Friends and neighbors came from as far as Houston, Tex. on Dec. 18 to La Cañada Presbyterian Church to enjoy LCPC’s Christmas Musical Feast and Christmas Village.

With two near-capacity filled shows, the Christmas Musical Feast offered an entertainingly rich musical experience along with lasting images of the meaning and spirit of Christmas.

Conducted by Jack Lantz, the 55-member Chancel Choir and 54-person orchestra treated audience members to holiday favorites such as “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “White Christmas,” and “The Little Drummer Boy.” A rendition of the “Twelve Days of Christmas” was a crowd-pleaser with a different style of music for each of the 12 days, culminating with the twelfth day performed to the tune of Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

Emcee Tyler Wright entertained the crowd with his colorful Christmas jokes and playful costume changes, including a turn as Frosty the Snowman.

At the Christmas Village, instead of stealing Christmas, the Grinch, played by Robert Toms, delivered his thrilling story to boys and girls in the Grinch’s Story Booth.

The Sugar Plum Fairies were also on hand as Julie Stallcup and her Revolution Dance Center team pirouetted around the campus teaching “fairy steps” to all the little girls while Nutcracker Prince Aaron Helton taught the little boys to march like Nutcracker soldiers.

As Conductor, actor/comedian Ron Pearson kept his visitors laughing as they helped him find the “magical items” on the Polar Express train display.     LCPC Associate Pastor of Family Ministry Kristin Leucht and Children’s Ministry Assistant Heather Henry manned the cookie-decorating table where young and old decorated Christmas-themed cookies.

Participants circulated the church patio, munching on mini red velvet and carrot cupcakes freshly baked from The Dish restaurant and warming themselves with hot cocoa and coffee provided by Starbucks.

News weatherman Dallas Raines and wife Dannie arrived in time to greet LCPC’s director of Drama Ministries/Village Executive Producer Justin S. Fisher, and Drama Ministry Intern/Village Producer Chad DeKay. Dallas and Dannie brought along a very special guest to enjoy the concert and village – 93-year-old La Cañada resident Eloise Nicholl.

For more about La Cañada Presbyterian, Ovations, the Drama Ministry and the many great programs, visit www.lacanadapc.org.