'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. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by MVP Arena (@themvparena)

MVP Arena

Kick off the holiday season at MVP Arena!

On November 16, Pentatonix Hallelujah! It's a Christmas Tour stops by Albany. The GRAMMY Award winning acapella group promises an enchanted evening of holiday hits at this mid-November concert. Then, The Trans-Siberian Orchestra returns to the area with The Lost Christmas Eve Tour on November 30. This rock opera is a holiday tradition for many families across the country! 

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 5 to December 8 and features world-class skating, dazzling acrobatics, and surprising stunts from beloved Disney characters.

Capital Repertory Theatre

Capital Repertory Theatre

This professional theatre in the heart of downtown Albany provides opportunities for holiday cheer all season long! A Sherlock Carol graces the stage November 22 to December 22. Watch mystery and intrigue unfold as the two worlds of Sherlock Holmes and Ebenezer Scrooge collide. Or enjoy the classic story of A Christmas Carol performed on December 16.  Then close out your 2024 at Opal Essence's New Year's Eve Dragtacular, a drag performance to ring in the start of 2025 on the evening of December 31.

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

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 24 weaving John Denver's hits with classic holiday songs.

Enjoy the melodies of more holiday favorites during Eileen Ivers: Joyful Christmas on December 6, Christmas with the Cadets | Cadets of Past, Present, and Future on December 13, Albany Pro Musica's The Many Moods of Christmas on December 15, Christmas with The New York Tenors on December 18, and Nicky Sohn + Holiday Mozart & Vivaldi on December 21. 

Cheers to New Year's on the very first day of 2025 with Bach at New Year's: A Baroque Concerto Showcase. 

The Egg Performing Arts Center
Photo Credit: Relentless Awareness

The Egg Performing Arts Center

With The Egg's long lineup of holiday programs throughout the season it's the gift that keeps on giving! 

Dubbed the "Queens of Christmas" by Entertainment Weekly, BenDeLaCreme and Jinkx Monsoon stop by Albany on November 29 for their touring Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show. Attend this comedy-filled show reviewed by the New York Times to "lift your spirits and make you howl with laughter."

Enjoy holiday favorites old and new with Irish all-sister, Celtic folk/pop band The Screaming Orphans on December 7, A Winter Gathering with Grammy-Award winner Kathy Mattea on December 8, Christmas with PBS TV-Star Chris Ruggiero on December 12, and Celtic-infused Christmas hits with The McKrells Christmas on December 14. Grammy-award winning jazz artist Samara Joy has been making waves with her debut album. Celebrate the season with her show A Joyful Holiday on December 16.

Three different dance groups will grace the stage with their adaptation of the Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker throughout December. The Nacre Dance Group performs December 7, Albany Berkshire Ballet on December 14, and The Grand Kyiv Ballet on December 19.

 

Palace Theater

The Palace Theater offers events for everyone this holiday season!  

Enter a Christmas dreamland with the Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet on December 3. Performed by stars of the Ukraine ballet, this holiday tradition features larger-than-life puppets, breathtaking acrobatics and dazzling costumes. The holiday fun continues throughout the week with the show-stopping Cirque Dreams Holidaze on December 5. The show features aerial circus-acts, sleight of hand tricks, acrobatics and more. Then on December 6, enter the fairytale world of The Snow Queen Ballet based on the Hans Christian Andersen tale.

Don't miss the Magic of Christmas concert performed by the Albany Symphony Orchestra on December 8 complete with carols and a visit from Santa. On December 15, rock out with Finding Christmas: An Old-Fashioned Rock 'n Roll Holiday a fundraiser in support of the Building on Love Family Grant Program. Return to the Palace on December 28 and revisit a holiday film-favorite: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. This 35th Anniversary Screening includes a live conversation with Clark Griswold himself: Chevy Chase. 

Throughout December, the Palace Theater is hosting a free Holiday Movie Series. Watch Home Alone on December 9, A Christmas Story on December 16, and It's a Wonderful Life on December 20. As a post-Christmas treat, bring the family to a screening of Aladdin on December 28.

Cohoes Music Hall

Holiday fun awaits at Cohoes Music Hall, a historic music hall operated by Playhouse Stage Company. Families will love the Playhouse Stage Company's nostalgic production of A Christmas Story: The Musical. This stage adaptation of the favorite holiday film is the ultimate gift running December 4 to December 22. Ring in the New Year at the Cohoes Music Hall with the annual First Night of Funny on December 31.

Ten Broeck Mansion Holiday House

Ten Broeck Mansion

Celebrate the holiday season by visiting the historic Ten Broeck Mansion on December 7 for Music in the Mansion. This holiday harp concert features Elizabeth Hurley of the Glens Falls Symphony. The concert is family-friendly, 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.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by sana icon (@sana.icon)

Washington Avenue Armory

Dance the night away at the Albany Armory. The beautiful and historic venue will host Christmas Concert: Off the Record on December 7. The 60's rock and roll trio will perform upbeat holiday hits for a very merry start to the season.

Old Songs Logo

Old Songs Community Art Center

Hop in your sleigh and head over to Vorheesville for a couple holiday concerts at Old Songs! On December 7, enjoy a festive evening of Holiday Cheer with Joe Newberry & April Verch. Then on December 14, warm up on a cold winter's night by attending Windborne - Music of Midwinter. 

The Kenmore Ballroom

Kenmore Ballroom

Enjoy your favorite sounds of the season under the glow of candlelight during two different Candlelight Concerts at the Kenmore Ballroom. Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings is scheduled for December 19, and Candlelight: Holiday Special takes place on December 21. At both performances a beautiful string quartet will host an enchanted evening of holiday classics.