'Tis the season! Albany County and the Capital Region's music halls and performing arts venues will soon echo with the sounds of jingle bells, classic carols and holiday tunes. Get the scoop on upcoming holiday concerts and performances around Albany County and New York's Capital Region.
Crossgates Mall
Get into the holiday spirit at Crossgates Mall! The cast of TWAS200 will celebrate the 200th anniversary of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas with two live multi-lingual performances on November 30 at 5 PM and 6 PM. These 20-minute skits dive into the magic of Christmas discovered in this poem first published December 23, 1823 in a Troy, NY newspaper right here in the Capitol Region.
Palace Theater
Kick off the holiday season at the Palace Theater! Enjoy the Magic of Christmas performed by the Albany Symphony Orchestra on December 3. Listen to the beautiful melodies of Christmas carols and holiday favorites and even be in the audience for a visit from Santa himself. The holiday fun continues throughout the week with the Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet performed by stars of the Ukraine ballet on December 5. The holiday tradition features larger-than-life puppets, breathtaking acrobatics and dazzling costumes. Attend Finding Christmas: A Benefit for Building on Love on December 10, a holiday-themed fundraiser celebrating local musicians and performers in support of the Building on Love Family Grant Program.
Throughout December, the Palace Theater is hosting free screenings of holiday classics and blockbuster films. Watch The Muppet Christmas Carol on December 11, Elf on December 18 and It's a Wonderful Life on December 22. Looking for something to do the week between Christmas and New Year's? Head over to the Palace Theater for a Family Fun Day with a screening of The Mario Movie on December 27.
Photo Credit: Relentless Awareness
MVP Arena
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra returns with The Ghosts of Christmas Eve: The Best of TSO and More on November 29 at the MVP Arena. This rock opera is a holiday tradition for many families across the country! Be mesmerized by the flashing light display and exciting sound set during this spectacular holiday show.
Disney fans of all ages will want to head over to the MVP Arena this December for Disney on Ice! This fantastic show runs from December 14 to December 17 and features world-class skating, dazzling acrobatics, and surprising stunts from beloved Disney characters as they look for clues in the search for Tinker Bell.
Cohoes Music Hall
Holiday fun awaits at Cohoes Music Hall, a historic music hall operated by Playhouse Stage Company. On November 12, an Ultimate Christmas Variety Show will grace the stage pulling inspiration from the holiday variety shows of the 70's and 80's. Some of Las Vegas' best impersonators will perform as stars such as Sonny & Cher, Neil Diamond and Johnny Mathis to sing your favorite holiday tunes.
Families will love watching the classic children's book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever come to life with performances of the musical adaptation by the Playhouse Stage Company all December long! In this heart-warming tale, the rowdy Herdman kids find their way into the annual Christmas pageant and tumble into unexpected holiday spirit.
Ring in the New Year at the Cohoes Music Hall with the annual First Night of Funny on December 31. Celebrate the year with some laughs led by professional comedians.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, a world-renowned performance space known for its near perfect acoustics, has a few holiday concerts and performances on the calendar. Travel back to the 70's with Rocky Mountain High Experience: A John Denver Christmas on November 19 weaving John Denver's hits with classic holiday songs.
Enjoy the melodies of more holiday favorites during New Orleans-based Preservation Hall Jazz Band's Creole Christmas concert series on November 29, Albany Pro Musica's holiday concert The Many Moods of Christmas on December 17 and Mark O'Connor's - An Appalachian Christmas on December 19.
Cheers to New Year's on the very first day of 2024 with Bach at New Year's: A Very Baroque Celebration.
Ten Broeck Mansion
Start your holiday season by visiting the historic Ten Broeck Mansion on December 2 for Music in the Mansion, a holiday string duet played by members of the Albany Symphony Orchestra. This family-friendly concert is completely free and includes educational interaction with the audience and a Q&A. Following the performance, take a free tour of the mansion's annual Holiday House paying homage to the holiday traditions of the 18th century. Stop by the mansion's Museum Shop after your concert and tour to find the perfect holiday treasures for your loved ones.
Photo Credit: Relentless Awareness
The Egg Performing Arts Center
Enjoy a holiday performance at The Egg Performing Arts Center, a go-to venue for performances in Albany. Attend a traditional holiday concert performed by The Mendlessohn Club of Albany on December 8. Experience a magical performance of The Nutcracker by the Albany Berkshire Ballet on December 9. Be dazzled by the world-famous Glen Millers Orchestra as they perform In the Christmas Mood, a collection of classic songs of the season and the orchestra's greatest hits on December 11. Experience the Nacre Dance Group's performance of The Nutcracker on December 16 or later that evening enjoy The McKrells Christmas Show; the band bring their Celtic-infused bluegrass to traditional and original Christmas songs for a night of holiday cheer.
Capital Repertory Theatre
This professional theatre in the heart of downtown Albany provides opportunities for holiday cheer all season long! Attend a showing of the Million Dollar Quartet Christmas, a journey through Christmas past, present and future with a cast of characters none other than Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley. The quartet will lead you through holiday magic and favorite holiday hits from "Blue Christmas" to "Run Rudolph Run." Then close out your 2023 at Opal Essence's New Year's Eve Dragtacular, a drag performance to ring in the start of 2024 on the evening of December 31.
Kenmore Ballroom
Start your holiday season with the 21+ Pajamas & Prosecco Drag Shows: Holiday Edition. For those who made the nice list, enjoy a morning brunch and those who may have ended up on the naughty list can attend the evening cocktail party. Or party it up at both! Both events feature a drag show starring QUEEN Amanda Blair and friends, delicious cocktails, and catering from Nicole's Catering.
The holiday fun continues at the Kenmore throughout the season. Enjoy your favorite sounds of the season under the glow of candlelight during the Candlelight: Holiday Special on December 16, 22 and 23. A beautiful string quartet will perform holiday classics from Deck the Halls to selections from The Nutcracker in this historic venue. Don't miss out on this enchanting evening to celebrate the season.
American Italian Heritage Musuem
On December 10, head to the American Italian Heritage Museum for their live concert On Christmas Night! This performance of holiday selections will feature soprano, Rosanne Hargrave with Michele Boretti on flute and Michael Clement on piano.
Irish American Heritage Museum
Take a deep dive into the Irish traditions around Christmastime during IAHM's special Christmas event Christmas Time in Ireland. This free, online presentation takes place on the evening of December 14 and will lead you through the Irish way of celebrating the holiday plus a sing-along to some festive favorites. Visit the museum in person on December 18 for a Special Christmas Movie Club: The Man Who Invented Christmas. This 2016, Dublin-filmed movie focuses on the story of Charles Dickens and what led him to create the classic holiday story A Christmas Carol.