Christmas 2019: Celebrate the holidays with these shows in NJ, NYC and Philly

How do we celebrate the holidays around these parts? With terminally delightful drag queens, vivacious burlesque bombshells and some rock 'n' roll, of course.

Across New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania there are more shows bringing seasonal cheer than you can shake a candy cane at. Here are just a few of the must-see holiday extravaganzas:

'All I Want for Christmas is Attention'

"RuPaul's Drag Race" stars Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme return to the road together this season for their annual holiday spectacular with "All I Want for Christmas is Attention" playing Union Transfer in Philadelphia on Friday, Dec. 6, and Town Hall in Manhattan on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

Monsoon, speaking with the Asbury Park Press last year, said the pairing of queens and Christmas was a natural one.

"I think drag queens and any celebration go hand-in-hand, cuz we bring the party!" Monsoon said, via email. "It's science. Christmas in particular is just naturally campy — there are so many crazy traditions … there is so much gaudy clothing… and so many archetypal characters to dress up as! To me, that just sounds like Christmases begging for drag queens to take over."

Monsoon was the winner of "Drag Race" Season Five, while BenDeLaCreme was a fan favorite from the series' sixth season as well as the third season of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars."

The two Seattle-based performers "bring out the mad scientist in each other," Monsoon said.

"One of us will propose an outlandish idea, the other one will love it, and then the two of us figure out how to make it happen," said Monsoon. "We are ideal partners not only because we share a particular aesthetic and standard for excellence, ha ha, but also because we share many ideals and both use our voices, in different ways, and to make the world a better place."

GO: Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme in "All I Want is Attention," 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, $35 to $100, utphilly.com and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St., New York, $27 to $102, thetownhall.org. For more information, including tickets and a full list of tour dates, visit jinkxanddela.com

Burlesque-A-Pades Holiday Spectacular

It's been a decade or so since Trenton-native, Brooklyn-based burlesque producer and star Angie Pontani and her Burlesque-A-Pades troupe started hitting the road during the holidays to serve up seasonal cheer with plenty of sizzle.

Pontani and company will return to her home state for an Asbury Park engagement on Friday, Dec. 6, at the House of Independents. The Burlesque-A-Pades Holiday Spectacular, hosted by Sir Richard Castle, is set to include performances by Pontani, The Maine Attraction, Mika Romantic, Taradise, the Evil Hate Monkey and more.

Speaking with the Asbury Park Press in 2014, Pontani discussed what it's been like for her and her troupe to carve out an end-of-the-year tradition to call their own.

"The first few years we had mixed feelings about it because it's really sad to be on the road a little bit during Christmas," she said. "Everyone's at home sitting around their tree and wrapping their presents and we're going from hotel to hotel. So we started to do these really goofy things amongst ourselves — like we totally get a pine tree candle, bring it into our hotel and light it and pretend that we can smell a Christmas tree. We decorate our car. We do a secret Santa now.

"So it's actually developed into some really fun traditions that we've created among the cast. I think they'll be really nice memories when I'm like 97 years old, remembering Christmases from my youth."

GO: Burlesque-A-Pades with Angie Pontani, 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, House of Independents, 572 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park, $18 to $40, houseofindependents.com.

Asbury Park Boardwalk

The historic Asbury Park Boardwalk has more than a month of holiday festivities in the works, which started with a free 30th anniversary screening of "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, at the Paramount Theatre, followed by the 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, tree lighting in the Grand Arcade and a holiday bazaar Saturday, Nov. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 1.

The bazaar returns Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22, and the Paramount also will host screenings of "A Christmas Story" (Dec. 13) and "It's a Wonderful Life" (Dec. 20).

For a full schedule of events, visit apboardwalk.com. 

She and Him

She and Him, the charming pop duo of Zoey Deschanel and M. Ward, are back on the road for a Christmas Party tour bringing them to the Met Philadelphia on Wednesday, Dec. 4, and the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn on Friday, Dec. 6.

GO: She and Him's Chrismas Party, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the Met Philadelphia, 858 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, tickets starting at $20.19 and 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, sold out, www.sheandhim.com.

Idina Menzel

"Frozen" franchise star and Tony winner  Idina Menzel is on the road behind the new album "Christmas: A Season of Love," and she's playing Circus Maximus at Caesars Atlantic City on Friday, Dec. 6, and Carnegie Hall in Manhattan on Wednesday, Dec. 11.

GO: Idina Menzel, 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, Circus Maximus at Caesars Atlantic City, 2100 Pacific Ave., Atlantic City, starting at $59.95 and 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street and Seventh Ave., New York City, $59 to $175, idinamenzel.com.

Michael Bolton

Pop and soul crooner Michael Bolton is combining his own greatest hits with some timeless holiday classics for his tour playing the Golden Nugget Atlantic City on Saturday, Dec. 7, and the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank on Monday, Dec. 9.

GO: Michael Bolton, 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at the Grand Ballroom at the Golden Nugget, Huron Avenue and Brigantine Boulevard, Atlantic City, $59 to $69 and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9, at the Asbury Park Press Stage at the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, $35 to $99, michaelbolton.com.

Mariah Carey

Twenty five years, and 16 million copies sold later, it should be clear what Mariah Carey wants for Christmas. But in case you need a refresher, the "All I Want for Christmas Is You" hitmaker is on the road in commemoration of her now-classic 1994 album "Merry Christmas," which was re-released in a deluxe anniversary edition this month.

Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" Tour, presented by Hallmark, kicks off Saturday, Dec. 7, at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, followed by a Sunday, Dec. 15, engagement at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan.

GO: Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" Tour, 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, starting at $70, and 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at Madison Square Garden, 7th Avenue and 32nd Street, New York, starting at $80.95, www.mariahcarey.com.

Darlene Love

Darlene Love is synonymous with the Christmas season, and there's a very good reason for that. Love had five songs the now-classic 1963 LP "A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector": "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" plus "White Christmas," "A Marshmallow World," "Winter Wonderland" and "Silent Night."

Love, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, brings her "Love for the Holidays" Tour to the Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pennsylvania, on Friday, Dec. 13; Kean Stage in Union on Saturday, Dec. 14; and the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank on Wednesday, Dec. 18.

GO: Darlene Love, 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at the Keswick Theatre, 291 N. Keswick Ave., Glenside, Pennsylvania, $39 to $69, www.keswicktheatre.com; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Kean Stage, 1000 Morris Ave., Union, $40 to $65, www.keanstage.com; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Asbury Park Press Stage at the Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, $39 to $129, thebasie.org.

Lindsey Stirling

Violinist and songstress Lindsey Stirling is bringing her Warmer in the Winter Tour to Newark's New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Friday, Dec. 13. Stirling is also offering VIP ticket holders ($235 to $379 per person) access to her pre-show Christmas party, complete with a family game night, a private performance and more.

GO: Lindsey Stirling, 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center's Prudential Hall, 1 Center St., Newark, $43.50 to $98.50, www.njpac.org.

Harry and the Potters

For the last decade, Harry and the Potters have been rocking the holiday season, Wizarding World-style. The band, inspired by the works of J.K. Rowling, returns to the Bell House in Brooklyn's Gowanus neighborhood for its 10th annual Yule Ball on Saturday, Dec. 14.

Kimya Dawson of the Moldy Peaches, felt troupe the Potter Puppet Pals, Ashley Hamel and the Dead Ringers will also be part of the festivities.

GO: Harry and the Potters' 10th Annual Yule Bal, 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Bell House, 149 7th St., Brooklyn, $22, www.thebellhouseny.com.

Holiday Express

It's been nearly 30 years since Holiday Express embarked on its mission to utilize the power of music to bring holiday joy to the less fortunate in our area. Founded by restaurateur and musician Tim McLoone, the band holds its annual benefit concerts at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank on Monday, Dec. 16, and Tuesday, Dec. 17.

The Basie stays in the giving spirit on Saturday, Dec. 21, when Brian Kirk and the Jirks present their eighth annual Santa For... to combat hunger.

GO: Holiday Express, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16, and Tuesday, Dec. 17, $25 to $125, and Brian Kirk and the Jirks' Santa For..., 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, $25 to $75, the Asbury Park Press Stage at the Hackensck Meridian Health Theatre at the Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, thebasie.org.

John Waters

Beloved Baltimore icon John Waters is, among other things, a filmmaker, an author, a notorious raconteur and general provocateur of the best sort.

He's also a well-documented lover of all things Christmas, something he proves every year by traveling this country and delivering his own brand of adults-only yuletide glee. He'll be at Union Transfer in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

GO: A John Waters Christmas, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden St., Philadelphia, $47.50 to $125, utphilly.com.

Hot for the Holidays

New York area radio station Hot 97 brings its Hot for the Holidays showcase to Brooklyn's Barclays Center on Wednesday, Dec. 18. This year's line-up includes Khalid, H.E.R., Wale, Queen Naija, Kiana Ledé, Layton Greene and The Bonfyre.

GO: Hot 97's Hot for the Holidays, 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, $49 to $349, hot97.com/hotfortheholidays.

Puss N Boots

It's that time of year again: Puss N Boots, the roots-rock supergroup featuring Norah Jones, Sasha Dobson and Catherine Popper, returns to Brooklyn for its annual Christmas Extravaganza.

This year's festivities are Friday, Dec. 20, at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Previous years have featured surprise appearances by the likes of Bill Murray and Mick Foley, so this is a holiday party you definitely want to RSVP to.

GO: The Puss N Boots Christmas Extravaganza, 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, 66 N. 6th St., Brooklyn, $25, www.musichallofwilliamsburg.com.

Are you all about arts and entertainment? Then make sure you don't miss a single story by our features reporter Alex Biese. Subscribe to the Asbury Park Press today for unlimited digital access.

Learn more and consider a subscription at https://offers.app.com/specialoffer.