Loads of holiday events planned around Tri-Cities

From fiddle music, to an a capella group, to Miracle on 34th Street and A Christmas Carol, plenty of holiday-themed events are planned around the Tri-Cities.

Here’s a look at some of the fun that’s offered in the coming weeks:

▪  Chiawana High School’s drama department is presenting Miracle on 34th Street.

Performances are at 7 p.m. Dec. 7-8 and 15-16 at the black box theater at the school in Pasco.

“This show has been a holiday favorite ever since Edmund Gwenn made the role of Kris Kringle famous in the 1947 film,” says Todd Westendorf, Chiawana’s director of theatre arts, in a statement. “The themes and ideas of this story still ring true in 2017, possibly even more so. The Christmas season is really about family, friends and goodwill to others.”

Tickets are $8 in advance from the Chiawana ASB office or $10 at the door.

▪  Mid-Columbia Ballet is presenting The Nutcracker on Dec. 8-10

Performances are at 7 p.m. Dec. 8; 1 and 7 p.m. Dec. 9; and 1 p.m. Dec. 10 at Richland High School. Tickets are $28 for adults, $19 for seniors and $14 for children. They’re available at midcolumbiaballet.tix.com, by calling 509-946-5417 and at Dance Boutique at Mid-Columbia Ballet and Music in Richland.

A special sensory-friendly performance for people with special needs is at 4 p.m. Dec. 10 at the school. It’s free, but pre-registration is required at tinyurl.com/mcbsensoryfriendly.

Mid-Columbia Ballet is offering a Sweet Treats event before the matinee on Dec. 9. It runs 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and includes an autograph book, a chance to meet the cast, a cupcake and a special reading of The Nutcracker story. Tickets are limited and the cost is $10. For tickets, go to midcolumbiaballet.org/sweet_treats.html.

The ballet company also is offering free Performance Perspectives talks before each evening performance. The talks start at 6:30 p.m. and include a history of the iconic ballet, which debuted in 1892.

▪  The annual Senske light show runs 5 to 11 p.m. daily in December.

It features more than 500,000 holiday lights in an animated display, coordinated with music that’s broadcast on 90.3 FM.

Spectators should park in the gravel lot across from Senske, at 400 N. Quay St. in Kennewick, to watch the lights.

A pair of open house events are planned — 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 8 and 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 9. Volunteers will be on hand collecting donations for Second Harvest, refreshments will be sold and Santa will appear.

▪  A Frozen-themed community event is Dec. 8 and 15 at The Garden church, 6811 W. Okanogan Place, Kennewick.

The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. both days. Admission is free and the community is invited.

Santa and Elsa will be on hand, refreshments and activities are planned, and Frozen will be screened.

▪  The acclaimed a cappella band The Coats will perform a holiday concert on Dec. 9 at at Southridge High School in Kennewick. Showtime is 7 p.m.

Tickets are $25, with all proceeds going to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Washington/Alaska chapter. The concert is organized by Richland Fire Department’s stair climb team.

Tickets are available at Adventures Underground in Richland or by calling 509-528-5267.

▪  Acclaimed performer Jason Lyle Black will present “a night of piano, comedy and Christmas cheer” on Dec. 9 in Kennewick.

Showtime is 7 p.m. at Kennewick High School. Black, known as “The Backwards Piano Man,” has performed on Ellen and racked up millions of views online.

Tickets start at $11. They’re available at jasonlyleblack.com.

A free educational workshop is planned earlier in the day, focused on composing, practice and motivation. Pre-registration is required via the website.

▪  Kennewick First United Methodist Church is holding a Christmas block party Dec. 9-10.

Hours are 3 to 6 p.m. both days at the church, 2 S. Dayton Street. The event will include baked goodies, chestnuts roasted by a fire, hot cider, caroling, games and Polar Express rides. Santa will make an appearance and story and crafts for kids are planned.

▪  The Kennewick Stake Christmas Choirs from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will perform a concert on Dec. 9-10.

Showtime is 6 p.m. both days at the church building at 895 Gage Blvd., Richland. Admission is free and the community is invited.

▪  The Celtic crossover trio Affinití will perform Dec. 12 at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick.

Showtime is 7 p.m. The concert is put on by the Arts Center Task Force to raise money for a Vista Arts Center at Vista Field.

Affinití includes soprano Emer Barry, Aisling Ennis on harp and Mary McCague on violin. The classically trained Irish musicians have delighted Tri-City audiences twice before with a mix of holiday classics and their own unique takes on everything from traditional Irish tunes to pop songs. They’ll be joined by Howard Crosby, nephew of Bing Crosby.

Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. They’re available in advance through brownpapertickets.com and at Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet and Music in Richland.

▪  Performances of A Seussified Christmas Carol are planned at 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at Gesa Power House Theatre in Walla Walla.

Walla Walla Valley Honda is presenting the show as part of the ongoing Little Watts Series of Family Entertainment.

The 45-minute show is a “whimsical reinvention” of the Dickens classic, a news release said. It’s suitable for all ages, though best for ages 10 and older.

Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for kids 12 and younger. They’re available at phtww.com or by calling 509-529-6500.

▪  A holiday figure skating show is at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Toyota Arena in Kennewick.

Called When You Wish Upon a Star, it will feature more than 50 local skaters, plus guest skaters from Spokane.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. They’re available through Ticketmaster and the Toyota Center box office.

▪  A reader’s theatre production of A Christmas Carol is planned Dec. 15 in Richland.

The Rude Mechanicals theater company is putting on the show, which starts at 7 p.m. at the Uptown Theater. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Admission is a suggested donation of $10.

▪  The 32nd annual Desert Plateau Neighborhood Luminaria runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 16 in Pasco.

More than 25,000 candle-filled paper sacks, or luminaries, will line the streets of Desert Plateau and surrounding neighborhoods.

A Fill the Bus food drive also is planned, with donations for Second Harvest taken at McGee Elementary School.

More information: tinyurl.com/desertplateauluminaria.

▪  Tri-Cities Steel Band Association’s 22nd annual Christmas concert is Dec. 16 in Richland.

Showtime is 6:30 p.m. at Bethel Church. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The association’s steel drum and marimba bands will perform a mix of Caribbean, African, pop and holiday music.

Tickets are $7.50 and are available at TCSBA.org or at the door.

▪  The popular Living Nativity at Hillspring Church in Richland runs Dec. 19-23.

A local cast brings to life the Christmas story, with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, angels, Roman soldiers, kings, shepherds and live animals from cows to camels.

Performances are at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19-20 and at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Dec. 21-23. Tickets are $5 for kids and $10 for adults.

They’re available at hillspringtc.org.

▪  The Grammy Award-winning O’Connor Band will perform at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 at Whitman College in Walla Walla.

The concert, called An Appalachian Christmas, will feature “a wondrous mixture of Christmas carols, fiddling, bluegrass and other traditional American music,” a news release said.

The band includes several members of the O’Connor family, plus Joe Smart and Geoff Saunders. Smart is a Pasco native.

Tickets start at $25 for adults, $15 for college or university students with ID and $10 for kids 18 and younger.

They’re available at wwsymphony.org, by calling 509-529-8020 or at the Walla Walla Symphony office at 13 1/2 E. Main St., Suite 201.

▪  The SAGE Center in Boardman is presenting an agriculture-themed light show.

It runs daily from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 15, featuring holiday music and several lighted rigs, from combines to tractors. They’re provided by Morrow County Grain Growers.

Admission is free. Attendees should tune their radios to 106.9 FM.

This story was originally published December 7, 2017 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Loads of holiday events planned around Tri-Cities."