Top Bay Area Christmas music and live holiday entertainment options

Some Christmastime events are a solid tradition for many, such as ACT’s “A Christmas Carol” production and the annual whirlwind of “Nutcracker” performances. But as Christmas week approaches, visitors and Bay Area residents alike have the opportunity to experience extra holiday glow with these on- and off-the-beaten-path holiday events leading up to Christmas Day. 

Check out The Chronicle’s guide to the best live events and performances for holiday revelers of all ages.

“The Colors of Christmas” The annual show returns with vocalists Peabo Bryson, Oleta Adams, Jennifer Holliday, Ruben Studdard and the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir performing live with the symphony. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, Dec. 13-14. $30-$275.

“Holiday Gaiety” Edwin Outwater conducts a holiday variety show featuring drag artist Peaches Christ. Hear holiday hits played by the symphony along with a festive lineup including the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15. $75-$300.

“Holiday Brass” Edwin Outwater conducts San Francisco Symphony musicians performing a festive mix of classical and popular holiday favorites. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21. $25-$175.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas Live” Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang are back in town bringing the television classic to life on stage. With live actors, an animated backdrop,  live symphony accompaniment, a holiday sing-along and more. 7:30 p.m Dec. 20 and 22; 2 p.m. Dec. 21 and 23. $24.50-$275.

“Home Alone”  Joshua Gersen conducts the symphony along with Ragazzi Boys Chorus and the Pacific Boychoir performing John Williams score accompanying the film screening. 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22;  7:30 p.m. Dec. 23. $87.50-$325.

All performances will take place at Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F. 415-864-6000. www.sfsymphony.org

Valérie Sainte-Agathe conducts the chorus’ annual winter program with traditional holiday favorites, new works and lesser-known holiday choral works and featuring guest artist accordion/pianist Sam Reider. 

Jeffrey Thomas conducts a holiday-time evening performance that’s perfect for the whole family. The program will feature Christmas-centered works by Handel and Charpentier with live accompaniment from the ensemble’s period-instrument orchestra.

The Freight’s holiday curation is a gift, with programming including Mr. Sun on Dec. 13 performing Ellington’s “Nutcracker Suite,” Barbara Higbie’s Winter Solstice Celebration on Dec. 17 and “Cool Yule” with Mads Tolling & The Mads Men on Dec. 20.

Graham Ross conducts the ensemble’s only Northern California performance with a program including works by Praetorius, Morales and Mouton, Howells, Sally Beamish and Christmas carols.

From candlelit chant to triumphant gospel sounds, celebrate the season with a joyful musical program featuring expert arrangements of seasonal choral works.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14 at Memorial Church, 450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford; 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 at St. Vincent de Paul, 35 Liberty St., Petaluma; 5 p.m. Dec. 17 at Cathedral of Christ the Light, 2121 Harrison St., Oakland; 8 p.m. Dec. 18 at Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1017 Eleventh St., Sacramento; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19 at First Congregational Church, 2345 Channing Way, Berkeley; 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23 at St. Ignatius Church, 650 Parker St., S.F. 415-252-8589. www.chanticleer.org

Yvonne Cobbs leads Lorraine Hansberry Theatre’s winter holiday production which will  include live music from Bay Area singers set to blow the roof off of the house and uplift the holiday spirit of attendees.

Fairyland’s winter holiday programming includes complimentary hot cocoa, live entertainment and holiday lights. Black Santa will be in attendance, leading a nightly Festival of Lights Parade and dance party. 

The market will have vendors, food trucks, live music and a kids ‘Winter Wonderland’ at Gene Suttle Plaza with a life-sized snow globe, train rides, crafts, Santa visits and a happy hour lounge.

Evoking winter holiday magic, Eastern European ethnic and spiritual tradition-based choral music is highlighted in “Wintersongs,” with folk carols, sacred works and original pieces inspired by the beauty and mystery of wintertime.

8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 15-16 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 114 Montecito Ave., Oakland; 4 p.m. Dec. 17. Old First Church, 1751 Sacramento St., S.F. $20-$50, reservations recommended; live stream viewing options available. 510-444-0323. www.kitka.org 

The annual holiday performance brings to life onstage an uplifting retelling of the classic fairy tale presented with a sweet, soulful twist.

Festive characters from St. Nicholas’ workshop will lead a holiday show and sing-along for children and families.

Join the Mare Island Historical Park Foundation for a magical, Victorian-themed holiday choral program set in the 1901 chapel with its famed Tiffany stained glass windows.

The program will include works by Baroque Czech composer, Jan Zelenka, seasonal works and an audience holiday sing-along with live orchestra accompaniment conducted by organist Jerome Lenk.

Pianist Adam Shulman’s annual performance honoring Bay Area jazz legend Vince Guaraldi’s soundtrack to the 1965 holiday classic returns with his trio featuring bassist John Wiitala and drummer James Gallagher.

With more than 100 voices and festive attire, the chorus will perform holiday favorites and act out funny sketches in the much anticipated annual seasonal program. 

5 p.m. Dec. 16 at Weill Hall, Green Music Center, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park; 5 p.m.  Dec. 17 at Zellerbach Auditorium, UC Berkeley; 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Dec. 24 at the Castro Theatre, Castro St., S.F. $25-$145, reservations recommended. 415-392-4400. www.sfgmc.org 

The annual Christmas time jazz concert will offer high-energy holiday classics and carols featuring Beard’s singing with pianist Matt Clark, bassist Doug Miller, drummer Sylvia Cuenca and guest vocalist Clairdee.

Join Ragazzi ensembles and harpist Dan Levitan for a program including works by Britten, Bartok, Peter Schickele (P.D.Q. Bach), Ralph Vaughn Williams and holiday carols.

An S.F. holiday tradition with J. Conrad Frank as Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, celebrates its 16th year. With an entertaining program featuring more than classic holiday fare, see why Smirnoff-Skyy has audiences coming back each year for more.

The award-winning jazz vocalist presents a holiday jazz show featuring pianist Matt Wong, bassist Giulio Xavier and drummer Xavier Lecouturier.

Join the secret lives of reindeer for a heartwarming holiday tale of inclusion and anxiety management at an all-ages show featuring circus arts, live music and interactive games.

This year’s programming for the long-running Jewish comedy show at Christmas served up in a Chinese restaurant will feature performances from Lisa Geduldig, Wendy Liebman, Rich Aronovitch, Talia Reese and Arline Geduldig. Partial proceeds will benefit the Chinatown YMCA Food Pantry and Hebrew Free Loan. 

The Bay Area-based vocalist grooves through the holidays with an evening of holiday standards featuring the vocalist with pianist Joe Warner, bassist Essiet Essiet, drummer Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith and Christina Walton and Yeri Caesar, violins; Vincent Tolliver, viola and Nick Reeves, cello.

Terrance Kelly will direct the award-winning, multicultural, interfaith choir in a high-spirited Christmas eve concert program featuring gospel arrangements of holiday favorites.

Reach Anne Schrager: [email protected]