December is filled with performances, activities, an arts market, and more!
Seven-time Grammy®-winning saxophonist Paul Winter, with the Paul Winter Consort, will headline a month of family friendly holiday activities, many of them free of charge, at Saint James Place in Great Barrington.
“Saint James Place has been the home for several of our arts partners’ concerts each December; this year we have more performances and activities than ever,” says Seth Keyes, Executive Director of Saint James Place. “When individuals and families plan their busy Decembers, we want them to think of Saint James Place as their home for holidays.”
All events are listed at saintjamesplace.net.
Berkshire Voices, the playwriting division of Great Barrington Public Theater, will kick off the month’s festivities in the Great Hall with a staged reading of a brand new play (title TBD) on Tuesday, December 3 @ 7:00pm. A second staged reading of another new play (title TBD) will be held on Tuesday, December 10 @ 7:00pm. Seating for each reading is limited, admission is free (requested donations).
The Great Barrington Arts Market (GBAM) returns with their annual Delightful & Delectable Holiday Market, a unique holiday sale featuring a wide variety of the best Berkshire-based artists and artisans showcasing handmade gifts and delicious giftable treats on Saturday, December 7 (10am-4pm) & December 8 (10am-3pm). Admission is free.
Saint James Place is proud to participate in this year’s annual Holiday Shop, Sip & Stroll, sponsored by the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, December 14. The excitement begins at 3:00pm with the return of Charlie’s Trains, a holiday model train display for the whole family. Also at 3:00pm, the acclaimed Aston Magna Music Festival will present a live interactive performance of Capriccio Stravagante by Carlo Farina, an early baroque comic pastiche. The Olga Dunn Dance Company will follow with Nutcracker Seedling, featuring excerpts from the Nutcracker Ballet, at 5:00pm. Finally, the Vocalis Youth Choir will provide the finale to the entire event with their annual Songs of the Season program in the Sanctuary at approximately 7:30pm (after the fireworks). Admission to all events at the Holiday Shop, Sip & Stroll are family friendly and free to the public. Seating is limited for the free Aston Magna and Olga Dunn Dance Company events – reservations are strongly recommended by sending an email to: [email protected]
Charlie’s Trains will also be presented free to the public on Sunday, December 15 from 12:00noon until 5:00pm, in conjunction with the 3:00pm performance of Love’s Pure Light, the 85-voice Berkshire Lyric Chorus program, featuring traditional and contemporary a cappella carols by Warlock, Pärt, Bruckner, Brahms and others. Tickets for the concert are available at www.berkshirelyric.org
The Paul Winter Consort returns for another Winter Solstice Celebration on Saturday, December 21st at 3:00pm & 7:00pm. A uniquely intimate solstice celebration, in contrast to the large-scale productions done for many years in the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York, it will feature, as always, the beloved voice of Theresa Thomason, the ‘star’ of their solstice celebrations for over 25 years.” Paul Winter says: “I was captivated by Saint James Place. The acoustics are heavenly, and the architecture is stunning. It is possibly the most exquisite small concert hall I’ve ever seen.” Tickets are on sale now at www.saintjamesplace.net
The ”World Class Music” of Crescendo continues their 2024-25 season, rounding out the holiday month with Christmas Oratorios and Contemporary Female Voices on Sunday, December 29 at 4:00pm. Johann Sebastian Bach’s fifth cantata Ehre sei dir, Gott, gesungen (Let honor be sung to you, O God) of his Christmas Oratorio is at the center of this Baroque Holiday program. Tickets are on sale now at https://crescendomusic.org/programs/liveperformances/
Saint James Place opened its iconic red-front doors to the arts community in 2017 as a state-of-the-art cultural center and event space where Berkshire County residents and visitors enjoy year-round music, theater, dance, and other performances along with lectures, classes, and meetings. Saint James Place is committed to enriching the non-profit landscape in the Berkshires.
Schedule of Events
Tues, Dec 3 @ 7pm and Tues, Dec 10 @ 7pm: Great Barrington Public Theater presents Berkshire Voices: Staged Reading (FREE – Donation requested)
Sat, Dec 7 @ 10am-4pm and Sun, Dec 8 @ 10am-3pm: Delightful & Delectable Holiday Market (Great Barrington Arts Market) – FREE
Sat, Dec 14 Annual Holiday Shop, Sip & Stroll (ALL EVENTS FREE):
3pm-7:30pm Charlie’s Trains – model train display
3pm Aston Magna Family Event
5pm Olga Dunn Dance Co.: “NUTCRACKER SEEDLING” (FREE – Donation requested)
7:30pm Vocalis Youth Choir concert: “SONGS OF THE SEASON” (after the firewords)
Sun, Dec 15, 12noon-5pm: Charlie’s Trains – model train display (FREE)
3pm: Berkshire Lyric holiday concert: “Loves Pure Light” (Ticketed Event)
Sat, Dec 21, 3pm & 7pm: Paul Winter Consort: Winter Solstice Celebration (Ticketed Event)
Sun, Dec 29, 4pm: Crescendo: Bach-Circle – Christmas Oratorios & Contemporary Female Voices (Ticketed Event)