Welcome to The Norris’ Fifth Annual “Baker’s Dozen Holiday Festival”
From the 2023 Festival: "The Essential Christmas Carol," with Michael Sherry
Welcome back to our FREE online celebration of the season
Enjoy holiday performances by some of the area’s top talent in daily online episodes. It’s our FREE celebration of the season!
December 8 through December 20, watch all 13 episodes when they premiere at 6 p.m., or any time at your convenience.
This year’s festival includes all new performances, including three episodes that bring to life the “Letters from Father Christmas,” by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Our exciting lineup of performers includes Maureen Christine, Elgin Symphony String Quartet, Fox Valley Opera, Jeremy Kahn, Tatum Langley, Howard Levy, Diva Montell and Jeorge Holmes, Jim Perona, Wally Swiatly, and Liam and Jaden Teague.
Enjoy festival videos here or on the Norris Cultural Arts Center’s YouTube Channel.
Win Norris event tickets!
We’ve added a fun bonus to the festival this year! After each episode, you’ll be challenged to answer a quiz question pertaining to the episode. Don’t worry – the questions aren’t brain-busters and you can always re-watch the episode to discover the answer. We’ll provide directions for submitting your answers, then pick a winner every day (random draw). The daily prize is two tickets of your choice to any of our 2025 paid-ticket event presented at the Baker Community Center or at The Norris.
Thanks to our sponsor
We gratefully acknowledge our festival sponsor, Mike Corbett Edward Jones, who has been with us since the start, and joins us again in supporting the Fifth Annual Baker’s Dozen Holiday Festival.
Day 1, December 8: Wally Swiatly
The man of many voices, Wally Swiatly, channels Nat King Cole in this performance of “The Christmas Song.”
Day 2, December 9: A Letter from Father Christmas
Michael Sherry brings to life one of Tolkien’s “Letters from Father Christmas.”
Day 3, December 10: Maureen Christine
Festival favorite Maureen Christine gives a heartfelt performance of Amy Grant’s modern Christmas classic, “Breath of Heaven.”
Day 4, December 11: TNTeague – Liam Teague and Jaden Teague-Nunez
The father-and-son duo of Liam and Jaden Teague provide a new twist on “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” combining a variety of styles and sounds on the steel pan and piano.
Day 5, December 12: Tatum Langley
Vivacious vocalist Tatum Langley revives “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” in a wickedly engaging performance of the song written for the 1966 animated film, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Jazz pianist Jeremy Kahn accompanies Tatum.
Day 6, December 13: Fox Valley Opera
Two young stars of the recently formed Fox Valley Opera company take us to a Christmas Eve in Paris, with a powerful, moving performance of “O Soave Fanciulla,” from Puccini’s classic opera, “La Boheme.”
Day 7, December 14: A Letter from Father Christmas
Michael Sherry creates another dramatization of Tolkien’s “Letters from Father Christmas.”
Day 8, December 15: Elgin Symphony Orchestra String Quartet
Four talented string musicians from the award-winning Elgin Symphony Orchestra perform a classical arrangement of the traditional English carol, “Greensleeves (What Child is This?).”
Day 9, December 16: Jeremy Kahn
The great jazz pianist Jeremy Kahn, who has become a festival favorite, adds some jazzy zest to “Christmas Time is Here,” from the 1965 animated film, “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
Day 10, December 17: Jim Perona
One of Chicagoland’s most in-demand classically trained guitarists, Jim Perona blends traditional Christmas sounds of England and Latin America in a medley of “Deck the Hall” and “Feliz Navidad.”
Day 11, December 18: Diva Montell and Jeorge Holmes
Chicagoland favorites Diva Montell and Jeorge Holmes share the grace and reverence of the timeless classic, “O Holy Night.”
Day 12, December 19: Howard Levy
Two-time Grammy Award winner Howard Levy combines his unmatched diatonic harmonica skills with his own piano accompaniment in a unique performance of “Silent Night.”
Day 13, December 20: A Letter from Father Christmas
The festival concludes with the third of three live-action dramatizations of “Letters from Father Christmas,” the classic J.R.R. Tolkien work, produced and performed by The Norris’ own Michael Sherry.
Enjoy festival videos here or on the Norris Cultural Arts Center’s YouTube Channel.
Thanks to principal festival sponsor
Mike Corbett Edward Jones
