Norris Cultural Arts Center puts on third annual Baker's Dozen Holiday Festival

The Norris Cultural Arts Center in St. Charles presents its third annual "Baker's Dozen Holiday Festival," a free online video series celebrating the season and featuring some of the area's top talent.

Starting Wednesday, Dec. 7, the festival will present 12 daily video episodes on The Norris website, norrisculturalarts.com/bakers-dozen-festival/, and The Norris' channel on YouTube. Daily episodes will premiere at 7 p.m. and remain available throughout the holiday season to be viewed at any time.

On Tuesday, Dec. 20, the festival will conclude with a Festival Finale video, featuring performances by all festival participants.

For more information and links to the festival videos, visit www.BakersDozenFestival.com.

Guest host of the festival is Tom Anderson, owner of one of St. Charles' oldest and most iconic businesses, Colonial Cafe. Throughout the festival, Anderson portrays a holiday mailman, delivering a daily musical holiday greeting from each festival participant.

This year's festival includes performances by:

• Shout Section Big Band on Wednesday, Dec. 7: This popular "big band/swing band," featuring vocalist Tatum Langley, joined the festival in a performance recorded at the Baker Community Center.

• Former St. Charles Mayor Ray Rogina on Thursday, Dec. 8: Former mayor of St. Charles, Ray Rogina, shares a reading of the popular children's story, "The Little Blue Truck Christmas Book." It was recorded in the lounge of the Baker Community Center.

• Dan Buck & One of the Boyzz on Friday, Dec. 9: Longtime local rock star Dan Buck, and his band, One of the Boyzz, recorded their festival performance at the Baker Community Center.

• Vocalist Carl King on Saturday, Dec. 10: Popular St. Charles-based singer and entertainer, Carl King, and his pianist, Sam Wyatt, recorded their festival performance at the Baker Community Center.

• Bethlehem Lutheran Sounds of Joy Handbells on Sunday, Dec. 11: Michelle Fisher directs this talented handbell choir in their festival performance at Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

• Dave Purdy and Amy Bishop performing as "Afternoon Logic" on Monday, Dec. 12: The popular duo Afternoon Logic - featuring Dave Purdy and Amy Bishop - performs frequently throughout the local area. They were recorded for the festival at the Baker Community Center.

• St. Charles North High School Madrigal Singers on Tuesday, Dec. 13: Mike Molloy directs the St. Charles North High School Madrigal Singers in a performance at the Baker Memorial United Methodist Church.

• Jazz pianist Jeremy Kahn on Wednesday, Dec. 14: The talented pianist, Jeremy Kahn, is one of the biggest stars on the Chicago jazz scene. His performance was recorded at the Baker Community Center.

• Town Band brass ensemble on Thursday, Dec. 15: Brass music is a staple of the holiday season. The Town Band, featuring musicians from various Fox River Valley communities, recorded holiday brass arrangements at the Baker Community Center.

• Bluegrass band Ransom Creek on Friday, Dec. 16: Ransom Creek is an up-and-coming bluegrass quartet, whose members live in St. Charles and other local communities. Their festival performance was recorded at the Baker Community Center.

• Beth Fowler School of Dance on Saturday, Dec. 17: A filmed performance of a dance from Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" ballet on the big stage of the Norris Cultural Arts Center.

• Vocalist Maureen Christine on Sunday, Dec. 18: St. Charles' own is accompanied by Michael Bazan and Chuck Larkin in a performance recorded at the Baker Community Center.

For the third consecutive year, Mike Corbett Edward Jones, St. Charles, supports the Baker's Dozen Holiday Festival as principal sponsor.