Whether you like your carols with cocoa or straight up traditional, Eastern Iowa’s musical groups and venues will be blanketed with the sparkling sounds of the season, right up to Christmas. Here’s a guide to help make your spirits bright:
NOVEMBER
25: Irish Christmas in America, 8 p.m., CSPS Hall, 1103 Third St. SE, Cedar Rapids; $30 advance, $35 door, CSPS Box Office, (319) 364-1580 or Legionarts.org
26: Holiday Ramble, 8 p.m., Crisis Center benefit, The Mill, 120 E. Burlington St., Iowa City; $10, ages 19 and up after 10 p.m.; Icmill.com
26: White Lights: Iowa Accordion Club, 2 p.m., Whipple Auditorium, Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE; free, Crlibrary.org
28: Cedar Valley Christmas, 6:30 p.m. preconcert in lobby, 7:30 p.m. main concert, Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls; $5, Cedarvalleyclubs.com
29: Festival of Carols, 6:30 p.m., Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City; free, Englert.org
DECEMBER
1: Joseph Hall: Elvis Rock ’n’ Remember Christmas Show, 7:30 p.m., Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, 1301 Fifth St., Coralville; $12 to $37, center box office, (319) 248-9370 or Coralvillearts.org
2: Christmas at Luther, 9:15 p.m., Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, Decorah; $25 to $35, Tickets.luther.edu All other performances sold out.
2: Christmas at Heritage Center: Salvation Unto Us has Come, 7:30 p.m., Heritage Center, University of Dubuque, 2255 Bennett St., Dubuque; UD ensembles; $5 to $10, Dbq.edu
2 & 3: Amy Stoner Christmas Cabaret: “Home for the Holidays,” cocktails 6:30 p.m., concert 7:30 p.m., Eastbank Venue & Lounge, 97 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids (formerly Smulekoff’s); with Cameron Sullenberger, Luke Viertel, John Hall and Tim Crumley; $35, includes coffee and dessert, (319) 366-8203 or Artsiowa.com
3: Heartland Marimba Festival: “Holiday Spectacular,” featuring Matthew Coley, 4 p.m., Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, 410 Third Ave. SE; $15 suggested donation; also Dec. 12, 6 p.m., Cedar Rapids Public Library and other dates in Davenport, Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Dubuque, Heartlandmarimbafestival.com/events
3: Holiday Harmonies, local men’s and women’s barbershop choruses, 1:30 p.m., Clarion Hotel, 2525 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, and 7:30 p.m., Scottish Rite Temple, 616 A Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids; donations benefit HACAP
3: John Tesh Big Band Christmas, 3 and 7 p.m., Mississippi Moon Bar, 301 Bell St., Dubuque; $25 to $45, (563) 690-4758, 1- (800) 582-5956 or Diamondjodubuque.com
3: White Lights: Merry TubaChristmas, 2 p.m., Whipple Auditorium, Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE; free, Crlibrary.org
3: Handel’s “Messiah,” 7:30 p.m., King Chapel, Cornell College, 600 First St. SW, Mount Vernon; Cornell Choirs and Symphony; free
3: Sing-Along Messiah, 7:30 p.m., Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, 1301 Fifth St., Coralville; $8 to $12, center box office, (319) 248-9370 or Coralvillearts.org
3 & 4: Christmas With Wartburg, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, 3 p.m. Dec. 4, Neumann Auditorium, Wartburg College, 1 Wartburg Blvd., Waverly; $18, Wartburg.edu/christmas
4: Canadian Brass, “Classic Christmas,” 4 p.m., Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls; $17.75 to $50.75, venue box office, (319) 273-4849 or Gbpac.com
4: Christmas in Faith, organist Barbara Ritchie and friends, 3 p.m., St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 8300 C Ave. NE, Marion; free, Faith-life.org/events/upcoming-events
4: Christmas with Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, featuring the Des Moines Symphony and Jordan Smith, Season 9 winner of “The Voice,” 7 p.m., Wells Fargo Arena, 730 Third St., Des Moines; $27 to $77, (844) 554-9833 or Iowaeventscenter.com
4: Chorale Midwest: Holiday Voices, 2:30 p.m. (also 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5), Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 857 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids; $15 adults, $5 students, door or Choralemidwest.org
4: Mount Mercy Lessons and Carols, 2:30 p.m., Busse Center, Chapel of Mercy, Mount Mercy University, 1330 Elmhurst Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids; free
6: David Arkenstone’s Winter Fantasy, 7:30 p.m., Elkader Opera House, 207 N. Main St., Elkader; $15 advance $18 door, (563) 873-2378 or Elkaderoperahouse.com
6: Celebrate Christmas at Coe, 11 a.m. Convocation and 7:30 p.m. Vespers, Sinclair Auditorium, Coe College, 1220 First Ave. NE, Cedar Rapids; free, Coe.edu
6: Cocoa and Carols with Cedar Sounds Chorus, 7 p.m., Calvin Sinclair Church, 715 38th St. SE, Cedar Rapids; free
7: UI Old Gold Cocoa and Carols, 7:30 p.m., Old Brick, 26 E. Market St., Iowa City; free
7: Tribute, Kathy Donnelly, Carol Montag and Nina Swanson and friends, 7 to 9 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids; $33 to $38, Paramount Ticket Office, (319) 366-8203 or Paramounttheatrecr.com
8: Lynne Rothrock Christmas Show, 7:30 p.m. (also 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10), Whipple Auditorium, Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE; with Ron DeWitte, Julia West, Dave Ollinger, Greg Kanz, Cathy Koebrick & Heather Akers; $28, Lynnerothrock.com
8: Trans Siberian Orchestra, 7:30 p.m., iWireless Center, 1201 River Dr., Moline, Ill.; $32.50 to $63.50, arena box office, 1- (800) 745-3000 or Iwirelesscenter.com
9: Asleep at the Wheel, “Merry Texas Christmas Y’all!” 7:30 p.m., Hancher Auditorium, 141 E. Park Rd., Iowa City; $10 to $40, Hancher Box Office, (319) 335-1160, 1- (800) HANCHER or Hancher.uiowa.edu/20events/asleep-wheel
9: Laura Story, “The Glory of Christmas,” national contemporary Christian artist, 7 to 9 p.m., Stonebridge Church, 1829 Stoney Point Rd. SW, Cedar Rapids; $20 to $40, Stonebridge.church/laurastory
9: Scotty McCreery, 8 p.m., Meskwaki Veterans Convention Center, Meskwaki Casino, 1504 305th St., Tama, $37 to $47, 1- (800) 728-4263 or Meskwaki.com/live-entertainment
9: UI Holiday Tubas, 12:30 p.m., Old Capitol Building Steps, 1 N. Clinton St., Iowa City; free
10: Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale: Holiday Concert, 7:30 p.m., St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 1224 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids; $12 advance, $15 door or Crchorale.org
10: Eastern Iowa Brass Band, 7:30 p.m., District Auditorium, Mount Vernon Middle School, 525 Palisades Rd.; $4 to $10, Easterniowabrassband.com/store
10: Michael Bolton, “Greatest Hits and Holiday Favorites,” 8 p.m., Riverside Casino Event Center, 3184 Highway 22, Riverside; $40 to $75, Casino Gift Shop or Riversidecasinoandresort.com
10: UI Percussion Holiday Pops, 3 p.m., Voxman Music Building Concert Hall, 93 E. Burlington St., Iowa City; free
10: White Lights: Young at Harp, 2 p.m., Whipple Auditorium, Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE; free, Crlibrary.org
11: A Classic Christmas Fantasy Concert, 2 p.m., Elkader Opera House, 207 N. Main St., Elkader; free, (563) 873-2378 or Elkaderoperahouse.com
11: Chamber Singers of Iowa City, “A Candlelight Christmas,” 3 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 214 E. Jefferson St., Iowa City; $14 to $17, Icchambersingers.org/tickets
11: Jim McDonough: “Holiday Grande,” 2:30 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids; $29 to $45, Paramount Ticket Office, (319) 366-8203 or Paramounttheatrecr.com For more dates and locations, Nov. 25 to Dec. 18: Pianofavorites.com
11: Sandi Patty, 3 p.m., Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls; $21.75 to $50.75, venue box office, (319) 273-4849 or Gbpac.com
11: Telemann: Cantatas for Christmastide, 3 p.m., Voxman Music Building, Organ Hall, 93 E. Burlington St., Iowa City; free
16: Kenny G, 7 p.m., Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, 8201 Dakota St., Cedar Falls; $30.75 to $80.75, venue box office, (319) 273-4849 or Gbpac.com
16 & 17: One Voice Cross Culture, 7 p.m., iWireless Center, 1201 River Dr., Moline, Ill.; $22 to $25, arena box office, 1- (800) 745-3000 or Iwirelesscenter.com
17: Orchestra Iowa Holiday Spectacular, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. (also 2:30 p.m. Dec. 18), Paramount Theatre, 123 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids; $18 to $54, Paramount Ticket Office, (319) 366-8203 or Paramounttheatrecr.com
17: White Lights: Mount Mercy University Handbell Choir, 2 p.m., Whipple Auditorium, Cedar Rapids Public Library, 450 Fifth Ave. SE; free, Crlibrary.org
17 & 18: Holiday(ish) Cabaret, 8 p.m. Dec. 17, 2 and 8 p.m. Dec. 18, Giving Tree Theater, 752 10th St., Marion; $22, (319) 213-7956 or Givingtreetheater.com
18: Diana Upton-Hill, 2 p.m., Elkader Opera House, 207 N. Main St., Elkader; $9.50 to $15 advance, $18 door, (563) 873-2378 or Elkaderoperahouse.com
22: Euforquestra’s Home for the Holidays, with Meteor Cat, 8 p.m., Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City; $15 to $20, Englert Box Office, (319) 688-2653 or Englert.org
