Nothing kicks off the holiday season in Marion like The Tri-County Symphonic Band’s annual Christmas concert!

On Sunday, the orchestra played in Sippican Elementary School’s auditorium. The concert is a joint effort between Sippican School Concert Choir leader Patty Richard and music and band instructor Hannah Moore, who secured the venue and organized the event.

Students in sixth grade helped as “elves” to pass out wristbands to children. Elves included Ruth Harri, Emma Mastovsky, Catherine Erickson, Meghan Berg, Jacob Devoe and Gwen Miedema. The wristbands would later become part of a surprise during the show.

Conductor Phil Sanborn then led the band through an variety of Christmas carols.

Richard joined The Tri-County Symphonic Band in the second half of the concert. Wearing festive hats and sweaters, the children sang alongside tenor saxophone soloist Bryan Steele.

Host Roger Haber drew numbers that correlated to numbers on the wristbands. Seven kids whose numbers got picked were invited to ring sleigh bells on stage with the band for the song “Sleigh Ride.”

“It’s usually really fun for all the little kids because of all the extra things like the bracelets, candy canes and playing the sleigh bells,” said Jacob. “This concert turns out to be a big hit for families every year.”

After the concert ended, the audience and musicians had the opportunity to march with the Sippican School Band, led by Moore, to Island Wharf where Santa arrived by boat, hopped aboard a horse-drawn sleigh and joined the Marion Village Stroll.

“Marion has a long history of supporting their school music program and the Tri-County Symphonic Band. This concert is a classy, high quality event because of that support,” said Moore.