by Noella Noelophile®
How quickly can a donation-based event “sell out”?
Faster than you could make a scoop of peppermint ice cream disappear, if we’re talking about the “Joy to the World” Christmas concert. And that’s likely to happen again, this weekend.
After last year’s hiatus, this free 90-minute program, featuring twenty-six professional musicians from Southern California Brass Consortium, is set to return to Long Beach! The “Joy to the World” concert happens at 5 pm, this Saturday, December 11th, in Bay Shore Church.
Presented by nonprofit Community Action Team, this is a ninety-minute program of carols and Christmas songs. It’s also organizer Justin Rudd’s annual Christmas gift to the community.
And it’s going to be a festive celebration of the Christmas spirit. As well as a chance to give back: attendees are asked to bring donations of peanut butter, breakfast cereal, boxes of macaroni and cheese, and/or canned fruit to be donated to a local food bank.
Or, if you prefer, bring toys and treats for shelter dogs and cats; “Operation Santa Paws” is happening this year, but differently. According to Justin’s website, the usual gatherings won’t take place. But, participants are requested to help keep the tradition going by collecting food, toys, treats and cleaning supplies and taking them to a local shelter, any time before Christmas. (So, you’d get to drop off gifts for shelter animals and hear an amazing Christmas concert, if you bring the supplies to Bay Shore Church this Saturday evening!)
If you’re out and about in Long Beach, you may want to put this on your calendar quickly. Advance reservations are required. Here’s the link for tickets.