Jonathan Butler, who plays Bilheimer Capitol Theatre in Clearwater, Florida on Dec. 3, 2024. Credit: Photo by Raj Naik
From carols to Creole to a cappella, the area’s performing arts venues are alive with the sounds of the season. Leading the way is the return of Santa Koz—aka Dave Koz —who brings his Friends Christmas Tour back to Clearwater.

A press release says the 27th iteration of the smooth-jazz tour finds Koz, 61, reuniting with guitarist and singer Jonathan Butler (pictured), saxophonist Vincent Ingala, guitarist Adam Hawley and vocalist Rebecca Jade. Holiday classics (including a Chanukah medley) are part of the setlist, which will also draw from Koz’s latest holiday album of Christmas ballads.

Tickets to see Dave Koz & Friends’ Christmas tour on Saturday, Nov. 30 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater are still on sale and start at $42.

See more holiday concerts happening over the next few weeks below.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band Creole Christmas Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m. $39-$75. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com

Holiday Big Band Extravaganza w. Florida Jazz Express Dec. 8, 3 p.m. $15. New Tampa Performing Arts Center, 8550 Hunters Village Rd., Tampa. 813-829-2760

Wattaka En Navidad: Por Los Caminos Del Mundo/Along the Roads of the World Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m. $20. New Tampa Performing Arts Center, 8550 Hunters Village Rd., Tampa. 813-829-2760

The Florida Orchestra’s Classical Christmas Dec. 13 (David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa) & Dec. 14 (Duke Energy Center for the Arts at Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg). $20-$60. floridaorchestra.org

Second Time Arounders Marching Band: The Holiday Spectacular Dec. 9, 7 p.m.$15-$20. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater. 235 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg

Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. $25-$50. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater. 235 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg

A Winter Gathering with Kathy Mattea Dec. 14, 8 p.m. $29-$79. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater

St. Pete Opera: Holiday Sparkle Dec. 17-18. $15-$125. Hough Hall at Palladium Theater. 235 5th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-823-2040

Soulstice: A Holiday Cabaret Dec. 19-21, 7:30 p.m. & Dec. 22, 3 p.m. $25-$30. The Studio@620. 620 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

The Florida Orchestra’s Holiday Pops Dec. 20 (David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa), Dec. 21 (Duke Energy Center for the Arts at Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg), Dec. 22 (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater). $23-$75.

Mindi Abair Christmas Dec, 20, 8 p.m. $39-$59. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater

A Very Broadway Christmas Dec. 20, 4 p.m. $37 & up. Duke Energy Center for the Arts at Mahaffey Theater, 400 1st St. S, St. Petersburg

Rockapella Christmas Dec. 21, 8 p.m. $30-$59. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater

Celtic Angels Dec. 22, 7 p.m. $30-$55. Bilheimer Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater

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This article appears in Nov 21-27, 2024.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...