15 Events to Ignite Your Holiday Spirit
Some people like their holidays cozy and quiet. But if you’d rather live out an epic holiday fantasy than watch one on TV, we’ve gathered a list of 15 must-see events that make the season come alive.
Music – Turn Your Jingles Up Loud
Photo from iHeart.com
This star-studded nationwide tour (December 2–20, 2025) features headline acts like Ed Sheeran, Reneé Rapp, the voices behind K-Pop Demon Hunters, plus a stacked supporting cast of artists spanning pop, hip-hop, and rock.
If you’re looking for the ultimate holiday-night-out experience, catch Mariah Carey’s “Christmastime in Las Vegas” residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM: a dazzling 10-show run from November 28 to December 13 featuring live renditions of her classic holiday hits and enough sparkle to transform the Strip into a winter wonderland.
Don’t miss Pentatonix’s “Christmas in the City” Tour! This three-time Grammy-winning a cappella powerhouse hits arenas across the U.S. from November 8 to December 22, 2025, delivering soaring harmonies, festive arrangements, and a full-on winter spectacle.
Lady A’s “This Winter’s Night Tour” kicks off December 5, 2025, and wraps with a three-night stand at Nashville’s iconic Ryman Auditorium. The multi-Grammy-winning trio is bringing holiday classics, fresh originals from their new album On This Winter’s Night Vol. 2, and full-on seasonal cheer.
For a jaw-dropping holiday spectacle, check out Trans‑Siberian Orchestra’s “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve” Tour: an arena-filling fusion of rock, classical, lasers and pyrotechnics spanning 106 performances in 64 cities from November 13 to December 30. It’s the kind of show that makes the holidays feel less like a mood and more like a movement.
Sports – Holiday Cheer-ing, Stadium Style
If you’re looking for the ultimate Thanksgiving tradition with a side of spectacle, don’t miss the Dallas Cowboys vs. Kansas City Chiefs game on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at AT&T Stadium. The game features the Cowboys’ legendary Thanksgiving Halftime Show: a massive live performance packed with pop-star power, pyrotechnics, and holiday energy that turns game day into a full-blown celebration.
If you’re after a Thanksgiving tradition with real grit, don’t miss the Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions game on Thursday, November 27, 2025, at Ford Field. This NFC North rivalry is as classic as pumpkin pie. Catch fierce plays, roaring fans, and the Lions’ Thanksgiving Halftime Show, which brings live music and spectacle to one of football’s most storied holiday matchups.
For fans who like their holidays loud and hard-hitting, the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens matchup on Thanksgiving Night, November 27, 2025, is the one to circle. Expect prime-time intensity under the lights at M&T Bank Stadium: two rivals, playoff stakes, and the kind of edge-of-your-seat energy that pairs perfectly with leftovers and bragging rights.
If football owns Thanksgiving, basketball owns Christmas. You can be part of a legendary holiday matchup like the Rockets at Lakers on December 25, 2025 at Crypto.com Arena. With stars lighting up the court and packed energy, this is the NBA’s gift to fans.
If you want your Christmas with a dose of East Coast grit and basketball history, look no further than New York Knicks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers at Madison Square Garden on December 25, 2025. The world’s most famous arena becomes a holiday battleground, full of roaring crowds, bright lights, and unmistakable New York energy that makes every play feel cinematic.
Theater — Timeless Tales Come Alive
If you’re ready to trade holiday tradition for holiday magic, check out a live production of The Nutcracker, where Tchaikovsky’s timeless score soars, Clara’s dreamland adventure unfolds before your eyes, and every pirouette and snowfall transports you straight into the season.
2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Photo from grinchmusical.com
Swap the screens for stage magic and catch a live production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Dr. Seuss’s timeless tale bursts into full-color life with soaring performances and plenty of holiday whimsy.
3. Radio City Rockettes
If you want a holiday tradition that feels larger than life, make time for the glitter and glamour of the Radio City Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular: a high-kick explosion of precision, lights, and nostalgia that turns New York City’s Radio City Music Hall into the epicenter of holiday joy.
4. Elf The Musical
If you like your holidays with a side of chaos and cheer, Elf the Musical delivers big laughs and even bigger heart. This stage adaptation of the beloved film brings Buddy’s candy-coated optimism to life with catchy songs, over-the-top comedy, and enough joy to make even the grumpiest Scrooge crack a smile.
5. Cirque Holiday Wonderland
For a holiday experience that defies gravity – literally – catch Cirque: Holiday Wonderland, where acrobats, aerialists, and dancers turn classic seasonal magic into a jaw-dropping spectacle: shimmering costumes, impossible stunts, and pure, high-flying wonder that’ll leave you wide-eyed from start to finish.