The Lehighton Band will present its annual Christmas concert at 2 p.m. Dec. 8 in the PFC Clyde Hauser Annex building on Third Street in Lehighton.

The theme for the concert is “Classics and Favorites,” and will feature many familiar and classic Christmas song selections.

The band, which is celebrating its 155th year in existence, will open with a majestic number titled “Christmas Declaration.”

It will follow that up with a modernized version of “Greensleeves” that was made famous by the group Mannheim Steamroller.

The band continues with an interesting arrangement of the “Holly and the Ivy,” which combines two drastically different version of the famous song; one being lively and fast and the other being more flowing and slow.

Barry Gangwer will present the solo “Gabriel’s Oboe,” arranged by Longfield.

The band’s next song will be “A Canadian Brass Christmas Suite,” which includes “Jingle Bells;” “Good King Wenceslas;” “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming;” “Carol of the Bells;” “Silent Night;” and “O, Come All Ye Faithful.”

The next selection will be variations of an “Echo Carol,” followed by “Mele Kalikemaka.”

Next will be “Merry Christmas, Darling,” which was made famous by the pop group the Carpenters.

That will be followed by “The Bells of Christmas” by Robert Longfield. The narrator for this piece is Joe Plechavy.

The final song of the concert will be “Stars and Stripes for Christmas.”

The Lehighton Band concert would not be complete without some Sousa marches. Arranger Robert Foster will combine many of Sousa’s marches with very famous Christmas carols.

Refreshments will be served after the concert.

Tables will be available on the ground level on a first-come, first-served basis, and balcony seating will also be available.

Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. for the event. Tickets can be obtained for the concert from any member of the Lehighton Band or at Carbon County Music and More, 115 S. Second St., Lehighton. They will also be available at the door.

The announcer for the concert is Barry Gangwer.

The Lehighton Band is under the direction of Bradly R. Cressley.