The Stiefel Theatre for the Performing Arts in downtown Salina presents the Salina Symphony Christmas Festival on December 12 at 7:30 p.m. & December 13 at 4:30 p.m.

This year’s concert is a bigger collaboration than ever, Salina Symphony Conductor and Music Director Ken Hakoda said. “There are bigger choirs, more dancers and a large orchestra,” he said. “The Christmas concert is more of a community effort than anything else we do. And this year there are a lot of new people. It’s very exciting.”

Featured will be music by the Salina Symphony, Salina Chorale, Kansas Wesleyan University Chorale and Salina Youth Choir as well as dance performances from Tamara Howe School of Dance and Iron Street Dancers from the Center for Theatre Arts at Salina Community Theatre. And there just might be a visit from Santa Claus, too.

The symphony and choirs will collaborate on holiday music that includes “Colors of Christmas,” “Away in a Manger,” “Angels Carol,” “A Christmas Festival,” “Mary’s Lullaby,” “A Marshmallow World,” “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”

Dancers will join the orchestra in performing selections from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”; Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “A Mad Russian’s Christmas”; a tap-dancing swing number titled, “A Swingin’ Holiday”; and “Jingle Bells Forever,” a John Philip Sousa march with a holiday twist that culminates with 16 dancers in a kick line.

The orchestra also will perform Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s “Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24” with a light show designed by J.R. Lidgett, technical director at Salina Community Theatre. The concert will end with a performance of “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” featuring the entire cast of musicians, vocalists and dancers.

“There’s a lot of new music with a lot of new people, so I think there’s something for everyone,” Hakoda said.

Single admission is $25 or $35 and $15 for students/children. Children ages 3 and older are welcome. All admissions require purchase of a ticket. Tickets can be purchased online at StiefelTheatre.org, by phone at 785-827-1998 or by visiting the theatre at 151 S. Santa Fe.

The Salina Symphony is a regional orchestra dedicated to enriching lives through artistic music performance and education. Conducted by Maestro Ken Hakoda, the Symphony is one of the premiere musical ensembles of North Central Kansas. For more information, contact Adrienne Allen at 785-823-8309 or visit salinasymphony.org.