Everybody holds dear their favorite holiday traditions. Some might involve watching a classic like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” with the family, while others prefer the act of going out to cut down their own tree. For many, one such tradition is gathering everyone and heading to a performing arts venue for a special show – a show that truly makes Christmas complete. In Utah, this tradition could be Ballet West’s production of “The Nutcracker,” Kurt Bestor’s annual Christmas extravaganza, or one of the Christmas concerts by the Utah Symphony. If you’re making your December plans or looking to add a new tradition to the mix, here’s a comprehensive rundown of the major holiday performing-arts events taking place along the Wasatch Front from now until the end of the year.

Uncover the Magic of Holiday Performing Arts in Utah

The Eccles Theater

December sees the Eccles Theater at 131 S. Main St., Salt Lake City, bustling with holiday concerts and a touring Broadway production. Head to live-at-the-eccles.com for concert tickets. On November 29 and 30 (Friday and Saturday), the singing trio Gentri will perform Christmas music. On December 1 (Sunday), “Avatar: The Last Airbender” will be presented in concert. On December 2 (Monday), violinist Jenny Oaks Baker and her family will bring Christmas music to life. From December 5 to 7 (Thursday to Saturday), enjoy “A Kurt Bestor Christmas” with the Utah composer and special guests including violinist Caroline Campbell and soprano Lillian Breeze Manning. On December 8 (Sunday), Broadway star Leslie Odom Jr. will perform a Christmas-themed show. From December 10 to 15 (Tuesday through Sunday), witness the coming-of-age musical “Kimberly Akimbo” (go to saltlakecity.broadway.com for theater tickets). On December 16 and 17 (Monday and Tuesday), Mannheim Steamroller Christmas will offer instrumental rock with a holiday twist. On December 18 and 19 (Wednesday and Thursday), dancer Derek Hough will present a holiday-themed show. On December 20 (Friday), the father-daughter music duo Mat & Savanna Shaw will perform Christmas music. On December 26 (Thursday), experience the “A Magical Cirque Christmas” variety show. From December 27 to 29 (Friday to Sunday), catch the touring production of “Shrek: The Musical” in five performances.

Utah Symphony’s Holiday Shows

If your family’s musical preferences lean towards the orchestral, the Utah Symphony goes all out during the holidays at Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets are available at UtahSymphony.org. On November 30 and December 1 (Saturday and Sunday), it’s the annual “Messiah” sing-in. On December 3 (Tuesday), the Irish group Celtic Woman takes the stage. From December 6 to 7 (Friday and Saturday), Tchaikovsky’s “The Tempest” is featured along with Britten’s “Four Sea Interludes” (from “Peter Grimes”), Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Korngold’s “The Sea Hawk Suite” with pianist Changyong Shin and conductor Fabien Gabel. On December 11 (Wednesday), cellist Yo-Yo Ma will play Dvořák’s Cello Concerto. The program also includes Anna Clyne’s “Masquerade” and Hindemith’s “Symphonic Metamorphosis in Themes by Carl Maria von Weber” conducted by Eric Jacobsen (though this show is sold out). From December 13 to 14 (Friday and Saturday), Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” takes center stage with Utah Symphony’s concertmaster Madeline Adkins as the soloist. Also on the program are Angel Lam’s “Please let there be a paradise…” and Glazunov’s “The Seasons” conducted by Jessica Rivero Altarriba. On December 20 and 21 (Friday and Saturday), the annual “Holiday Pops Extravaganza” will feature a selection of favorite holiday tunes with vocalists Shayna Steele and Chester Gregory. (The same show will be performed on December 19 at the Val A. Browning Center, 1901 University Circle, Ogden.) On December 21 (Saturday), the family-friendly “Here Comes Santa Claus!” concerts will have matinees at 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., with the story performed by Kaitlin Mills (as Nöel the elf), Ellesse Hargreaves (as Carol) and Lucas Proctor (as Santa) conducted by Jessica Rivero Altarriba.

More Concerts

On December 6 and 7 (Friday and Saturday), country singer Zach Bryan is on tour, with Matt Maeson and Levi Turner supporting, at the Delta Center, 301 W. South Temple, Salt Lake City. Tickets are available at deltacenter.com. From December 11 to 14 (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday), the Lower Lights, the gospel-folk collective, will hold its annual Christmas concerts at Kingsbury Hall, University of Utah, 1395 E. Presidents Circle, Salt Lake City. Tickets are available at UtahPresents.org. On December 12 and 13 (Thursday and Friday), “God Is a Scottish Drag Queen,” comedian Mike Delamont’s one-person performance with a Christmas theme, will take place at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are available at live-at-the-eccles.com. On December 14 (Saturday), the Portland Cello Project will bring its classical-meets-pop take on Christmas to The State Room, 638 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Tickets are at thestateroompresents.com. (Must be 21 or older.) On December 14 and 15 (Saturday and Sunday), PAW Patrol Live! “Heroes Unite,” a children’s show, will be at Maverik Center, 3200 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City. For tickets and information, go to maverikcenter.com. On December 17 (Tuesday), the annual Christmas Carol Sing Along will be presented by the Larry H. and Gail Miller family and The Larry H. Miller Company. Donny Gilbert and the West Valley Symphony will perform familiar Christmas songs with special guest conductor Sterling Poulson. The Calvary Baptist Church Choir will be the special musical guest, and Jon Schmidt (of The Piano Guys) will be the guest emcee. The show starts at 7 p.m. and admission is free.

Theater and Dance

Ballet West will perform its Christmas tradition, “The Nutcracker,” celebrating its 80th anniversary from December 6 to 28 at the Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are available at BalletWest.org. Utah’s Hale Center Theatre will present Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” in the Centre Stage until January 25 and the 39th annual staging of “A Christmas Carol” in the Jewel Box from November 29 to December 28 at the Mountain America Performing Arts Centre, 9900 S. Monroe St., Sandy. Tickets are available at hct.org. Odyssey Dance Theatre will put on its “Christmas Spectacular” from December 19 to 23 at the Grand Theatre, Salt Lake Community College South City Campus, 1575 S. State St., Salt Lake City. Guest star singer David Osmond will add to the festive atmosphere. Go to odysseydance.com for tickets. Pioneer Theatre Company will deliver an intimate comedy in the Meldrum Theatre from December 6 to 21. Playwright Stephen Temperley’s “Souvenir” is based on the life of infamous socialite and bad singer Florence Foster Jenkins. Tickets are available at PioneerTheatre.org. Salt Lake Acting Company will present its annual children’s show, a musical based on Mo Willems’ book “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” from December 6 to 30 at SLAC, 168 W. 500 North, Salt Lake City. Tickets are available at SaltLakeActingCompany.org.