For a place that once banned Christmas celebrations back in the 17th century, New Englanders sure have an unbridled enthusiasm for live holiday music in concert halls, churches, town squares and convert venues each December.
Annual favorites range from The Messiah by Handel and the Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky to Charlie Brown’s Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but it is the Irish and Celtic Christmas shows that take center stage each holiday season in New England, where nearly 20% of residents claim some Irish, Scottish or Nova Scotian ancestry. This year’s Irish and Celtic Christmas shows are bolstered by Spectacle Live, the region’s fastest growing independent promoter.
Founded by music veteran Pete Lally in 2013, the Lowell-based music promoters are guided by their founding credo of finding the right artist for the right venue at the right time.
Shows in December include Celtic Woman, the Irish Tenors, Fairy Tale of New York, Eileen Ivers, Christmas with the Celts, Sean Heeley’s Celtic Christmas, Irish Christmas in America, Judy Collins and the Vienna Boys Choir, performing at multiple concert halls in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.
Several of these Irish acts are playing multiple venues. The Irish Tenors perform their Family Christmas show at Plymouth Memorial Hall on December 5, the Park Theater in Cranston, RI on December 8 and Cary Memorial Hall in Lexington on December 12.
Lunasa plays the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport on December 8, the Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, RI on December 14 and the Groton Music Hall in Groton on December 21. And fiddle great Eileen Ivers performs at Colonial Theatre in Laconia, NH on Dec 8, Jane Pickens Arts Center in Newport, RI on December 14, and Tilden Arts Center on Cape Cod on December 15.
The Irish Cultural Center of Greater Boston in Canton, MA brings a wonderful family vibe to the holidays each year, starting on December 6 with its annual Christmas Tree lighting, followed by singing star Chloë Agnew performing her show Celtic Christmas that evening.
On December 7, the Centre hosts its Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus for the kids, and a Seniors Appreciation Luncheon on December 10. The Centre’s wildly popular 50/50 raffle takes place on December 14, along with live music and dancing and good cheer.
On this night, the Centre celebrates its 25th anniversary, with toasts, speeches and fond memories. On December 15, famed Irish tenor Paul Byrom, formerly of Celtic Thunder, performs Christmas from Ireland. Wrapping up the holiday calendar is popular husband-wife duo Irish tenor Ciaran Nagle and fiddler Tara Novak, performing with their band Ishna on December 22.
Blackstone River Theatre in Cumberland, Rhode Island holds its annual Holiday Craft Fair and Festival on December 7, with dozens of artisans and great local bands. On December 8, multi-instrumentalist Seamus Egan performs his exquisite show, Good Winter: A Celtic Christmas, featuring vocalist/banjoist Moira Smiley and singer/guitarist Yann Falquet. On December 14, Lunasa gives two performances of its holiday show, Irish Solstice.
At the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, MA, jazz pianist David Benoit performs A Charlie Brown Christmas on December 5. On December 8, Ireland’s storied traditional ensemble Lunasa has two performances, and on December 12, Rockport welcomes the PBS holiday show, Christmas with the Celts. On December 13, Boston’s famous Handel & Haydn Society, performs Handel’s masterful Messiah for the 170th consecutive year.
On Sunday, December 14, the Chatham Drama Guild on Cape Cod presents two shows of A Celtic Christmas featuring fiddler Rose Clancy and her father, multi-instrumentalist and singer Eugene Clancy, along with Max Cohen, Clayton March and John Alden. Special guest is National Heritage Fellow and champion Irish dancer Kevin Doyle.
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL GATHERINGS
On December 4, Mná Mheiricea, an Irish women’s organization, holds its 2nd Annual Glitz and Glam Holiday Party at the W Hotel in downtown Boston. The event includes live music by Shelagh Rose, signature cocktails and gourmet food, along with vendors offering Christmas gift ideas.
On December 10, Irish American Partnership holds its Boston Holiday Celebration at the new Irish pub, Sweeney's on Boylston, in Back Bay. Proceeds from the event help fund the Partnership's Outdoor Play & Learning initiative. The Irish Pastoral Centre of Greater Boston holds its monthly session at its headquarters in Adams Village, Dorchester on December 15.
For theater lovers, the hilarious comedy, Noises Off, is at Lyric Stage Boston in Back Bay through December 22, and Reagle Theatre’s annual Christmastime concert in Waltham runs December 7-15. The Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell presents Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on various days between December 11-29.
MORE CHRISTMAS CHEER
Newport, Rhode Island celebrates Christmas all month long with caroling in the streets, concerts and dance recitals in the grand mansions, and plenty of dining and hotel specials. On December 14 the Newport Irish Museum holds its annual Christmas Open House with music, food and handmade ornaments for sale.
In Boston, the Wang Theatre in downtown presents the Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet On December 5 and How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Dec 10-23. Nearby, the Shubert Theatre presents Cirque Dreams Holidaze from December 6-8.
In Quincy, enjoy holiday concerts at the Church of Presidents on Dec 7, while on December 15, the Quincy Choral Society performs The Messiah at Wollaston Church. In Quincy’s city center, the Hancock Adams Common holds a religious gathering at the Creche on December 15 and a Menorah Lighting on December 26.
In Milton, the Eustis Estate holds its Holiday Cheer event on December 5 and 19, with live music at this stately mansion. A Victorian Holiday Tea with homemade scones and tea sandwiches takes place on December 8, 15, 16 and 17, and on December 12, the Harper and Minstrel duo perform Celtic Wynter music.
In Merrimack Valley, the U.S. Air Force Band performs A Holiday Salute at Lowell Auditorium on December 10, while Boston Pops Orchestra performs Holiday Pops there on December 15. On December 14 and 21, the Lexington Historical Society recreates its 1773 Lexington Tea Party, which protested British Tea as the American Revolution was brewing.
Submitted by the Boston Irish Tourism Association
Find more details by visiting https://irishboston.org/december.php
