SCRANTON, PA — All are invited to the inaugural Scranton Jazz Festival Christmas Spectacular on Sunday, December 8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the RitzA Theatre and Performing Arts Center. The event includes a holiday concert featuring the Emmy-nominated Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band with special guest singers, dancers, narration, a visit from Santa, and a toy drive. 

Under the direction of Maestro Marko Marcinko, the Scranton Jazz Festival Big Band will perform holiday favorites—including musical selections from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by Vince Guaraldi and “The Swingin’ Jazz Nutcracker Suite,” an adaptation of the traditional music from the “Nutcracker Suite” by Tchaikovsky and arranged by Shorty Rogers, Billy Stayhorn and Duke Ellington. 

Other performers include Kaitlyn Lusk, Lorenzo Pugliese, Chris DiMattio and Amy Banks. Longtime Scranton Jazz Festival emcee Lawrence Pugliese will narrate.

Guests are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped toys to benefit We Care & Respect. Toys will be distributed locally to children in underserved communities. 

The Ritz Theater is located at 222 Wyoming Ave.

Tickets to the show are on sale now at www.theritztheater.com. Tickets cost $35 for reserved seating and $25 for general admission. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. 

For event updates, follow the Scranton Jazz Festival on social media.