: $35.

Website: www.katandbrettholidayshow.com

Foam Brewers hosts 'Holiday Extravaganza'

5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, the "Holiday Extravaganza" is back for a fourth year with holiday songs from local musicians including Danny and the Parts, Andriana Chobot, Troy Millette and Ivamae, Foam Brewers, Burlington.

Cost: Free

Website: www.foambrewers.com

John Denver Tribute Christmas Concert in Barre

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, “The John Denver Tribute Christmas Concert” features the late, legendary singer-songwriter’s hits as well as holiday favorites performed by Chris Collins and Boulder Canyon, Barre Opera House.

Cost: $37.

Website: www.barreoperahouse.org

Candlelight classical music concert in Essex

5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, violinist Letitia Quante, cellist Emily Taubl and pianist Hiromi Fukuda make up The Champlain Trio, which performs its second annual candlelight holiday concert, The Double E, Essex Experience.

Cost: $10-$25.

Website: www.essexresort.com

Youth symphony serves up holiday sounds

2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, the Green Mountain Youth Symphony performs its winter concert with works by Tchaikovsky, Mozart and more, Barre Opera House.

Cost: $5-$15.

Website: www.gmys-vt.org

'A Christmas Carol' on stage in Montpelier

3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, storyteller Willem Lange returns to Lost Nation Theater for his reading of “A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story,” Montpelier City Hall Arts Center.

Cost: $10-$20.

Website: www.lostnationtheater.org

VYO celebrates holidays with 'Orchestrapalooza'

4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, the Vermont Youth Orchestra presents its "Orchestrapalooza" concert that includes an immersive performance of "Sleigh Ride," the Flynn, Burlington.

Cost: $20-$23

Website: www.vyo.org

Carol Ann Jones in Westford

4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, Franklin County musician Carol Ann Jones assembles a band to perform traditional holiday folk and country music as part of the Westford Music Series, Westford Common Hall.

Cost: Free-will donation

Website: www.facebook.com/westfordmusicseries

Winter solstice with Paul Winter

7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, the Paul Winter Consort and vocalist Theresa Thomason perform a solstice concert, the Flynn, Burlington.

Cost: $42.75-$73.75

Website: www.flynnvt.org

Matt Hagen performs a ‘Christmas Bath’

8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, Vermont musician Matt Hagen celebrates his new album, “Matt Hagen’s Christmas Bath,” with a concert performing the album of original holiday material in its entirety, Nectar’s, Burlington.

Cost: $10-$15.

Website: www.liveatnectars.com

Irish Christmas in southern Vermont

7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, the Irish duo of John Doyle and Mick McAuley performs traditional Irish, British Isles and original holiday music, Next Stage Arts, Putney.

Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door.

Website: www.nextstagearts.org

Holiday concert in Westford

7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, the Fairfax Fletcher Westford Band performs a variety of popular and traditional holiday music, Westford Common Hall.

Cost: Free-will donation

Website: www.facebook.com/westfordmusicseries

'The Nutcracker,' Vermont-style

2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, Vermont Ballet Theater and School begins performances of "The Nutcracker" that also happen at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, the Flynn, Burlington.

Cost: $21.05-$51

Website: www.flynnvt.org

Shelburne Vineyard hosts holiday jazz

6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, a concert of holiday jazz and blues by In the Pocket features vocalist Taryn Noelle, Shelburne Vineyard.

Cost: Free.

Website: www.shelburnevineyard.com

‘Green Mountain Nutcracker’ on stage in Barre

7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, the Moving Light Dance Company offers its annual Vermont take on the classic holiday story with “Green Mountain Nutcracker,” Barre Opera House.

Cost: $16-$30.

Website: www.barreoperahouse.org

Grippo, Cassarino unite for holiday music

7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, two Vermont musical favorites come together for The Cassarino/Grippo Holiday Revue, Shelburne Vineyard.

Cost: $20

Website: www.shelburnevineyard.com

Gettin' hairy with Swale

7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, Burlington rockers Swale are back with their annual holiday musical gathering "A Very Hairy Swalemess," Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington.

Cost: $10

Website: www.radiobean.com

Contact Brent Hallenbeck at bhallenbeck@freepressmedia.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont holiday events 2024: Here's the dates, prices and locations