5 local holiday concerts to make your season swing

Celebrate the season with these festive concerts:

98 Degrees

Jeff Timmons, Justin Jeffre, and brothers Nick Lachey and Drew Lachey — known as 98 Degrees — will bring the “98 Degrees at Christmas 2018” to Cincinnati’s Aronoff Center on Saturday, Nov. 24.

The show is part of a 36-city tour to support the group’s first full-length Christmas album in 18 years, “Let It Snow.”

The concert will be held in the Aronoff Center’s Procter and Gamble Hall at 8 p.m. Tickets for the concert start at $39.50, and are available at www.cincinnatiarts.org. A VIP meet-and-greet package is still available, but several other VIP ticket options have sold out.

Miami Valley Ballet Theatre

The Miami Valley Ballet Theatre will present The Nutcracker at Fairfield Community Arts Center — The Miami Valley Ballet Theatre will present a full ballet complete with falling snow, a glowing Christmas tree and a time filled with holiday traditions. Shows will be held Friday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m., Friday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 10 and under. Call (513) 867-5348 or visit www.fairfield-city.org for tickets and more information.

Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band

The Southwestern Ohio Symphonic Band will present a Christmas Celebration Concert — Don’t miss this annual concert on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2:30 p.m. at Dave Finkelman Auditorium at Miami University Middletown. Under the direction of Chris Brandenburg, conductor, and Dan Nichols, associate conductor, the free concert will feature a number of holiday favorites, including “Polar Express,” “Carol of the Bells,” and “Merry Christmas, Everyone!” There will also be an appearance from Santa Claus. For more details, visit www.sosband.org.

Fitton Christmas Spectacular Featuring Nancy James & The River City Band

Two shows will be offered this year of the Fitton Christmas Spectacular Featuring Nancy James & The River City Band, which is returning for the third year.

The show will be performed Saturday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Fitton Center in the Fitton Family Theater.

The show will blend a mix of classic Christmas favorites with contemporary holiday hits as well as some fun surprises. Tickets are $27 for Fitton Center members and $35 for non-members. For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.fittoncenter.org.

An Acoustic Christmas with Over the Rhine 

Performing as a trio, Cincinnati’s own Over the Rhine will return with everyone’s favorite holiday concert for three performances on Friday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 22 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. at Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm St. Tickets start at $40 and may be purchased at www.memorialhallotr.com.

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