Carols and sing-alongs: SouthCoast Christmas and holiday concerts to check out this season

Here they come a-carolling!

One of the hallmarks of the holiday season is of course all of the wonderful music.

It can get us into the festive spirit, or conjure up warm memories of holidays past, whether it’s a jaunty tune belted out by stars like Mariah Carey or Kelly Clarkson, or something a little more melancholy and sweet, like the stylings of Judy Garland or Nat King Cole.

There are lots of opportunities to hear holiday songs, old and new, with Christmas and holiday concerts all over the SouthCoast.

From Christmas in Fall River, to the choir filling the rafters with joyful noise at St. Anthony of Padua, and even to some classical and swing performances, SouthCoast residents have got their pick of concerts this holiday season.

Here are a few, where you can go and hear some festive tunes:

Winter holiday concert at Freetown Historical Society

The Freetown Historical Society, 1 Slab Bridge Road, Assonet, is hosting a winter holiday concert performance by The Harper and the Minstrel on Friday, Dec. 8, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Enjoy an evening of medieval, Renaissance, Celtic and popular holiday music on a variety of woodwind instruments. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/yc3r9yza.

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Sippican Choral Society Holiday Concert

The Sippican Choral Society presents its annual Holiday Concert at the Wickenden Chapel, Tabor Academy, 88 Spring St., Marion, on Saturday, Dec. 9. The concert takes place at 7 p.m., and features John Rutter’s musical setting of the “Gloria” with full brass orchestra. Marvel at Mendelssohn’s “Behold a Star from Jacob Shining,” Helvey’s “O Lux Beatissima,” and Mack Wilberg’s West Indian carol “The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy.” Sing along to “Joy to the World.” Tickets are $20 for general admission, $10 for students, and children 14 and under get in for free. Purchase tickets online at sippicanchoralsociety.org, or from Choral Society members, at Marion General Store (140 Front St.), Symphony Music Shop (94 State Rd., Dartmouth), or at the door with cash or check. This program is supported in part by the Acushnet, Freetown, Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester cultural councils, local agencies funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

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New Bedford Festival Theatre Holiday Sing-Along

The New Bedford Festival Theatre is holding its first-ever Holiday Sing-Along, as part of the tree lighting, on Saturday, Dec. 9. The sing-along will be held at 5 p.m., led by Broadway’s Matt Ban, at the New Bedford Public Library, 613 Pleasant St. Admission is free, everyone is welcome, and free songbooks will be available.

Tri-County Symphonic Band annual Children’s Christmas Concert

The Tri-County Symphonic Band presents its annual Children’s Christmas Concert on Sunday, Dec. 10. Held in the multi-purpose room at the Sippican School, 16 Spring St., Marion, the concert will be at 1:30 p.m. and is free of charge. The band will be performing seasonal favorites, and the concert will also feature the Sippican School Concert Choir. They will also perform a song with the band. Children in the audience can enter a drawing, and the winners will play the sleigh bells with the band for “Sleigh Ride.” The concert will also include a sing-along with the choir, followed by a volunteer community band called the Cottage Street Jam Band, leading a march from the Sippican School to Island Wharf to greet Santa as he arrives via “water sleigh.”

New Bedford Symphony Orchestra: Annual Holiday Pops Family Concert

The New Bedford Symphony Orchestra will offer two performances of its annual Holiday Pops Family Concert on Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Bronspiegel Auditorium at New Bedford High School, 230 Hathaway Blvd. Performances will take place at 3:30 p.m. at 7 p.m. The matinee will provide a gift for each child, while the evening show features a bit more music. Enjoy lots of holiday favorites, like selections from “The Nutcracker.” Members of the Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras and the Showstoppers will join the orchestra for several numbers. Both concerts will be about an hour each, with no intermission. Tickets are $20 to $43 for adults and $10 for children and students (not available online). Purchase tickets through the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center box office at 128 Union St., by calling 508-994-2900, or online at www.nbsymphony.org. Free parking is available in the lots around the high school, or across the street at Keith Middle School.

'Hometown Holiday’: Plymouth Philharmonic Holiday Pops concert

The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra presents “Hometown Holiday,” a holiday pops concert, full of seasonal favorites. There will be three performances: Saturday, Dec. 9, at 3 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 10, at 3 p.m. All performances will be at Plymouth Memorial Hall, 83 Court St. The Saturday afternoon performance will include an American Sign Language interpreter. These events will include a charity toy drive: guests are invited to bring a new, unwrapped toy. Collected toys will be distributed by the Children’s Holiday Fund. For tickets, and for questions about the ASL interpreter, contact 508-746-8008, Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Four Corners Arts Center: An afternoon of Baroque music

Music and nature combine at The Meeting House, 3850 Main Road, Tiverton, on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 2 p.m. “Nature Speaks with Us Everywhere: An Afternoon of Baroque Music,” features Heidi Dio, Brian Barting, and Mike Shand. Tickets are $20. They can be purchased at the door, or in advance at FourCornersArts.org. All proceeds go toward supporting programming at the Four Corners Arts Center.

Strictly Sentimental Swing Band concert at First Christian Congregational Church

Swansea’s First Christian Congregational Church, 1113 GAR Hwy., is hosting the Strictly Sentimental Swing Band on Monday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary. The concert will feature big band and Christmas favorites. This is a free concert, although donations will be accepted.

Polyphony Choir of Magdalen College concert at Saint Anthony of Padua

On Monday, Dec. 11, at 6:30 p.m., the Polyphony Choir of Magdalen College will present a concert of sacred music at Saint Anthony of Padua, 1359 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford. This concert will be free and open to the public. For more information, visit https://magdalen.edu/concert.

South Coast Community Chorale: ‘A Christmas Choral Fantasy’

South Coast Community Chorale presents “A Christmas Choral Fantasy” on Saturday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas More Church, 386 Luther Ave., Somerset; and on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 3 p.m. at Good Shepherd Parish, 1598 S. Main St., Fall River. Tickets are $18 at the door, and $15 in advance, via Eventbrite. Students and seniors get $3 off, and children under 5 get in for free. For more information, visit www.sccchorale.com.

Fall River Symphony Orchestra Holiday Pops concert

The Fall River Symphony Orchestra presents its Holiday Pops concert on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 3 p.m. at the Margaret L. Jackson Performing Arts Center at Bristol Community College, 777 Elsbree St. The concert will feature traditional holiday favorites, as well as some twists on some classics. Tickets are $25 for adults, and free for children and students. Purchase tickets at the door, or online at https://tinyurl.com/2363ew4n.

Spirit of St. Anthony Choir Christmas concert

On Sunday, Dec. 17, at 3 p.m, St. Anthony of Padua, 1359 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford, will celebrate its 19th annual Christmas concert. The Spirit of St. Anthony Choir will be performing; choir members come from churches around the Greater New Bedford area. Donations accepted at the event will benefit the renovation of the 1912 historic Casavant pipe organ. For more information, visit https://www.musicatsaintanthonys.org.

Christmas in Fall River concert features Sons of Serendip

Just before the big day itself, on Friday, Dec. 22, enjoy a musical evening at the 5th annual Christmas in Fall River concert. It will be held at the Nagle Auditorium at B.M.C. Durfee High School, 460 Elsbree St., at 7:30 p.m. A performance by The Khourys and the B.M.C Durfee Chorus will open the show, and the featured act is “America’s Got Talent” finalists and classical crossover quartet Sons of Serendip. Tickets are $10, and all proceeds will go to the Community Christmas Toy Drive, an initiative by the City of Fall River, Mayor Paul Coogan, and Law Enforcement Assisting Families. Tickets are available at Mayor Paul Coogan’s Office and online at https://cityoffallriver.ticketspice.com/5th-annual-christmas-in-fall-river-concert.

Herald News/Taunton Daily Gazette copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Holiday concerts in Greater Fall River and New Bedford Christmas 2023