PBS SoCal and KCET Announce Holiday Season Programming Perfect for the Whole Family

Burbank, Calif. – Nov. 28, 2018 ­–The Public Media Group of Southern California, Southern California's flagship PBS organization formed by the merger of PBS SoCal and KCETLink Media Group, announced today the holiday lineup for viewers across its two content channels: PBS SoCal and KCET. Highlighting the seasonal programming lineup is the return of two regional beloved Christmas Eve traditions: the 59th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration (Broadcast and streaming LIVE on Mon. Dec. 24 from 3-6 p.m. with an encore at 9 p.m. on PBS SoCal) and Chapman University’s Annual Holiday Wassail Concert (Mon. Dec. 24 at 8 p.m. on KCET). Additional holiday-themed programming that will air throughout the month of December includes seasonal specials emphasizing multicultural celebrations, including Hanukkah, and providing Angelenos of all ages an opportunity to come together over the season.

The 59th annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration is a three-hour seasonal music and dance spectacular that features more than 20 music ensembles, choirs and dance companies from the many neighborhoods and cultures of Los Angeles County. Honoring the dynamic, rich cultures of the area, many L.A.-based artists and community groups including Daniel Ho & Halau Keali’i o Nalani, Le Ballet Dembaya, Kayamanan Ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts, Lorenzo Johnson & Praizum and Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea, showcase their talent, artistry and traditions on The Music Center’s iconic Dorothy Chandler Pavilion stage. New groups to the show include Infinite Flow – An Inclusive Dance Company, Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, Pasadena Girls’ Choir, Paso de Oro Dance Company, and Tres Souls. The program will encore on Christmas Day, Dec. 25 and will also air on PBS SoCal 2 on Dec. 25 at 3 a.m., 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., and on Dec. 26 at 11 a.m. Sponsored by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the production is a presentation of The Music Center produced in association with CDK Productions. For information about attending the live event go to holidaycelebration.org

KCET’s broadcast of the 55th ANNUAL WASSAIL CONCERT AT CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY features the Chapman University Singers, the Chapman University Choir and Women’s Choir along with spectacular music by The Chapman Orchestra, and is a collaboration between students and faculty of the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music. This year’s program will feature a magnificent selection of holiday season favorites, as well as music from around the world. The performance will be filmed on Dec. 7 and 8 at the acclaimed Musco Center for the Arts. The 1,044-seat, world-class center provides a state-of-the-art experience with acoustics designed by world-renowned Yasuhisa Toyota of Nagata Acoustic. For information about attending the live event go to https://events.chapman.edu/53492

KCET’s holiday lineup also includes seasonal specials that include “Happy Holidays with The Boston Pops,” “Jordan Smith: ‘Tis The Season,” “Festivals of Carols with Sylvia McNair” and Hannukah specials that include “Fire in the Forest: The Life and Legacy of the Ba’al Shem Tov” as well as RICK STEVES’ EUROPE episode “The Best of Israel.” For more details about each show and a full list of holiday programming on KCET please go to kcet.org/schedule

Additional PBS SoCal holiday programming includes “Christmas at Belmont,” “Jordan Smith: ‘Tis The Season,” “Festivals of Carols with Sylvia McNair,” “Holiday Handbells Raleigh Ringers,” “Lidia Celebrates America: A Heartland Holiday Feast,” “A Chef’s Life Holiday Special,” “The Great British Baking Show Holiday Masterclass,” “Nigella’s Christmas Table,” “Call the Midwife Holiday Special,” “Christmas in Christ Chapel At Gustavus: Visions of Divine Mystery” and “Christmas at St. Olaf: Riding with Healing in His Wings.” For more details about each show and a full list of holiday programming on PBS SoCal please go to pbssocal.org/schedule.

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