It’s hard to believe we’re only two weeks away from Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
That means the holiday season is on, no matter what holiday you’re celebrating. For the sake of this column, most of the events I’ll talk about are called “Christmas” parties by the hosts, but that’s just for convenience.
Due to the crazy nature of holiday schedules, many of these parties have already been held at various bars and entertainment facilities. But there’s still a lot left, so let’s dive in. While there are many more parties than we can realistically list here, we’ve focused on events with music.
The first is a Christmas party at the Blue Room Cafe (139 Broadway St. In Chicopee) on December 14th at 7pm which will feature music by Brass Attack. There will also be hors d’oeuvres and a prize for the person best dressed in the festive spirit. If you prefer to join in and be a part of the music, maybe try Christmas carols at Congregational Church of Florence (130 Pine St. in Florence) on December 15 at 12:30 pm No singing experience necessary, but registration is required. Send your interest to pastor@fccnorthampton.org.
The action really heats up the weekend before Christmas as the 91 South Band holds its annual Rockin’ Christmas Show at East Mountain Country Club (1458 East Mountain Road in Westfield) at 7pm on December 21st. Another opportunity to enjoy the holidays will be a The CCW grid (859 Stony Hill Road in Wilbraham) as Union Jack throws a holiday party at 7pm on December 21st.
If you’re a little further north on December 21st, Pioneer Valley Brewery (151 3rd St. in Turners Falls) will hold a Christmas party featuring the music of HYFY at 7 p.m. There will be an ugly sweater contest with prizes and TF Pizza available by the slice.
In Chicopee, the Dugout Cafe (134 Meadow St.) will hold its annual Christmas party at 5pm on December 21st. This year, the party will feature an ugly sweater party with a gourmet buffet and live music by Presz-Perry Acoustic. In Springfield, MGM Springfield will bring “Christmas in the Air” to the Aria Ballroom on December 21 at 7:00 p.m. The show is described as a “snow globe come to life” for families, featuring a cast of Rockette-style dancers, along with world-class singers and actors.
If a great singing show is your thing, then Academy of Music (274 Main St. in Northampton) will be where you want to be on December 22 at 4 p.m. That’s when the Country Christmas Sing Along Spectacular presents “Zara Bode’s Nothing’s Too Much Trouble for Christmas.” Bode and his band will play a lineup of classic carols, quirky original tunes, along with some trivia to test your holiday knowledge.
Finally, if you’re looking for some last-minute holiday cheer, you can join The Healys on Christmas Eve at The daily comb (2523 Boston Road in Wilbraham) from noon to 3pm for some Irish music and lots of holiday tunes.
Happy holidays!