Santa Claus News

Audience favorite Patrick Lennon returns as the sometimes sanguine, frequently surly David (AKA Crumpet the Elf) in Joe Montello's adaptation of The Santaland Diaries, David Sedaris' witty and sardonic chronicle of the holiday season. The Santaland Diaries previews December 5th, and runs December 6th to 24TH, 2013 at the historic Bathhouse Theater on Green Lake.

Hear the rare recording of Louis Armstrong's magical reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (A Visit from St. Nicholas).' Enjoy holiday cheer this year at the Louis Armstrong House Museum with the museum's annual holiday tours! In keeping with Louis and Lucille's tradition, the house will be brightly decorated. From December 3rd through December 29th 2013, house tours will feature rare audio clips from Louis's personal recordings of himself and family celebrations at home. Listen to Louis's magical voice reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (A Visit from St. Nicholas)' and other seasonal favorites such as 'Zat You Santa Claus' and Louis listening to Nat King Cole sing 'All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.' Free candy canes included with museum admission.

McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade, a free event attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators, this year celebrates 80 years of Chicago holiday tradition. A dozen loveable character balloons, top marching bands from across the country, festive floats, cultural groups, equestrian groups, theatrical performances and celebrity guests, plus over a thousand dedicated volunteers, all marching through the Loop, make the McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade an annual celebration for the whole family. For those not in Chicago, the parade is broadcast, in its entirety, live for three hours on WGN 9 Chicago and WGN America. The 2013 McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade takes place LIVE on State Street between Congress Parkway and Randolph Street in downtown Chicago on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28 from 8 to 11 a.m. (CST).

Celebrate 20 years of late night madness, looking back at your favorite guests, characters, comedy sketches, and countless moments of general stupidity.

Crown Center has announced its calendar of events, November 2013 - December 2014. Details below!

The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera presents its annual holiday concert, Home for the Holidays, on December 21 and 22 at the Tivoli Theatre.

Disney Channel kicks off its annual month-long 'Fa-la-la-lidays' programming event FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29 with a special one-hour crossover of the hit comedies 'Good Luck Charlie' and 'Jessie,' featuring an original holiday song performed by 'Jessie' star (Debby Ryan). The month brimming with winter-themed episodes also includes a music-filled episode of 'Austin & Ally' -- featuring a duet with Austin (Ross Lynch) and Ally (Laura Marano) -- a 'Liv and Maddie' episode in which Liv (Dove Cameron) sings a classic holiday song, new episodes of 'A.N.T. Farm,' 'Dog With A Blog' and 'Wander Over Yonder' and favorite holiday movies including 'Good Luck Charlie, It's Christmas!,' 'Disney's A Christmas Carol,' 'The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause' and 'Santa Buddies.'

The stars of RiffTrax —Michael J. Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett (best known for the groundbreaking “Mystery Science Theater 3000”)— are back for a hilarious all-new take on a family 'classic' with “RiffTrax Live: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”

When her children were young, author Mary Cavanaugh tried to find a new way each year to make Christmastime special for her four children. With a strong passion for poetry and rhyme, she wrote a song for her children about a little mouse that travels with Santa on Christmas Eve. Now Cavanaugh shares her popular family tune with other families in her debut children's book, 'A Christmas Mouse' (published by AuthorHouse).

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will take the stage at the Shakespeare Theatre Company this holiday season. Making his STC mainstage directing debut, STC Associate Director Alan Paul heads up the hilarious and fun musical farce based on the classic plays of ancient Roman playwright Plautus. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will play at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from November 21, 2013-January 5, 2014.

Pop music group All-4-One will perform their chart topping hits and holiday favorites at the Suncoast Showroom December 7 and 8.

In C. H. Crane's exciting new book, 'A Christmas Quest: A Young Boy's Unexpected Christmas Vacation' (published by Trafford Publishing), three friends team up to save Christmas while learning the true meaning of the holidays and the customs and traditions of the past.

Corte Madera, CA, October 23, 2013 – Christmas is such a special time; children are wrapped in its magic and wonder, and parents relish the joyful excitement they see on their children's faces, as Christmas Eve draws closer. But the 'Spirit' of Christmas is so much more - it's about family, friendships, sharing, kindness and love.

Studio C Artists presents the 12 Plays Of Christmas... In The Living Room: A Holiday Affair. The series of brand new short plays will run on Friday and Saturday nights for 5 weeks opening on November 8, 2013. In The Living Room: A Holiday Affair will alternate the 12 One Acts each weekend and will run through December 14, 2013 (the theatre is dark the weekend of Thanksgiving) at the Studio C Artists performance space along Theatre Row in Hollywood.

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 205TH season with an all-new production of Broadway's family musical, ELF. Based on the Hollywood hit, and directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will bring the Sparklejollytwinklejingley to Philadelphia audiences this holiday season. ELF begins previews on November 5th, opens on November 13th and runs through January 5th on the WST Mainstage. Check out photos below and a behind the scenes video from the photo shoot, right here!

Heartwarming family comedies, irreverent naughty improv and holiday traditions are all on Jet City Improv's holiday list for 2013. With a newly added 4pm family matinee, there really is an improvised comedy show for everyone this season.

Based on one of the most popular and best-loved Christmas films of all time, MIRACLE ON 34th STREET will tour the UK for the first time in a dazzling new stage production, opening at the Beck Theatre, Hayes on Monday 11 November 2013 it was announced today. On sale now.

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year, when artist and artisan, newsman and newsmaker, singer and songwriter celebrate the holiday season with PBS. This year, Tony-winner Alfie Boe and veteran news anchor Tom Brokaw - along with 'Hal' Halvorsen, the 'candy bomber' who dropped chocolates into post-war Berlin in 1948 - join the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for an inspirational concert at Temple Square. Harking back to WWI, PBS presents Silent Night, a poignant opera based on the Christmas Eve truce of 1914, when French, German and Scottish soldiers laid down their arms for one evening of peace.

The holiday season kicks-off at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay on Sunday, December 8 with the lighting of a 25-foot fir tree on The Gazebo Lawn. Thousands of sparkling white lights welcome guests and local residents to the celebration to toast the season with hot chocolate, eggnog and apple cider. A twinkle will be in every child's eye when Santa arrives with sweet treats for all. Featured guest, Liam Mayclem, Host of CBS 5 Eye on the Bay and KCBS Foodie Chap, will also recognize and congratulate the winners of the Holiday Gingerbread House Competition.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL, the beloved annual holiday tradition entertaining thousands of families each year, will be presented from November 21 through December 21 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane. Recently enhanced with traditional carols, the timeless story is directed by Scott Calcagno (Legally Blonde at The Civic Theatre, Grease at The Long Lake Theatre as well as the annual production of A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre). The hour long Drury Lane production uses 14 of the most versatile actors in Chicago to bring over 30 of the colorful Dickensian characters to life. Drury Lane Theatre also offers families the special opportunity to have breakfast or dinner with Santa Claus on select performance dates in the dining room with a festive buffet-style menu complete with seasonal favorites.