Looking to make this holiday season truly unforgettable? Consider this your guide to the best holiday entertainment ideas for 2025! These live events are happening across the country, and we’ve got everything from iconic big-stage blockbusters to charming local productions full of heart.
Insider tip: Don’t wait until mid-December to start making your holiday entertainment ideas real. Many shows kick off in early November, and some smaller productions only run for a few nights. Popular performances, especially in major cities, tend to sell out quickly. Booking early gives you a better chance at great seats and the flexibility to fit the show into your busy holiday schedule.
Whether you’re starting a new tradition or returning to a beloved favorite, these performances bring the season’s joy, nostalgia, and wonder to life in ways only a live show can.
Now, let’s unwrap the shows worth catching!
Home Alone in Concert
Location: Nationwide
This holiday favorite gets the full cinematic treatment as a live orchestra performs John Williams’ unforgettable score in sync with the film. Whether you’re laughing at Kevin’s booby traps or welling up at the final reunion scene, this concert brings a fresh layer of emotional depth to a story that has become a holiday staple.
Why go: It’s the movie you’ve seen a hundred times, like you’ve never seen it before. Don’t be stuck at home alone. Check dates in your city and bring the whole family.
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
Location: New York, NY
This isn’t just a show, it’s a holiday pilgrimage. The Rockettes dazzle with iconic choreography, jaw-dropping precision, and a sense of spectacle that’s been thrilling audiences for nearly a century. The magic still lands with every kick, whether you’re five or fifty-five.
Why go: It is Christmas in New York.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
Location: Various Cities
Linus, Lucy, Snoopy, and Charlie Brown come to life with warmth, humor, and the gentle jazz of Vince Guaraldi’s timeless score. This faithful stage version captures the quiet beauty of the original special while adding a live, shared energy that feels like a gift in itself.
Why go: Nostalgia, music, and a reminder of what really matters.
A Christmas Carol
Location: Various Cities
No holiday season feels complete without A Christmas Carol, and this year, you have options! Choose comforting or chilling.
The traditional stage adaptation brings Charles Dickens’ beloved story to life with all the warmth, redemption, and festive spirit you remember. With lush period costumes, carolers, and candlelit scenes, it’s a heartwarming reminder that kindness and transformation are the greatest gifts of all.
Then there’s A Christmas Carol – A Ghost Story of Christmas, a darker, more atmospheric take that leans into the original tale’s supernatural elements. This haunting adaptation doesn’t shy away from the story’s eerie undertones, but ultimately delivers the same powerful message of hope and humanity.
Why go: Whether you’re in the mood for classic comfort or a goosebump-inducing twist, both versions deliver timeless magic!
An Elvis Christmas
Location: Waco, TX
On December 5, 2025, get ready to put a little rock ‘n’ roll and hip shaking swagger into your holiday season! This tribute concert brings together The King’s gospel favorites, seasonal standards, and classic Elvis charisma.
Why go: Because Blue Christmas sounds even better live.
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – The Musical
Locations: Mansfield, OH and Telford, PA
Limited Dates
The beloved book becomes a sweet and funny musical about what happens when the worst kids in town take over the church Christmas play. Hilarious and unexpectedly heartfelt, it’s a family-friendly option with real emotional payoff.
Why go: It’s the story of chaos, kindness, and a cast of characters every family will recognize.
Holiday Dreams – A Spectacular Holiday Cirque
Location: Shipshewana, IN
On December 5, 2025, Cirque meets Christmas in this technology-infused holiday adventure. With holograms, acrobatics, aerialists, and cutting-edge visuals, this show is a bold, high-energy production that leans into wonder and visual spectacle.
Why go: Because “wow” moments make great memories.
A Night of Holiday Soul – Featuring Will Downing, Leela James, and Avery*Sunshine
Location: Detroit, MI
It’s a night of sophisticated holiday soul! Don’t miss this spectacular evening of live vocals, rich harmonies, and warm arrangements of holiday classics. Expect gospel, R&B, and blues influences that fill the room and your heart.
Why go: For a grown-up night out that still captures the season’s spirit.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Location: Nationwide
Holiday music meets arena rock in this epic blend of electric guitars, lasers, pyrotechnics, and orchestral drama. If you’ve never seen TSO live, it’s time. If you have, you already know.
Why go: Because no one makes Christmas rock like this!
Andrea Bocelli
Location: Nationwide
Andrea Bocelli’s voice is inseparable from the romance and reverence of the holiday season. His performances blend sacred music, classical pieces, and timeless favorites into an elegant, emotional, and profoundly human experience. There’s no doubt that Bocelli’s concerts are a moving way to welcome the spirit of the season.
Why go: For quiet beauty, timeless music, and a voice that captures the soul of the holidays.
Elf the Musical
Location: Nationwide
Buddy the Elf brings his childlike joy—and his sugar-loaded diet—to the stage in this upbeat adaptation of the modern movie classic. It’s full of color, comedy, and heart.
Why go: To laugh, to sing, and to believe.
The Nutcracker
Location: Nationwide
From major city ballets to intimate local productions, The Nutcracker remains the most enduring and enchanting holiday story ever staged. Tchaikovsky’s score, the Sugar Plum Fairy, and a snow-dusted dreamworld await—but not for long.
Why go: Because it’s the show you can see again and again, and it always feels like the first time.
Holiday Entertainment Ideas for Shared Moments
The holiday season rushes by, but these special moments stay with you. The right holiday entertainment ideas can transform an ordinary evening into a lasting memory.
There’s just something about the glow of the stage, the energy of the crowd, and the thrill of being fully present that makes live shows feel truly magical.
So gather your people, order your tickets, and let the lights, music, and meaning of the season take center stage.
Want to Know The Best Place to See a Holiday Show?
Check out this post: Top 5 Venues in the U.S. to See a Holiday Show in 2025