Capitol Pops Concert Band Presents Free Winter Holiday Concert December 12 at Rusch Park

The Capitol Pops Concert Band will perform its annual Winter Holiday Concert on Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Rusch Community Park in Citrus Heights. Admission is free, and the concert is indoors.

The Capitol Pops holiday concert has been a December tradition in the Sacramento area for more than 25 years. Conductor Susan Hamre leads this year's program of holiday favorites for listeners of all ages.

The program includes Robert W. Smith's When Saint Nick Comes Marching In, a New Orleans-style holiday celebration. Smith's Brazilian Bell Carol sets "Carol of the Bells" to Latin rhythms and puts the Capitol Pops percussion section in the spotlight.

The audience gets to join in on Steven Reineke's Merry Christmas, Everyone!, a Christmas sing-along from the music director of the New York Pops. Julie Giroux's swinging Three Wise Guys returns from last year's program, along with many more seasonal favorites.

The concert is free and open to the public and takes place indoors in the Rusch Park auditorium. More information is available at www.capitolpops.org.

About the Capitol Pops Concert Band

The Capitol Pops Concert Band brings together musicians from across the Sacramento Valley and surrounding foothills. Under the direction of conductor Susan Hamre, the band performs concert band standards, classical works and popular music at parks, community events and holiday celebrations throughout the region. Learn more at www.capitolpops.org.