Icicle Creek Center for the Arts announces lineup of holiday performances

LEAVENWORTH — Icicle Creek Center for the Arts has announced a line up of December performances and gatherings to celebrate the magic of the holiday season, from community sing-alongs to live music and dance.

Leavenworth Village Voices will return to the stage for the annual Christmas in the Mountains holiday concert. Celebrating 43 years of spreading Christmas joy, the community choir’s festive concert will showcase both sacred and secular Christmas music from around the globe. 

Leavenworth Village Voices will be joined by special guest artist Bavarian Brass, a quartet of big brass horns bringing unique arrangements and vibrant sounds. The holiday concert is scheduled for Dec. 6 and 13 at 7:30 p.m.

At 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 12, Jarabe Mexicano will celebrate the holiday with a high-energy mix of Mexican folk, rock, and Latin classics. “A Bordeño Soul Christmas” will feature bilingual sing-alongs, rich harmonies and cross-border stories by vocalists Tavo Alcoser, Kevin Lomes, and Eddy Valencia, combined with the dynamic stylings of guitarist Esteban Smith and Danny Brito on drums. 

Jarabe Mexicano’s brand of "Bordeño-Soul” honors the musical tastes and cultural influences of its members, capturing the nostalgic spirit of their border roots. Jarabe, which translates to 'concoction,' highlights the eclectic mix of genres the group performs, ranging from Mexican Folk, Rock & Roll, and Norteño/Tex-Mex, to Latin Rock, Trio Romántico, and popular Cumbia. 

On Dec. 17, ICCA will host a Holiday Music Sing-Along for the community. The evening will begin with optional group singing lessons from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m., offering a crash course in singing and harmony before the Snowy Owl Theater gathering. An hour of singing holiday favorites as a group will begin at 7:30 p.m. The evening will feature live accompaniment from Mary Groff-Sanders. All are welcome and all experience levels are encouraged to come sing. Concessions will include hot chocolate, mulled wine, and other holiday favorites. Donations will be accepted for a community food drive.

Celtic Yuletide will return to the Snowy Owl stage on Dec. 18 and 19, bringing generations together for a joyful celebration of music, storytelling and Irish step-dancing by Magical Strings. Founded by Pam and Philip Boulding, Magical Strings has been sharing the joy of Celtic music and dance across the country since 1978. They have recorded 21 albums, toured and collaborated with artists like Dan Fogelberg and Keola Beamer. The Celtic Yuletide performances begin at 7:30 p.m.

Closing out the month of holiday celebrations, Illuminate the Night will celebrate the longest night of the year on Dec. 20. The immersive evening will feature live music, ecstatic dance, and community song by Shine Song Collective, Benjamin Jay Thomas, Nora Heath, and more. The winter solstice celebration is presented by Bring Forth, a Leavenworth-based nonprofit amplifying heart-centered music for healing and connection.

Doors open at 6 p.m., with opening performances by a variety of artists from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Shine Song Collective will lead a guided-concert experience with songs, poems, and moments of communal singing from 8 p.m. to 9:15 p.m. An hour of ecstatic dance will follow, ending with a circle of song from 10:15 p.m. to 11 p.m.

More event information and tickets can be found at icicle.org/find-events/.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media