If you’re looking for live holiday music in the Peoria area this season, you’re in luck! For a dinner theatre option with a holiday twist, try the Best of the Barn Christmas now playing at the Barn III Dinner Theatre in Goodfield. Featuring the Barn’s most popular musical and comedy performances to get you in the holiday spirit from secular to sacred, including some Gaither Vocal Band classics. On Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, doors open at 6 pm and on Sundays, doors open at 12:30 pm. Now offering a full cash bar, tickets are $45.50 for Thursdays, $48 for Fridays and Sunday brunch and $49.50 for Saturdays and are available by calling 309-965-2545 or visit http://www.thebarniii.com
Or how about a musical meal with a holiday theme on the Spirit of Peoria? Barry Cloyd and Brian “Fox” Ellis with Prairie Folklore Theatre will present “A Civil War Christmas” which celebrates love, family and friends with songs and stories from the Civil War Era. Lunch cruises are scheduled for Nov. 30, Dec. 4, 6, 13 & 14 from 1 – 3 pm. Tickets are $42 for adults and $21 for children 4 – 15 and reservations are required. Dinner Cruises are scheduled for Dec. 6 & 13 and tickets are $48 for adults and $24 for children 4 – 15 and reservations are required. To make reservations and for more information, call 309-637-8000 or visit http://www.spiritofpeoria.com
Another dinner theatre holiday show this year is Plaid Tidings: A Special Holiday Edition of Forever Plaid which will be presented by the Metamora Thesbian Society at Metamora Fields Golf Club (located at 801 Progress St. in Metamora) Dec. 5 – 7 beginning at 6 pm and on Dec. 8 beginning at 1 pm. Tickets for the buffet dinner and the show are $40 and are available by calling 309-367-4000. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/MetamoraThespianSociety
The Festival of Lights annual musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be presented at Eastlight Theatre beginning at 7:30 pm on Dec. 6 & 7 and Dec. 11 – 14 plus on Dec. 8 and Dec. 15 at 2 pm. In its 29th year on Eastlight’s stage, the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical tells the biblical story of Joseph and his eleven brothers. Tickets are $20 and are available online athttp://www.eastlighttheatre.com
For the kids, find live holiday music in Peoria with Frozen Jr. which will be presented by Community Children’s Theatre at Peoria Players Theatre (located at 4300 N University St. in Peoria) at 7 pm on Dec. 6 and 7 and Dec. 13 and 14 plus at 1:30 pm on Dec. 7 and 8 and Dec. 14 and 15. Featuring the songs from the animated film, tickets are $15 general admission and $10 for children ages 12 and under and are available at www.cctpeoria.org
Another kids holiday classic, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Musical, will be presented at the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 7 pm. Tickets range from $29.95 – $59.95 and are available at the box office by calling 800-745-3000 or online at http://ticketmaster.com
If you like Gospel music, Christmas in the Country might be more to your liking. It will take place at Five Points Washington (located at 360 N Wilmor Rd. in Washington) on Nov. 30 beginning at 7 pm featuring Shawn Degenhart and the Gospelfest Singers. Admission is free with a love offering at the conclusion of the show. For more information, visit www.gospelfestministries.com
If choral music is your preference, there are a few great options this holiday season. Starting with the Philharmonic Chorale who will present a Christmas Concert at the ICC Performing Arts Center (located at 1 College Dr. in East Peoria) on Dec. 1 beginning at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students & senior citizens. For tickets and information call 309-694-5136 or visit at www.ArtsatICC.com
The all male voice four-part harmony Orpheus Club of Peoria will present their Winter Concert at at the First Federated Church (located at 3601 N. Sheridan Rd. in Peoria) also on Dec. 1 beginning at 3 pm. Hear an afternoon of music under the direction of Russel Boulton with songs of the season. The Club has been entertaining the Peoria area for 117 years. Admission is $5 at the door. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/OrpheusPeoria
The Peoria International Choir will present its Winter 2019 Concert at First Christian Church (located at 6400 N University St. in Peoria) on Dec. 7 beginning at 7 pm. Featuring “A Ceremony of Carols” by Benjamin Britten, suggested donations are $20 for a family, $10 per person and $5 for seniors aged 65 and over. For more information, visit www.peoriainternationalchoir.org
For those who want to sing along, the Annual Peoria Sing-It-Yourself Messiah will take place at First Federated Church (located at 3601 N Sheridan Rd. in Peoria) on Dec. 8 beginning at 2:30 pm. Dr. John Jost of Bradley University returns to conduct with soloists Kristin Lelm, soprano; Alison Meuth, mezzo-soprano; Caleb Bent, tenor, and Mat Pentecost, baritone. Admission is free and no vocal experience necessary. Messiah scores will be available for purchase. For more information, visit www.ffcpeoria.com
Or maybe you like to sing along to traditional Christmas carols. If so, you can do exactly that at the The 72nd Annual Journal Star Family Christmas Sing which will take place in the Peoria Civic Center’s Great Hall beginning at 7 pm. Featuring song leaders Lee Wenger and Rebekah Bourland and pianist Denise Adams, the words to the songs will be displayed on a giant screen. There will be free hot chocolate and cookies as well as free parking in the Civic Center parking lot as well as in the Hamilton parking deck. Admission is free.
And the Peoria Area Civic Chorale will present “An American Family Christmas” at Five Points Performing Arts Center (located at 360 Wilmor Rd. in Washington) on Dec. 13 & 14 at 7:30 pm. Featuring guest soloist Soprano Megan Koch, an alumnus of Illinois Wesleyan University from Dunlap as well as the Peoria Area Civic Chorale’s Youth Chorus and this year’s Young Artist Competition winners. The Friday night performance will also include performances by two 90-voice Youth Choruses: the Children’s Festival Chorus and the Junior High Festival Chorus. Tickets are $20 for adults, $8 for students and $18 for groups of 10 or more and are available at the Peoria Civic Chorale box office or by calling 309-693-6725. For more information, visit www.peoriacivicchorale.org
For a jazzy vibe for live holiday music in Peoria, consider attending Jazz to the World! with the Judy Page Project which will take place at the Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts (located at 1327 East Kelly Ave. in Peoria Heights) on Dec. 6 beginning at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 and are available online at www.thebettyjayne.com or $15 at the door.
Enjoy a Christmas Cabaret will take place at the Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts (located at 1327 East Kelly Ave. in Peoria Heights) on Dec. 14 beginning at 7 pm. Tickets are $20 and are available online at www.thebettyjayne.com or $24 at the door.
Featuring stars from the Broadway smash hit Jersey Boys singing iconic Yuletide classics as well as their signature renditions of the greatest rock and roll hits of the 1960’s, the Midtown Men Holiday Hits Show will be presented at Five Points Performing Arts Center (located at 360 N. Wilmor Road in Washington) beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $32, $42 and $75 for VIP seating along with an optional Holiday Social prior to the show from 6 – 7 pm which includes live music, holiday appetizers, a hot cocoa bar, coffee, tea, water, popcorn and a wine tasting for an additional $17 and are available by calling 309-444-8222 or online at https://www.fivepointswashington.org/live-five-points
Or for instrumental holiday music, A Merry Little Christmas will take place at Five Points Washington (located at 360 N. Wilmor Rd. in Washington) on Dec. 6 beginning at 7 pm. Featuring the Peoria Pops Orchestra performing carols and songs both old and new plus Santa will also visit. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $8 for students and groups of 10 or more and are available at www.fivepointswashington.org
Another instrumental holiday concert is the Prairie Wind Ensemble who will perform their Holiday Concert at the Bertha Frank Performing Arts Center (located at 350 N Illinois Ave. in Morton) on Dec. 13 beginning at 7:30 pm. A 70-member adult symphonic band with musicians from the Peoria area, tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for senior citizens and students and are available at the door. For more information, visit http://www.prairiewindensemble.com
Don’t forget that the Heartland Festival Orchestra will be performing the classic Tchaikovsky music accompanying the Peoria Ballet when they present the Nutcracker Ballet at the Peoria Civic Center Theater at 2 pm and 7:30 pm on Dec. 14 and at 2 pm on Dec. 15. Featuring guest artists from the Joffrey Ballet, tickets range from $10 – $50 and are available at the box office by calling 800-745-3000 or online at http://ticketmaster.com
And for a truly unique holiday musical performance, Lindsey Stirling will perform at the Peoria Civic Center Theater on Dec. 6 at 7:30 pm. Her unique combination of combining dance while performing on the electric violin will be presented with a holiday theme in this show. Tickets range from $49.50 – $89.50 and are available at the box office by calling 800-745-3000 or online at http://ticketmaster.com
The Peoria Players Holiday Special featuring the Peoria Area Performing Arts Studio will be presented at Peoria Players Theatre (located at 4300 N. University inPeoria) beginning at 7:30 pm on Friday and Saturday and also on Sunday beginning at 2 pm. Tickets $20 for adults and $15 for ages 20 and younger and are available now at the box office, by calling 309-688-4473 or online at www.peoriaplayers.org
Another live holiday music in Peoria option is Christmas at Northwoods, a musical production, will take place at Northwoods Community Church (located at 10700 N Allen Rd. in Peoria) on Dec. 15 – 20 beginning at 7 pm daily plus at 3 pm on Saturday & Sunday, December 21 & 22 with an additional show at 11 am on Dec. 22. Admission is free, however tickets are required and are available at https://northwoods.church/christmas2019
And finally, if you’re looking for great live music for New Year’s Eve, check out these two events: The Dueling Pianos Annual New Year’s Eve BASH will take place at The Waterhouse (located at 316 SW Washington St. in Peoria) on Dec. 31 beginning at 7 pm. Featuring a two entree buffet dinner, 4 types of draft beer, 7 types of wine, premium mixed drinks, soft drinks, New Year’s Eve party favors, a champagne toast at midnight and dueling pianos show presented by Central Illinois Dueling Pianos, tickets are $89 and are available at http://www.waterhousepeoria.com
Or for a New Orleans New Year, join The Todd Kelly Quartet, Nathan Taylor Band and juanGoblin at the Betty Jayne Brimmer Center for the Performing Arts (located at 1327 East Kelly Ave. in Peoria Heights) on Dec. 31 beginning at 7 pm. Featuring New Orleans inspired food, tickets are $60 per person and are available online available at www.thebettyjayne.com
Fans of the Rat Pack will enjoy Ring-a-Ding-Ding New Year which will be presented by Peoria Players Theatre (located at 4300 N. University inPeoria) beginning at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25 for all ages which includes complimentary hors d’oeuvres and are available beginning December 13th at the box office or by calling 309-688-4473. For more information, visit www.peoriaplayers.org
For a full listing of holiday events in addition to live holiday music in Peoria, make sure to visit our calendar at http://explorepeoria.com/events
This article was posted on November 29, 2019.
