LAKEPORT, Calif. – The 25^th annual Christmas Festival of Music will be held on Saturday, Dec. 4.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 600 16th St., Lakeport.

Each year choirs, instrumentalists and vocalists from the local community present a free evening of holiday music to get the season started off right.

In addition to the featured performers, the audience will be invited to sing Christmas carols. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.

Christmas always seems to come earlier every year – Christmas decorations were seen in stores before Halloween this year.

However, the annual Christmas Festival of Music is giving its performers an extra day to get ready – it will break with tradition and be held on the first Saturday in December. This change was made to avoid a conflict with Kelseyville’s parade and tree lighting on Friday.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Christmas Festival of Music. Sally Carlson is being honored posthumously as the original organizer of this event. Her vision to bring the community together in a celebration of music has been carried on long after her passing.

An interfaith and community gathering, the festival will feature some returning favorites this year. In fact, Merry Lloyd who plays the handbells and performed for years with Bells of the Lake is flying in from Oregon to help celebrate the 25th anniversary.

In addition to the featured performers, the audience will be invited to sing Christmas carols.

Admission is free and refreshments will be provided.