By Jeff Sovelove
The 2018 holiday season got off to a rousing start over the long Thanksgiving weekend with the 13th annual Madison Holiday Arts Festival.
Sponsored by the Madison Arts and Culture Alliance, Friday’s Festival featured something for everyone, from traditional music to dance to audience participation.
Composer/Conductor Robert W. Butts of the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey and sopranos Timothy Cole and Theresa Colamano played and sang traditional holiday music along with original compositions.
Slideshow photos by Jeff Sovelove; hover/ click on images for captions:
A bit later, 15-year-old piano virtuoso Nicolas Gritz wowed the crowd with selections from Rachmaninoff.
The belly dancers of Studio Yoga showed off their form with both traditional and flamenco fusion dances, delighting the audience.
Later at Short Stories, the acoustic pop/rock band Rosewood played to a packed house before Hatchet Jack took the stage with its blend of pop/blues.
Finally, Jerry Vezza took to the stage at Shanghai Jazz before the traditional holiday parade. featuring the jolly old elf himself.
