Christmas shopping is in full swing. The lights are about to be strung up around the neighborhood. Before we know it, that whistled “O Christmas Tree” Corona commercial will be airing for the 28th straight year.
Included in the all-things-Christmas onslaught is a full slate of musical performances. From local art groups to touring Americana artists to a ’90s boy band, the carols are coming from all directions.
Surely there are others, but here are a dozen concerts with holiday themes lighting up Fox Valley stages in the month of December.
Dec. 1: Appleton Boychoir “A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols”
A Fox Cities tradition, the golden-voiced lads will present their concert celebrating the beginning of Advent and the coming Christmas feast at 1 and 4 p.m. at the Lawrence Memorial Chapel in Appleton. They’ll be backed by the chapel organ and the Copper Street Brass. Tickets start at $15.
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Dec. 1: Natalie Grant and Danny Gokey
For the third year in a row, Danny Gokey, the Milwaukee native who finished third on “American Idol” back in 2009, and Natalie Grant are co-headlining a Christmas tour. They’ll visit Menominee Nation Arena in Oshkosh for a 7 p.m. show. Tickets start at $24.
Dec. 4: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis
For more than 30 years, Mannheim Steamroller has been getting folks into the holiday spirit — and many of those years have included northeast Wisconsin visits. The group is back for a 7:30 p.m. performance at the Weidner Center in Green Bay. Tickets start at $57.50.
Dec. 6: Christmas on the Avenue with Dan Rodriguez
This one’s more of a up-to-date tradition. Dan Rodriguez, a Fox Cities favorite from Mile of Music festivals over the years, came to Appleton in 2017 for a holiday show and things went well enough that he’s coming back and taking on a bigger venue in the Lawrence Memorial Chapel. He’ll be joined by his band for the 7:30 p.m. show that’s in part a fundraiser for nonprofit station 91.1 the Avenue. Tickets are $30.
Dec. 7: “All Hearts Come Home for Christmas”
The 10th annual Advent concert at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton featuring the band Behind the Eyes. They’ll deliver Christmas tunes with a Trans-Siberian Orchestra feel and be the centerpiece of a family-friendly party that celebrates the reason for the season. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show start at $20. Children 12 and younger get in free.
Dec. 11: A Motown Christmas
Members of three iconic Motown groups — the Temptations, the Miracles and the Capitols — unite for a show of holiday classics (and with a few other hits sprinkled in) at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in downtown Appleton. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show start at $39.
Dec. 12: “(There’s No Place Like) Swing for the Holidays”
The holiday music of Ella Fitzgerald will take center stage — as performed by Courtney Sherman — at the Weidner Center and the Green Bay Jazz Orchestra and members of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay music faculty will back her up. Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. show are $15.
Dec. 14: Boogie & the Yo-Yo’z “Christmas With You”
The long-running Fox Valley band Boogie & the Yo-Yo’z will again take to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center stage for a night of Christmas classics and a few festive originals. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show start at $35.
Dec. 15: newVoices’ “Christmas at the Chapel”
The Appleton-based chorus featuring singers from around northeast Wisconsin will put on two shows, 2 and 7:30 p.m., at the Lawrence Memorial Chapel in Appleton. It’s one of two events billed as featuring sacred music in sacred spaces — they’ll also perform at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay. Tickets for the Appleton performance start at $10.
Dec. 21: An Evening of Holiday Mischief
Cory Chisel and Adriel Denae will carry on the tradition of playing a late-December show at the Lawrence Memorial Chapel in Appleton. They’ll be joined by Stelth Ulvang (of the Lumineers), Dorota Ulvang, LOLO, Shannon Shaw (of Shannon and the Clams), Sam Trump, J-Council and DJ Ross Grizzly. Showtime is 7 p.m. and tickets are $25.
Dec. 21: 98 Degrees at Christmas
You may remember these four dudes from their slow ’90s boy-band heyday, but 98 Degrees are all grown up and will deliver a night of Christmas tunes — which they’ve been singing for more than two decades — and, of course, a handful of the hits. (Probably no firemen outfits, though. Sorry.) Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show start at $45.
Dec. 22: Lorie Line: Lord of Lords
Are you noticing a trend? If you miss a holiday show one year, chances are good you’ll get another shot. Lorie Line’s been a constant visitor to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton and the pianist will be back just before Christmas for a 7:30 p.m. show. “Lord of Lords” is the theme of her up-to-date holiday extravaganza. Tickets start at $59.
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