It’s time to break out the ugly Christmas sweaters and get those vocal cords warmed up to sing as holiday shows begin to take over Southern California concert venues.
From good ‘ol fashioned Christmas classics sung by familiar crooners and smooth jazz concerts to festive mariachi song and dance performances and holiday-themed drag queen spectaculars, there are plenty of ways to get into the holiday spirit.
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
Percussionist-composer Chip Davis leads Mannheim Steamroller’s annual Christmas concerts with a spectacular light show paired with holiday classics blended with classical, new age and rock music. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E Green Street, Pasadena. $50-$80 at ticketmaster.com; 8 p.m. Dec. 2 and 2 p.m. Dec. 3 at McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. $68-$98 at mccallumtheatre.com; 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at Segerstrom Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. $59-$119 at scfta.org.
Merry-Achi Christmas
A traditional Mexican holiday celebration filled with seasonal songs, dance and festive décor with performances by Sol de México de José Hernández Mariachi with the all-female Reyna de Los Angeles and the DanzArts Sabor México Dance Company. 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside. $35-$45 at LiveNation.com; 7 p.m. Dec. 3 and 2 p.m. Dec. 4 at Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, 18000 Park Plaza Drive, Cerritos. $35-$86 at cerritoscenter.com; 7 p.m. Dec. 18 at McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert. $25-$75 at mccallumtheatre.com.
A Drag Queen Christmas
A spirited holiday celebration hosted by Nina West and Trinity Taylor featuring well-known queens performing along to classic Christmas songs. 8 p.m. Dec. 1 at Theatre at Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. $35-$150 at AXS.com; 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at City National Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E Katella Ave., Anaheim. $39-$79 at Ticketmaster.com.
KIIS-FM/102.7 and iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball
The annual holiday radio celebration will include performances by Dua Lipa, Jack Harlow, Pitbull, Khalid, Bebe Rexha, Lewis Capaldi, Ava Max, Dove Cameron, Jax and Nicky Youre. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at Kia Forum, 3900 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood. $97-$757 at Ticketmaster.com.
Celtic Woman: A Christmas Symphony
The all-female Irish music ensemble Celtic Women will perform a special Christmas show featuring a live orchestra. 8 p.m. Dec. 2 at Fantasy Spring Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway Indio. Tickets start at $49. at fantasyspringsresort.com.
Me First and The Gimme Gimmes’ I’ll Be Home For Christmas Maybe Tour
The punk rock supergroup is out to wreck Christmas with a variety of juiced-up holiday favorites such as “Santa Baby” and “Feliz Navidad” mixed in with its other well-known covers including “Mandy,” “Over the Rainbow” and “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” 8 p.m. Dec. 2 at Regent Theater, 448 S. Main Street, Los Angeles. $28 at Ticketmaster.com; 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at Observatory OC, 3503 S Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana. $26 at LiveNation.com.
MenAlive’s Merry & Bright: Tinseltown
MenAlive, Orange County Gay Men’s Chorus, will conjure up good old-fashioned holiday spirit during its seasonal concert, which will explore the music from a variety of popular Hollywood holiday films and television spectaculars. 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dec. 3 at La Mirada Theatre, 14900 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. $19-$53 at lamiradatheatre.com.
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Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
The progressive rock group will bring back its massive “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” production this holiday season with songs like “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “O Holy Night” and its popular “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24.” 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3. Toyota Arena, 4000 Ontario Center, Ontario. $69.50-$109.50 at Ticketmaster.com.
Andrea Bocelli in Concert
Italian tenor and multi-instrumentalist Andrea Bocelli will perform songs off of his 2020 album, “Believe,” which features a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and John Newton’s “Amazing Grace.” It will be an evening of crossover hits, love songs and holiday music. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at Honda Center, 2695 E Katella Ave., Anaheim. $85-$375 at Ticketmaster.com.
A Concordia Christmas: The Thrill of Hope
Concordia University Irvine’s annual Christmas concert will feature more than 200 performers from eight vocal and instrumental performing ensembles presenting classic holiday songs. 4 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. $20-$65 at scfta.org.
Millennial Choirs & Orchestra: Star of Night
Millennial Choirs & Orchestras presents an all-new holiday musical featuring hundreds of musicians including the program’s youth choirs, grand chorus and symphony orchestra. 5 and 8 p.m. Dec. 8. Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa. $21-$53 at scfta.org.
Young Americans: The Magic of Christmas — A Season of Light
An all-new holiday concert experience that will consist of the long-running company’s annual Christmas favorites, as well as incorporate other holidays including Diwali, Hanukkah and Lunar New Year. 8 p.m. Dec. 9; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 10; 2 p.m. Dec. 11; 8 p.m. Dec. 16; 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 17; 2 p.m. Dec. 18 at La Mirada Theatre, La Mirada. $18-$71 at lamiradatheatre.com.
KROQ-FM 106.7’s Almost Acoustic Christmas
The long-running Los Angeles-based rock station’s annual Christmas concert returns with Imagine Dragons, The Black Keys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Death Cab for Cutie, Jimmy Eat World, Yungblud, Måneskin, The Interrupters and Wet Leg. 5 p.m. Dec. 10 at Kia Forum, Inglewood. Ticket prices TBA at Ticketmaster.com.
Harry Connick Jr.’s A Holiday Celebration Tour
Grammy and Emmy Award-winning singer-songwriter, pianist, composer and actor Harry Connick Jr. will celebrate the season with his fans by performing Christmas classics as well as his own original holiday tunes including “(It Must’ve Been Ol’) Santa Claus” and “When My Heart Finds Christmas.” 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at The Show at Agua Caliente, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage. $145-$300 at aguacalientecasinos.com; 7 p.m. Dec. 11 Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., San Diego. $35.50-$470 at Ticketmaster.com; 8 p.m. Dec. 15-17 at Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. $59-$115 at Ticketmaster.com.
The Skivvies: Sleigh My Name
Singers Lauren Molina and Nick Cearley perform “undie rock” and “stripped-down” versions of holiday favorites, using an array of instruments including ukulele and electric cello. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 and 13 at Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. $41-$51 at lagunaplayhouse.com.
A Boy Band Christmas
The holiday spectacular features the voices of Jeff Timmons, Drew Lachey and Justin Jeffre (98 Degrees), Jamie Jones (All-4-One), Erik-Michael Estrada (O-Town), and Ryan Cabrera for a performance of holiday songs and boy band hits. 8 p.m. Dec. 13 at Yaamava’ Resort & Casino, 777 San Manuel Blvd, Highland. Tickets start at $30; 21 and older only at yaamava.com.
Squirrel Nut Zippers Christmas Caravan Tour
A high-energy swing and jazz holiday concert with all of the classics and festive costuming. 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. $35 at Ticketweb.com; 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave., Solana Beach. $35-$62 at bellyup.com; 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at Lodge Room Highland Park, 104 N. Ave. 56, Los Angeles. $37 at lodgeroomhlp.com; 9 p.m. Dec. 18 at Pappy & Harriet’s, 53688 Pioneertown Road, Pioneertown. $40 at pappyandharriets.com.
A Chanticleer Christmas
The Grammy Award-winning 12-man ensemble performs a cappella versions of holiday classics. 8 p.m. Dec. 13 at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles. $41-$111 at laphil.com.
X’s X-Mas 2022
Los Angeles punk band X will close out the year with its annual string of X-Mas shows, which will feature all four original members playing their hits and possibly a holiday classic or two. 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Observatory OC, Santa Ana. $39.50 at LiveNation.com; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Orpheum Theatre, 842 S. Broadway, Los Angeles. $29.50-$39.50 at Ticketmaster.com.
Dave Koz & Friends
Saxophonist Dave Koz will bring his 25th Annual Christmas Tour with Rick Braun, Peter White, Keiko Matsui and Rebecca Jade to several Southern California venues this holiday season. 8 p.m. Dec. 15 at Balboa Theatre, 868 Fourth Ave., San Diego. $55-$95 at Ticketmaster.com; 8 p.m. Dec. 16-17 at Cerritos Center, Cerritos. $60-$100 at cerritoscenter.com; 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert. Tickets are sold out, but some could still be found at press time starting at $247 through secondary seller vividseats.com.
The Broadway Hollywood Holiday Songbook
A Christmas celebration featuring actor and singer Aaron Lazar (“Wolf of Wall Street,” “The Strain”) and Broadway star Kerry O’Malley (“Billy Elliot,” “Into the Woods”) along with special guests John Boswell, Scott Coulter and Chelle Denton. The program will include popular holiday songs from Broadway shows and movies. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15-17 at Samueli Theater at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. $79-$89 at scfta.org.
Holiday Pops with Manhattan Transfer
Jazz vocal group Manhattan Transfer will perform songs off its “The Christmas Album” and “An Acapella Christmas” during this special holiday show inducing standards like “Happy Holiday,” “Let It Snow” and “Jingle Bells.” 8 p.m. Dec. 16-17 at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. $65-$191 at scfta.org.
Holiday Pops! with the Long Beach Camerata Singers
Long Beach Symphony, under the direction of Morihiko Nakahara, joints with the Long Beach Camerata Singers for an evening of holiday favorites and sing-alongs. 8 p.m. Dec. 17 at Pacific Ballroom at the Long Beach Arena, 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach. $30-$180 at ticketmaster.com.
Stevie Wonder’s 24th House Full of Toys
R&B legend Stevie Wonder hosts his annual toy drive that includes the singer-songwriter and producer pairing up with other R&B and pop special guests throughout the evening. 8 p.m. Dec. 17 at Microsoft Theater, 777 Chick Hearn Court, Los Angeles. Tickets price TBA at AXS.com.
Gladys Knight: A Holiday Celebration
Grammy award-winning soul singer Gladys Knight will bring her hits along with a twist on holiday favorites with her “Gladys Knight A Holiday Celebration” concert. 8 p.m. Dec. 17 at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway Indio. $49-$99 at fantasyspringsresort.com.
Pacific Chorale’s Tis the Season!
The Pacific Chorale’s annual holiday extravaganza will include holiday favorites and a few surprises. 5 p.m. Dec. 18 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa. $30-$98 at sctfa.org.
‘Home Alone’ in Concert
Conductor David Newman leads John Williams’ score for the beloved holiday classic “Home Alone” as it is screened along to the live performance. 8 p.m. Dec. 20-22 at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles. $62-$189 at laphil.com.
LeAnn Rimes’ Joy: The Holiday Tour
The country singer-songwriter will perform holiday classics along with some of her new material. 8 p.m. Dec. 22 at Pala Casino Spa & Resort, 11154 Highway 76, Pala. 21-and-older only. $35-$55 at palacasino.com.
Christmas with The Celts
Based on the PBS show, “Christmas with The Celts,” this live performance will include high-stepping action with modern Christmas hits, lively Irish carols, humor and Irish dancing. 8 p.m. Dec. 23 at La Mirada Theatre, La Mirada. $20-$69 at lamiradatheatre.com.
The Vandals’ 27th Annual Christmas Formal
Orange County band The Vandals will play original holiday tunes like “I Don’t Believe in Santa Claus” and “Oi to the World” along with fan-favorite hits during their annual punk rock Christmas party. 7 p.m. Dec. 23 at House of Blues, 400 Disney Way #337, Anaheim. $29.50 at LiveNation.com.
Johnny Mathis Christmas Concert
Beloved crooner Johnny Mathis will perform seasonal hits like “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23 at Segerstrom Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Costa Mesa. $59-$179 at scfta.org.
Lindsey Stirling: Snow Waltz Tour
Violinist, singer and dancer Lindsey Stirling will bring her latest holiday-themed concert to Los Angeles with lots of dancing, costumed characters and snow. 8 p.m. Dec. 23 at Hollywood Pantages Theatre, Los Angeles. $50.50-$70.50 at Ticketmaster.com.
Fiesta Navidad with Mariachi Los Camperos
The Grammy Award-winning ensemble hosts a festive evening filled with Mexican holiday traditions, music and dancing. 8 p.m. Dec. 23 at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Segerstrom Center for the arts, Costa Mesa. $32-$92 at scfta.org.