Christmas in the Prado is an annual event held on the weekend before the City of San Diego’s very busy December Nights, also in Balboa Park. A charity event to benefit San Diego's Toys for Tots, Christmas on the Prado is organized by the San Diego Children's Coalition, San Diego Community Christmas Center, San Diego Arts Foundation, Spreckels Organ Society, and various International Houses.
The celebration includes a costume contest, a toy drive, photos with Santa, kids’ crafts, booths, and nearly seven hours of choral, vocal, and instrumental music on the main stage, plus additional performances near the International Cottages. The Dailard students kept their traditional spot as the opening performing group for Christmas in the Prado, taking the stage of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion at 1pm and performing a 30-minute set, dressed in festive elf costumes.
But this year, the Dailard students didn’t stop there. After their performance at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, the Dailard students and their director/music teacher, Brad Sullivan, walked across the Park to the Casa del Prado Theatre. There, they sang in the holiday concert of the Sun Harbor Chorus. The students had to move quickly, as the holiday concert, entitled “The Starlight Zone,” kicked off at 2pm.
The Sun Harbor Chorus, established in 1946, is the San Diego Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Showcasing the Great American Songbook in four-part a cappella harmony, the men of Sun Harbor are known for their family-friendly holiday elf performances. In addition to the Dailard singers, special guests in this concert included Santa and
Mrs. Claus, the elf chorus, and dancers from the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet.
Mrs. Claus, the elf chorus, and dancers from the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet.
Any school music groups that would like to perform in Christmas on the Prado in the future should contact Brad Sullivan at bsullivan2@sandi.net.
Originally published in VAPA News.
