Olde Towne Holiday Music Festival

The Olde Towne Holiday Music Festival has become Portsmouth's signature holiday event. It is also one of the anchor events for "Holidays in the City 2006", a six-week holiday celebration between the cities of Portsmouth and Norfolk that kicked off Nov. 18 with the simultaneous lighting of the Olde Towne Portsmouth and Downtown Norfolk skylines.

The Olde Towne Holiday Music Festival is a musical tribute to the spirit of the holiday season, bringing the first seven blocks of High Street alive with live performances, children's activities, re-enactors in period attire, carolers, and strolling characters. Concerts, which range from barbershop harmony and jazz to steel drums and brass ensembles, are staged in a variety of indoor and outdoor locations and in several historic Olde Towne churches from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2006.

From the waterfront at High Street Landing to the quaint antique shops and art galleries seven blocks away, you'll find harpists, jazz trios, brass quartets, choirs, bagpipes and more. Stroll historic High Street to experience all that the Olde Towne Holiday Music Festival offers. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanza, enjoy the special musical performances staged throughout Olde Towne Portsmouth.

During the festival, bonfires on every street corner along High Street will light your way, warm your path, and keep the holiday spirit kindling, while sidewalk vendors peddle candied and caramel apples, hot chocolate and cider, balloons, candy, coffee, candy canes and other refreshments. The streets will also be filled with strolling entertainers.

From noon to 5 p.m., school choirs will perform in the courtyard of the Courthouse Galleries museum at High and Court streets, where the celebrated Coleman Nursery Collection of Winter Wonderland figures can be found.

The Children's Museum of Virginia at 221 High St. will hold its Annual "Holidays Around the World Day," from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., as part of the Olde Towne Holiday Music Festival. Learn the traditional holiday creations from countries around the world.

Monumental United Methodist Church will hold its annual "Lancaster Memorial Concert and Live Nativity," musical celebration of the Christmas story, from 5 to 7 p.m. The evening begins with a pre-concert while guests are arriving. The Lancaster Memorial Concert starts at 5:30 p.m. and concludes with a living nativity across the street from the church.

For more information, call the Portsmouth Visitor Information Center at 757-393-5111.

NOTE: The Olde Towne Candlelight Home Tour will tie in with the music festival, offering visitors the opportunity to tour several historic homes from 1 to 5 p.m.