2025 Holiday Theater, Concert & Dance Performances in New England
From plays to dance to music, merry holiday performances can be found across New England in 2025 at venues big and small.
By Bill Scheller|Oct 20 2025|
“Holiday Pops,” Boston Pops
Photo Credit: Robert TorresFrom glittering ballet performances and timeless holiday plays to festive concerts and community sing-alongs, the season’s spirit shines bright across New England. Whether you’re planning a family outing to The Nutcracker, a date night at a holiday pops concert, or a nostalgic evening with A Christmas Carol, our 2025 guide to holiday performances highlights the best shows, concerts, and celebrations in every state.
2025 Holiday Performances in New England
2025 Vermont Holiday Performances
December 31
First Night North, St. Johnsbury
First Night has had a rocky time of it in Vermont over the past decade, with Burlington’s event ending a 35-year run in 2018. But Catamount Arts keeps the tradition alive in St. Johnsbury, with a lively First Night North scheduled for New Year’s Eve. Nearly 70 shows will include music genres ranging from Latin to bluegrass to classic rock, along with perennial favorites like Marko the Magician and Fairbanks Planetarium shows. Look for the traditional pancake supper, plus food trucks galore. 12/31; catamountarts.org
December 20 – 21
The Green Mountain Nutcracker, Barre
The Nutcracker has always seemed to take place in a bygone European dreamland, but does it have to? Not necessarily, say the producers of Moving Light Dance Company’s Green Mountains version, set in 1970s Vermont and staged at the Barre Opera House. The story follows a girl named Marie as she and her Nutcracker Prince travel through a snowy realm just as magical as any in old Russia. Sugarplums? Nah—this version features a Maple Sugar Fairy. And a troupe of jolly loggers adds to the local color. 12/20 and 12/21; movinglightdance.com
December 6
Holiday Pops, Burlington
It’ll be hard to find a more eclectic menu of yuletide chestnuts and less familiar compositions than the program the Vermont Symphony Orchestra has planned at the Flynn. Conductor Andrew Crust will lead the VSO in selections from The Nutcracker, “Sleigh Ride,” and Ralph Vaughan Williams’s “Fantasia on Greensleeves,” plus pieces not as frequently heard, like Kelly-Marie Murphy’s First Nations–inspired “Huron Carol Interlude” and excerpts from “Capriol Suite” by Peter Warlock. There’ll be a sing-along, a “12 Days of Christmas” with a Vermont slant, and, of course, Santa’s arrival. 12/6; flynnvt.org
December 4 – January 1
Peter & Wendy, White River Junction
With a pedigree that goes back to J.M. Barrie’s 1904 play Peter Pan and his 1911 novel Peter and Wendy, Northern Stage’s production of Peter & Wendy continues the story of the boy who won’t grow up and the girl he introduces to Neverland. All the famous characters of that magic realm—Tinker Bell, Tiger Lily (“Lily,” in this version), the nefarious Captain Hook—make their appearance in this adaptation of the story, created by former Northern Stage associate artistic director Eric Love. 12/4–1/1; northernstage.org
December 7
Randolph Singers Holiday Concert, Randolph
The acoustically superb concert hall at the Chandler Center for the Arts is the setting for “Sacred and Secular Season,” the annual holiday concert by the Randolph Singers, a community chorus drawing members from throughout central Vermont. Among the program highlights: director Christopher McWilliams’s original arrangement of “Christmas Jingles”; Andy Beck’s “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” which reimagines the Clement Clarke Moore poem in song; Pergolesi’s “Magnificat”; Saint-Saëns’s “Christmas Oratorio”; and selections by Samuel Barber and Howard Goodall. 12/7; chandler-arts.org
Photo Credit : Courtesy of The Lodge at Spruce Peak
December 20
Spruce Peak Lights Festival, Stowe
Tucked between Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield in the heart of ski country, The Lodge at Spruce Peak (formerly Stowe Mountain Lodge) welcomes the holidays at an all-day event featuring “Holiday Party on Ice” performances by Ice Dance International, a gala Christmas tree lighting and village illumination, a spectacular fireworks show, and complimentary photos with Santa. Too old for Santa? Toast the season at the WhistlePig Pavilion. 12/20; sprucepeak.com
2025 Rhode Island Holiday Performances
November 28 – December 21
A Christmas Carol: The Musical, Westerly
Ebenezer Scrooge has humbug driven from his heart in Charles Dickens’s enduring Christmas tale of redemption set in early-Victorian London. Scrooge, the Cratchits, the ghosts, and a raft of colorful characters tell the story in song as A Christmas Carol: The Musical arrives for nearly a monthlong run at the Granite Theatre. The production features original numbers by Broadway veterans Alan Menken (Disney’s The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast) and Lynn Ahrens (Ragtime and Seussical). 11/28–12/21; granitetheatre.org
Photo Credit : Courtesy of Cirque Dreams Holidaze/PPAC
December 19 – 21
Cirque Dreams Holidaze, Providence
Cirque Dreams, a global phenomenon affiliated with the famed Cirque du Soleil, comes to the Providence Performing Arts Center with a special holiday-themed extravaganza. The ensemble’s original music and choreography, stunning acrobatics, and vividly elaborate sets and costumes bring storybook characters to life on the big stage in a nearly two-hour show combining the panache of a circus with Christmas warmth and wonder. The four scheduled performances include a Saturday matinee. 12/19–12/21; ppacri.org
December 19 – 28
The Nutcracker, Providence
The Ocean State’s acclaimed professional classical dance ensemble, Ballet Rhode Island (formerly Festival Ballet Providence), offers its annual performance of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at Veterans Memorial Auditorium. The production promises striking visuals, as elaborate costumes and masks bring the Mouse King, the Nutcracker Prince, and the rest of the fanciful cast to life. 12/19–12/28; balletri.org
2025 New Hampshire Holiday Performances
December 6 – 7
Concord Dance Academy Holiday Spectacular, Concord
Every Christmas season, the colorfully costumed young students at Concord Dance Academy take to the stage at the Concord City Auditorium to show off what they’ve learned, performing a variety of dance styles to a program of holiday songs. All proceeds go to Friends of the City Auditorium and other local charities. 12/6 and 12/7; concorddanceacademy.com
November 13 – December 21
Elf the Musical, Portsmouth
It took until 2003 for a Christmas movie to look at the Santa story from the elves’ point of view. Elf became a holiday classic, and now it’s a musical. Running at the Seacoast Repertory Theatre, Elf the Musical tells the story of Buddy, a boy transported to the North Pole and raised by elves (and trained, less than successfully, in toy making). When he discovers he is human, he sets out for New York City and … well, it gets complicated, and funny, and heartwarming. Songs are by Tony nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin. 11/13–12/21; seacoastrep.org
December 13
Holiday Pops, Nashua
Guest conductor Damien Geter leads Symphony New Hampshire in a collection of yuletide musical favorites at the Keefe Center for the Arts. A conductor, composer, and accomplished bass-baritone, Geter will bring his talent for lush arrangements and spirited conducting to the century-old, Nashua-based symphony in a program of traditional carols, evergreen orchestral numbers, and sing-alongs, with more than a few surprises along the way. 12/13; symphonynh.org
December 3 – 21
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Portsmouth
“Blue Skies,” “Happy Holiday,” and other spirit-lifting standards by Irving Berlin will be ringing out from the stage at The Music Hall in December, as this Ogunquit Playhouse production takes up residence in Portsmouth for more than two weeks. Between the previews, the matinees, and the evening performances, there are ticket options aplenty, making it easy to pair this cultural hit with any downtown holiday shopping and dining plans. 12/3–12/21; themusichall.org
Photo Credit : Courtesy of Revels North
December 20 – 21
the Midwinter Revels, Lebanon
“Dance, then, wherever you may be….” A half-century of holiday revelry draws to a close in 2025, as Revels North presents its final salute to the season at the Lebanon Opera House. This Scottish celebration of the winter solstice features the artistry of celebrated Celtic guitarist Eric McDonald and Orkney Islands fiddler-singer Louise Bichan alongside a professional cast and talented local amateurs. 12/20 and 12/21; revelsnorth.org
2025 Maine Holiday Performances
December 20
Christmas at the Castle, Freeport
Maine Dance Company’s all-new production promises a playful reimagining of The Nutcracker in which the Sugar Plum Fairy leads some favorite fairy-tale friends—such as Ariel, Rapunzel, and a certain Beast-smitten beauty—on a quest to save Christmas. The show’s cast will include both professional dancers and students from the Maine Dance Center school. Performances are at the Freeport Performing Arts Center. 12/20; mainedancecompany.com
Photo Credit : Courtesy of Portland Symphony Orchestra
December 12 – 14, 19 – 21
Magic of Christmas, Portland
The century-old Portland Symphony Orchestra brings its popular Magic of Christmas concert back to Merrill Auditorium for a two-weekend run. Audiences can expect a selection of carols both sacred and secular for orchestra and choir, such as the “Hallelujah” chorus and “Sleigh Ride.” Plus, American Idol alum and local songstress Julia Gagnon will perform as a guest vocalist. Parents, take note: There’s an abbreviated 11 a.m. concert on Sunday, December 14, that’s perfect for kids. 12/12–12/14 and 12/19–12/21; portlandsymphony.org
December 13
Neil McGarry’s A Christmas Carol, Buxton
Few stagings of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol are as unusual and riveting as Neil McGarry’s version, in which he plays every character in the story. McGarry’s one-man show, described by one critic as “astounding and charming,” has been a traveling phenomenon for over a decade; now it arrives at Buxton’s Saco River Theatre for a pair of same-day performances. 12/13; sacorivertheatre.org
December 13
Rangeley Community Chorus Holiday Concert, Rangeley
Sponsored by Rangeley Friends of the Arts, the Rangeley Community Chorus is a rotating ensemble drawn from talented residents of Rangeley and surrounding towns in the Lakes Region. Their single performance at the Church of the Good Shepherd will offer a program of secular and sacred holiday songs. Look for the Rangeley Lakes Regional School choir and the Rangeley Ringers handbell choir to join in the fun. 12/13; rangeleyarts.org
2025 Massachusetts Holiday Performances
November 20 – December 7
A Christmas Carol, Provincetown
In a highly original take on the Charles Dickens classic, Provincetown Theater presents A Christmas Carol as a play within a play. The adaptation by Doris Baizley features a 1930s vaudeville troupe traveling from one Depression-era community to another. When the motley thespians realize that the actors cast as Scrooge and Tiny Tim have been left behind in the previous town, they adapt as best they can … and, as the old chestnut has it, hilarity ensues. 11/20–12/7; provincetowntheater.org
Photo Credit : Liza Voll Photography
November 28 – December 28
Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Boston
Nothing is arguably more central to Boston’s Christmas cultural scene than Boston Ballet’s take on The Nutcracker, with its story of young Clara and her Nutcracker Prince, who takes her on a fairyland adventure set to Tchaikovsky’s incomparable score. The current production, which debuted in 2012, is a Mikko Nissinen–designed extravaganza featuring more than 240 students from Boston Ballet School accompanying the lead dancers, nearly 200 costumes embroidered with 200,000-plus faux jewels, and a Christmas tree that magically “grows” to more than 40 feet tall. 11/28–12/28; bostonballet.org
November 28 – 30, December 18 – 21
Handel and Haydn Society Holiday Concerts, Boston
Founded in 1815, the Handel and Haydn Society presented the American premiere of Handel’s “Messiah” three years later. Since 1854, the famed oratorio has been part of the society’s annual repertory, with this season’s performances scheduled for late November. H+H’s other holiday offering is “Baroque Christmas,” featuring works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Ludwig Bach, and Christoph Graupner. As always, the music will be performed on period instruments. 11/28–11/30 (“Messiah”) and 12/18 and 12/21 (“Baroque Christmas”); handelandhaydn.org
December 4 – 24
Holiday Pops, Boston
Ever since the days of Arthur Fiedler, the Boston Pops have been a mainstay of holiday celebrations in New England. Composed of musicians drawn from the esteemed Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Pops are led by conductor Keith Lockhart in a tradition-steeped program that’s sure to include Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” ending with an audience sing-along and Santa’s arrival. 12/4–12/24; bostonpops.org
December 7
215th Army Band Holiday Concert, Springfield
The stately Greek Revival architecture and superb acoustics of Springfield Symphony Hall provide the setting for this free cavalcade of seasonal tunes performed by members of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. With selections such as “Bugler’s Holiday” and “Christmas and Sousa Forever,” the buoyantly patriotic program is bound to command attention. 12/7; spiritofspringfield.org/events/holiday-concert
2025 Connecticut Holiday Performances
December 12 – 13
A Charlie Brown Christmas, Uncasville
Sixty years after it appeared on television, and more than a decade since it first came to the stage, the story of how Charlie Brown rediscovers the spirit of Christmas arrives at Mohegan Sun Arena. Disillusioned by the whirlwind commercialization of the holidays, Charlie—with the help of his “Peanuts” pals, a bedraggled but beloved Christmas tree, and one very special beagle—puts on a pageant celebrating the true meaning of the season. 12/12 and 12/13; mohegansun.com
November 14 – December 28
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, East Haddam
In 1940, Irving Berlin crafted a tune he called “the best song I ever wrote.” Two years later, Bing Crosby sang “White Christmas” in the film Holiday Inn, and it became a favorite of American soldiers wistful for home and hearth. Crosby reprised the tune in the 1954 movie White Christmas, helping it become the best-selling single ever. The song’s legendary journey took another turn in 2000 with the premiere of a musical rendition of the movie, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas—which this year is the big holiday show at the Goodspeed Opera House. 11/14–12/28; goodspeed.org
November 20 – December 21
Playhouse Holiday Jamboree, Ivoryton
For generations, the way to listen to Christmas music was to turn on the radio. With a brand-new production in the style of radio days gone by, Connecticut’s venerable Ivoryton Playhouse serves up favorite carols, along with pop melodies and storytelling, as if the audience were gathered around Philco and RCA parlor sets to hear live broadcasts from venues like the Grand Ole Opry’s Ryman Auditorium. 11/20–12/21; ivorytonplayhouse.org
December 6
Straight No Chaser: Holiday Road Tour, Uncasville
Straight No Chaser is a nine-member a cappella group founded at Indiana University in 1996. Now a professional ensemble, they’re known for tight harmonies, clever arrangements, and a high-spirited take on holiday chestnuts like “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Members of the natty nonet—all sharp black suits and hip haircuts—also serve up holiday tunes of their own: “Who Spiked the Eggnog?” “The Christmas Can-Can,” “Text Me Merry Christmas,” and more. In Connecticut, their Holiday Road Tour show takes the stage at Mohegan Sun Arena. 12/6; mohegansun.com
Photo Credit : Courtesy of New England Academy of Dance
December 6 – 7
Sugar Plum Tea Party, New Canaan
The Sugar Plum Fairy steps out of The Nutcracker and into the real world of the New England Academy of Dance for a tea party to delight both children and their grown-up friends and family. There’ll be sweet and savory treats, arts and crafts, party favors for all, and, of course, ballet excerpts performed by the fairy herself and her friends from the Land of Sweets. 12/6 and 12/7; neadance.com
This feature was originally published as “Setting the Stage” in the November/December 2025 issue of Yankee.
