Kimmel Center to Offer Free, Ticketed Events Throughout Holiday Season

Whether you're from the Greater Philadelphia area or visiting from far away, the Kimmel Center is your home for the holidays! The Kimmel Center has expanded their holiday offerings with over 80 activities, ticketed events, and a month-long celebration of the season!

"We are so excited to make the Kimmel Center your home for the holiday season," says Kimmel Center President and CEO Anne Ewers. "Every weekend in December, we are offering FREE family friendly programming with new and returning holiday favorites that make the best gift for family and friends-experiencing the performing arts live."

Holidays bring family traditions to the forefront. Jazz Orchestra of Philadelphia will be Bringin' in the Season led by Philly's own renowned trumpeter Terell Stafford with the Three Tenors-Bootsie Barnes, Larry McKenna and Jimmy Heath-performing Billy Strayhorn's "Harlem Nutcracker" (December 3). Escape to the Land of Sweets with Pennsylvania Ballet's stunning performance ofGeorge Balanchine's The Nutcracker, Philadelphia's most beloved holiday tradition (December 6 - 31).

The PHILLY POPS returns with 2014 Christmas Spectacular led by guest conductor, London's celebrated Maestro David Charles Abell performing beloved seasonal tunes (December 6-20). The Philadelphia Orchestra performs a series of family-friendly holiday fare from A Christmas Kids Spectacular! (December 13) to the Glorious Sound of Christmas (December 18-20), Handel'sMessiah (December 21), and the annual New Year's Eve Concert, this year led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin (December 31). A Soulful Christmas shares an inspiring communal choral performance of holiday spirituals and gospel favorites featuring Edwin Hawkins (December 16). And, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra swing-era holiday performance led by jazz master Wynton Marsalis features young vocalist sensation, Cécile McLorin Salvant (December 21). Broadway Philadelphia celebrates with the return of Stomp featuring two new routines (December 26 to 30), followed by Philadelphia Orchestraperformance of Cirque de la Symphonie (January 3 - 4), and the arrival of Broadway Philadelphia'sMotown the Musical celebrating legendary musical icons (January 6 - 18).

NEW this season - the Kimmel Center offers month-long celebration of FREE family holiday fare. Discover the wonder of the season by giving the gift that keeps on giving, as the Kimmel Center partners with Cradles to Crayons for annual #GivingTuesday winter clothing drive all month long. To celebrate Giving Tuesday on December 2, The Philadelphia Orchestra and music director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will perform a FREE Giving Tuesday Concert in Verizon Hall at 7:30 p.m. The evening begins with a pre-concert performance of festive holiday music in the Plaza at 6 p.m. Santa makes a welcomed visit on December 6 for a photo opportunity, and chance to decorate the Kimmel Center'sglorious holiday trees combined with PNC Grow Up Great FREE jazz concert and FREE holiday organ demonstration in Verizon Hall. On December 7 music director Dirk Brossé leads select musicians of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia through two FREE holiday concerts with handbells, chimes, and percussion instruments.

The Plaza transforms into the Nutcracker Market with more than 70 artisan and craft vendors, and free live entertainment from December 11-14. A Christmas Posada free performance by Mexican pianist Juan Pablo Horcasitas creates a traditional-style Mexican holiday on December 18. The return of the annual free Tuba Christmas on December 21 brings together over 100 tuba players to perform holiday classics, followed by a Festival of Lights celebration of Hanukkah with songs, stories, crafts and games. Experience the next generation of theater and jazz through the Kimmel's Show Stoppers Winter Revue performance on December 19 and Creative Music Program Winter Concert jazz performance on December 23. The holidays end on a high note with free movie screening of Happy Feet in the state-of-the-art Perelman Theater on December 27, and the annual New Year's Day Celebration on January 1.

Give an experience outside the box! Gift certificates make gift giving easy this holiday season with the best of Broadway, jazz, classical, opera, subscriptions and more. Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999 and at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Streets (open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Visit kimmelcenter.org/holiday for more information.

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