Kansas City Symphony Christmas Festival returns, with a very jolly guest

Here’s a holiday recipe for you. Take the Rockettes’ extravaganza at Radio City Music Hall, combine it with an old Andy Williams TV Christmas, add generous quantities of gorgeous orchestral and choral music and, voilà, you have the Kansas City Symphony’s “Christmas Festival.”

This year’s festival will take place Dec. 15 to 18 at Helzberg Hall.

The Symphony’s associate conductor, Gonzalo Farias, will lead the orchestra, and Charles Bruffy will direct the Kansas City Symphony Chorus in a good, old-fashioned holiday blowout. There will be beloved favorites in spectacular orchestra arrangements, and, of course, plenty of surprises. I’d tell you which jolly visitor is expected to pay a visit, but then it wouldn’t be a surprise.

7 p.m. Dec. 15, 16, 17 and 18, 1 p.m. Dec. 17 and 2 p.m. Dec. 18. Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. $21-$140. 816-471-0400 or kcsymphony.org.

William Baker Festival Singers

Hygge is the cozy Danish way of life that embraces winter with lots of candles, warm sweaters and stews simmering on the stove. “Candlelight, Carols and Cathedral,” which takes place Dec. 16 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Dec. 18 at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, is pure hygge.

Glowing candles illuminate a cathedral as the 50 voices of the William Baker Festival Singers give a full-throated performance of beloved carols. It doesn’t get more Christmassy than that. Joining the Festival Singers this year is one of Kansas City’s favorite musicians, organist John Schaefer, as well as Allegro Con Brio, a very fine youth choir directed by Christy Elsner.

7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and 2 p.m. Dec. 18 at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, $5-$75. festivalsingers.org/concerts.

Mid-America Freedom Band

If you’re looking for some some high-energy holiday high jinks, consider “Dashing Through the Snow” with Mid-America Freedom Band Dec. 17 at the Lyric Opera’s East Crossroads building. Led by artistic director Lee Hartman, these crack band musicians, will celebrate the joys of snow, sleigh rides and sledding.

5 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Lyric Opera’s Michael & Ginger Frost Production Arts Building, 712 E. 18th St. $10. freedomband.com.

‘The City Come Again’

“The City Come Again,” William Jewell College’s annual gift to Kansas City, will take place Dec. 12 at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. The concert features William Jewell’s very fine concert choir directed by Anthony Maglione, with readings by Missouri Poet Laureate Maryfrances Wagner. There’s just something about these enthusiastic and earnest young singers that gives this concert a special glow. Organist Ann Marie Rigler and the school’s handbell choir will also perform.

11:30 a.m. Dec. 12. Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W. 13th St. Free. kccathedral.org.

You can reach Patrick Neas at patrickneas@kcartsbeat.com and follow his Facebook page, KC Arts Beat, at www.facebook.com/kcartsbeat.