Just hear those sleigh bells ring-a-ling, ting-ting-tingling too ... Well, maybe not just yet, but Thanksgiving is just one week away and then, before you can say Old St. Nick, it’s Black Friday, the day radio stations begin broadcasting Christmas music and more businesses in our downtown area and homeowners have decorated outdoors, Santa Claus begins making appearances, and Christmas trees pass you on the road atop cars on their way to bring that heavenly pine scent and the spirit of Christmas into countless homes.

Before we start “Rockin around the Christmas Tree,” let’s check out the musical holiday offerings for this year starting in our own backyard ... at the Opera House, of course! The Boothbay schools’ annual holiday concert is Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. and there’s always an endearing moment or two. The Boothbay Region Community Band will present its free holiday concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, the final day of the Gingerbread Spectacular.

Later in the month is the Community sing a long and potluck in the festively decorated Opera House, thanks to the creative genius of Kevin Kiley, who’s  also accompanist for the singing portion of this program. And  ... Cathy Sherrill has booked an amazing final concert for 2019 (sure to be another among the sold out shows this year) – a Coig Celtic Christmas on Dec. 20. This group plays a myriad of instruments including fiddles, piano, guitar, banjo, mandolin, viola, bouzouki, and whistles!

Across the Bath bridge at the Chocolate Church Arts Center,  Pat Colwell and the Soul Sensations return to play a Motown Christmas (and there’s always dancing in the aisles) on Nov. 30. Other musical events at the CCAC are an Eileen Ivers’ Celtic Christmas; Frank Vignola’s Swinging Christmas with tunes from Bach to Zappa (that’s right, that would be Frank Zappa); Don Campbell’s tunes and tales; and the annual sing-a-long.

And what would Christmas be without taking in a performance of “The Nutcracker” ballet?! Fortunately, there are three venues! The Maine State Ballet’s performances begin Nov. 29 and run through Dec. 8 at the Merrill Auditorium; “A Victorian Nutcracker,” danced by the Portland Ballet, takes center stage Dec. 17-22 with some performances at the Westbrook PAC and the Merrill; and the State Theater is the venue for the Moscow Ballet’s “Great Russian Nutcracker” – one show only, Dec. 3. And the Lincoln Theater of Damariscotta  is screening the Bolshoi Ballet’s “Nutcracker” twice on Dec. 19.

Amidst all the fast-paced excitement and rushing about, there are currently holiday plays in rehearsal and musical fare coming up to add to the enjoyment of the 2019 holiday season. Over to the Chocolate Church Arts Center there’s much ado about Christmas ... and beginning next weekend (imagine!) starting Friday, Nov. 29 with David Sedaris’ “The Santaland Diaries,” a play about his time as a Christmas elf at Macy’s. A second production,  “A Fairy Tale Christmas,” plays Dec. 12-15. If you haven’t seen it, it’s based on Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” but with a fun twist: Scrooge is portrayed by the Big Bad Wolf among a host of other fairy tale characters! What fun!

The River Company of Damariscotta  is presenting “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson. Curtain goes up on this fun, family show Dec. 6-8. Heartwood Regional Theater Company presents “Merry Christmas, George Bailey” Dec. 6 and 7 only. It’s a great radio show version of “It’s A Wonderful Life.”  The Portland Stage Company is also presenting  “It’s A Wonderful Life” – the radio show – Nov. 29 through Dec. 24.

Emily Mirabile and the talented Y-Arts kids will bring a Christmas Spectacular to the Lincoln Theater stage for two shows on Dec. 6 and 7. This group never fails to bring smiles and impress audiences. Support the Y-Arts program and the young ones who love the footlights. FMI: www.lcct.org

Look, we all know the month of December flies by – so much to do (and that’s not including family birthdays and anniversaries, and house parties!) ... Try to make time to add even more magic to your holidays this year and get thee to a performance hall forthwith!