Christmas is quickly approaching, ushering in a sleigh-load of activities that the whole family can enjoy. Residents of Calhoun County can celebrate one particular gem that provides numerous entertainment options during Christmastide–the Oxford Performing Arts Center (OPAC)! Discover all the opportunities to hear Christmas music, enjoy theatrical shows, and watch classic holiday films during the month of December in our guide to upcoming OPAC events.

Christmas with Frisson 

Date:  Thursday, December 1
Time:  7:00 pm
Tickets:  $49

Frisson is an 11 member classical music ensemble made up of stellar musicians, some recent graduates of Juilliard School and Yale School of Music. They’ll cover holiday music such as an adapted arrangement of the Nutcracker Suite, jazzed up holiday favorites, and classical compositions like Adagio from Winter from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 4.

The Issacs

Date:  Saturday, December 4
Time:  7:00 pm
Tickets:  $15 – $35

The Isaacs are a bluegrass Southern gospel group that has been performing for over 50 years.  They’ve shared stages with countless country legends including Dolly Parton, The Oak Ridge Boys, Don Williams, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Alabama, Alison Krauss, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, and more.  They were recently inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and became members of the Grand Ole Opry in 2021.

Cameron Carpenter

Date:  Friday, December 9
Time:  7:30 pm
Tickets:  $19 – $29

Cameron Carpenter is an American organist and composer who was nominated for a Grammy Award In 2009 for his solo album, Revolutionary.  He has created live accompaniment to Buster Keaton’s classic silent film The General, a 1926 action-comedy-adventure movie which is considered one of the greatest achievements in American film.  The music Carpenter has composed is ground-breaking within the organ genre, and this show will give the listener a unique musical-cinematic experience.

My Fair Lady

Date:  Sunday, December 11
Time:  2:00 pm
Tickets:  $45 – $79

Lerner & Loew’s My Fair Lady comes to Oxford as part of the Broadway National Tour under the direction of Bartlett Sher.  This classic musical features the English professor of phonetics Henry Higgins, who takes on the challenge of transforming the Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a high society lady.  Musical favorites include “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Get Me to the Church on Time,”  “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly,” “On the Street Where You Live,” “The Rain in Spain,” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.”

A Swingin’ Christmas Time with the Pops

Date:  Thursday, December 15
Time:  7:00 pm
Tickets:  $35 – $59

The Atlanta Pops Orchestra, under the direction of trumpet soloist and big band leader Joe Gransden, will bring a swinging holiday-inspired concert to OPAC.  Gransden has a reputation for charming audiences across the country with his singing skills, amazing trumpet solos, and penchant for entertainment.  This is a performance you won’t want to miss! 

EYO Rock & Roll Christmas

Date:  Saturday, December 17
Time:  7:00 pm
Tickets:  $20 Adults/$15 Seniors/$12 Students/$5 Kids

The Ensembles of the Etowah Youth Orchestra will return to OPAC for their renowned holiday show Rock & Roll Christmas Concert.  They’ll bring arrangements of tunes by music stars like John Lennon, Mariah Carey, Kacey Musgraves, Carrie Underwood, Rodney Crowell, and will also cover holiday tunes by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Phil Vassar & Deana Carter:  Coming Home For Christmas

Date:  Sunday, December 18
Time:  7:00 pm
Tickets:  $35 – $79

Country music legend Phill Vassar has teamed up with singer-songwriter star Deana Carter in a nationwide tour to promote his latest EP, which includes two original Christmas tunes–”Coming Home for Christmas” and “Brand New Year.”  This memorable concert features many more holiday classics to get listeners in the holiday spirit.