In From The Cold, Peterborough’s coolest Christmas concert, is back for its 22nd year on Saturday, December 11th with a live performance from St. James United Church.
Because of the pandemic, the concert will not be open to the public and tickets will not be sold. Instead, it will be livestreamed — for free — at 8 p.m. at stjamesplayers.ca/live.
“A year ago I never would have guessed that, this year, we would not be back at the Market Hall performing to a full house once again,” says concert organizer John Hoffman. “Although things are much better with the pandemic, there were still some uncertainties around safety when we had to make decisions about staging the concert.”
Hoffman is hoping that, in lieu of purchasing concert tickets, viewers and supporters will donate generously to the In From The Cold online fundraiser at Canada Helps in support of Peterborough’s YES Shelter for Youth and Families — the beneficiary of the annual fundraising concert since it was first held in 2000.
For 20 years, In From The Cold has been a live concert performed at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough over two nights every December, with each concert recorded for a Christmas Day broadcast on Trent Radio.
Last year, because of the pandemic, a live concert was not possible. Instead, a radio concert was broadcast featuring a retrospective of songs from 20 years of Trent Radio recordings. That radio concert raised a record total of almost $13,000 for YES, bringing In From The Cold’s 21-year fundraising total to more than $150,000.
As always, this year’s livestreamed concert will be hosted by folk/vocal ensemble Carried Away (John Hoffman, Susan Newman, and Rob Fortin), along with their musical friends Curtis Driedger, fingerstyle guitarist Michael Ketemer, and Celtic harpist Tanah Haney.
This year’s special guests include the McDonnel Street Gospel Quartet (Curtis Driedger, Sweet Muriel Mountain, Dianne Latchford, and Colin MacAdam), a group that has been performing around Peterborough for the past two years, including several pop-up concerts under the Hunter Street Bridge this past summer. The quartet will perform several Christmas songs in a spirited old-time country gospel style. Surprise guest Washboard Hank (Fisher) will also be performing.
In From the Cold is one of Peterborough’s most cherished Christmas concerts, offering an enchanting mix of Celtic-style carols and seasonal songs you won’t hear at other concerts, performed by some of Peterborough’s top folk and roots musicians.
If you’ve never experienced In From the Cold, watch the short film below and find out why so many people think of this concert as the real start of the Christmas season.
VIDEO: “In From The Cold” by filmmaker Rodney Fuentes (2018)
Here’s what a few audience members have said about past From the Cold concerts:
“The two ladies sitting in front of us turned to each other at the end and said ‘Now Christmas can begin!’ In From the Cold has become such a well-loved tradition for so many!”
“Beautiful decorations and lovely, relaxed folksy music start the holiday on the right foot! Such wonderful talent!”
“Had a great time at the In From The Cold concert last night. The music was excellent, and passionately performed.”
“In From the Cold is the start of the real Christmas season.”
Concert Sponsors
In From The Cold and the YES Shelter for Youth and Families are grateful for the continued generous support of businesses and organizations in the Peterborough community. The sponsors for this year’s livestreamed concert are:
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
- Bell Media (Pure Country 105 / MOVE 99.7 / Bounce 91.9)
- Camp Ponacka
- Kawartha Credit Union
- kawarthaNOW.com
- MacDougall Insurance and Financial
- Moving Media
- Teachers for Kids
- Wild Rock Outfitters
Red Sponsors
Green Sponsors
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a long-time sponsor of In From The Cold.
