The Christmas Revels

The Christmas Revels is a cherished holiday tradition for over 70,000 people throughout the country. Every December, the Washington Revels community gathers to celebrate the season through the traditional songs, dances, and stories of cultures from around the world. An English Country Christmas Revels

Our 42nd annual Christmas Revels begins with caroling on Christmas Eve in the country village of Mellstock, where the festive season provides a backdrop for this story of mirth, mayhem and merriment that will change the village and its inhabitants forever.

When schoolmistress Fancy Day returns home from the big city, the village is delighted—especially, three gentlemen: stiff-collared Parson Maybold; ambitious gentleman-farmer Frederick Shiner; and the young, innocent Dick Dewey, a member of the village “quire,” a motley group of musicians who have provided pub tunes and church music for generations.

It is the 1830s and change is in the air as manpower is being replaced by machines. Progress comes to Mellstock with the arrival of a new “harmonium,” or pump organ, but the quire has some opinions about being replaced by what they perceive as a new-fangled machine. Love blossoms, traditions are challenged, generations spar, and old becomes new in this lighthearted tale based on the early writings of Thomas Hardy.

Join us at the Cultural Arts Center (CAC) at Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring for five performances, December 20-22, as quirky characters, rustic tunes, pub carols, joyful anthems, and rousing dances, come together in this classic tale, performed by our multigenerational cast (ages 8-92), along with the Whiskey Before Breakfast Band, Washington Revels Brass, and talented local artists in this fully staged holiday production.

IN-PERSON PERFORMANCES

Friday, December 20, 7pm
Saturday, December 21, 2pm & 7pm
Sunday, December 22, 1:30pm & 5:30pm

Cultural Arts Center (CAC) at Montgomery College
7995 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910

View Map, Directions, and Parking Information [PDF] Please note that all parking at the CAC is free.

IN-PERSON TICKETS

Premium Seating (rows L through O):
$85 (Adult) / $45 (Youth, 18 and under)
Orchestra & Balcony Seating:
$75 (Adult) / $35 (Youth, 18 and under)

Purchase Christmas Revels Tickets

Please contact tickets@revelsdc.org for assistance with tickets and for resolution of any ticketing issues.

YULETIDE SOIRÉE

Add a delightful Yuletide Soirée to your Christmas Revels experience on December 20 and 21 prior to the evening performances. Merriment abounds at this very special pre-show event.

Purchase Yuletide Soirée Tickets

ON-DEMAND TICKETS

Join us for a virtual performance of Christmas Revels! Your on-demand virtual ticket includes unlimited access during the viewing period to our 42nd annual production of “An English Country Christmas Revels,” recorded during a live performance at the MC Cultural Arts Center.

On-demand Tickets: $35 (viewing period TBD)

Purchase On-Demand Tickets

Photo credit: Sheppard Ferguson

Frequently Asked Questions

Tapping of the cider (2010 Christmas Revels) This year has been an important one for our Washington Revels family. As we look forward to bringing our annual Christmas Revels to the Cultural Arts Center (CAC) at Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring, here are answers to your frequently asked questions about the new venue, ticket availability, and purchasing options.

What are the performance dates for the 2024 Christmas Revels?
There will be five performances, December 20-22, including matinees and evenings.
Learn more about this year’s English Country Christmas Revels.

Where is the Cultural Arts Center (CAC) located?
The CAC is located on Montgomery College’s Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus. The address for the theater is 7995 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, Maryland.
View a map showing the location.

Why are we no longer performing in GW Lisner Auditorium?
The rental and production-related costs at Lisner Auditorium were simply too high and made this venue no longer viable for the organization.

How does the CAC compare to the GW Lisner Auditorium?
The CAC is a smaller, more intimate venue than Lisner Auditorium, with 500 seats in the orchestra and balcony levels combined. The CAC, which opened its doors in 2009, is fully ADA compliant, including accessibility ramps at all entrances, elevators, and ample restrooms. The seating is much more comfortable, offering additional legroom and better cushioning. In contrast to paid parking surrounding Lisner, the CAC offers free parking.

What additional ADA services are available?
Patrons who are hearing impaired will be able to take advantage of a free infrared system from any seat during any performance. Receivers are available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Box Office. There are multiple ADA/Handicapped seating options available at the new theater; please call the office at 301-587-3835 for assistance in booking this type of ticket for one or more members of your party.

How do I get to the CAC?
The CAC is located a ½-mile walk from both the Silver Spring Metro station on the Red Line. From the Silver Spring Metro, Metrobus line 70 (direction Archives) departs every 15 minutes to reach the CAC. If you are driving, the CAC is located just outside of the District of Columbia on Georgia Avenue. There is ample free parking available in the 5-level West Garage located at 930 King St. (right off of Georgia Avenue.).
View a detailed map and directions [PDF]

Are there dining options near the CAC?
Yes. There are multiple pre- and post-show dining opportunities in downtown Silver Spring. In addition, below is a selection of restaurants that are very close to the Cultural Arts Center:

Crisfield Seafood (.1 miles) 8012 Georgia Ave – 301-589-1306
Vicino Restaurante Italiano (.3 miles) 959 Sligo Ave – 301-265-3015
Beteseb Restaurant (Ethiopian) (.4 miles) 8201 Georgia Ave – 301-448-1625
FireStation 1 Restaurant (.4 miles) 8131 Georgia Ave – 301-585-1370
The Angry Jerk (.4 miles) 8223 Georgia Ave
Quarry House Tavern (.5 miles) 8401 Georgia Ave – 301-844-5504
Mandalay (Burmese) (.6 miles) – 930 Bonifant St – 301-250-4078
Lamoon Thai (.6 miles) – 906 Thayer Ave – 301-328-5159
Copper Canyon Grill (.7 miles) 928 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring – 301-589-1330
J. Hollingers Waterman’s Chophouse (.7 miles) 8606 Colesville Road, Silver Spring – 301-328-0035
El Sapo Cuban Social Club (.8 miles) 8455 Fenton Street, Silver Spring – 301-326-1063
All Set Restaurant & Bar (.9 miles) 8630 Fenton Street, Silver Spring – 301-495-8800
McGinty’s Public House (.9 miles) 911 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring – 301-587-1270

Will tickets be more expensive in this new venue?
Yes. With only five performances, and fewer seats available (500 vs. 1,500), we needed to increase ticket prices. In addition, there will be fewer pricing tiers:

Premium Seating (rows L through O)
Orchestra and Balcony Seating

What about Youth (ages 18 and under) tickets?
With the limited seating in the CAC, Washington Revels wants to ensure we can continue to connect with the next generation of Revelers. Toward that end, we have kept youth prices low and have started the “Youth Ticket Fund” for the purpose of keeping those low prices sustainable. We would be deeply grateful if you’d consider a donation to this fund.
Donate now to the Youth Ticket Fund: Fostering a New Generation of Christmas Revelers.

What about discounts for groups?
We still offer the following group discounts: *

10% off group orders of 10 or more
20% off group orders of 20 or more

* Group discounts must be purchased by calling the office at 301-587-3835.

When can we purchase tickets?
Tickets go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, October 22. Donors of $100+ (September 1, 2023 to September 17, 2024) will have early priority access to purchase tickets as follows:

Group 1 ($1,000+ donors) | Early ticket access begins September 24
Group 2 ($500+ donors) | Early ticket access begins October 1
Group 3 ($250+ donors) | Early ticket access begins October 8
Group 4 ($100+ donors) | Early ticket access begins October 15

To check if your donation qualifies for Early Priority Ticketing, email info@revelsdc.org and we will verify your donation history.

Will there be any comp tickets available?
Because this year’s show run is so limited, donors qualifying for complimentary tickets will be able to use them for our online performance: “Christmas Revels On-Demand.”

What is “Christmas Revels On-Demand”?
As in past years, we will offer tickets to our online Christmas Revels performance. This year, On-Demand access will begin a bit later in the season and the viewing period will be extended. More details will be forthcoming.

Washington Revels Brass

The Washington Revels Brass lends its joyful, clarion sound to every Christmas Revels production. Current performers include trumpeters Les Linn and Fred Marcellus, French horn Andrew Houde and trombonists Bryan Bourne and Jeff Gaylord. The ensemble views itself in a certain sense as a microcosm of Revels everywhere: they have their own rituals, traditions, and personality. They differ from every other part of the Revels only in that their ways are largely invisible to all but themselves. (Photo by Alain L. Gutiérrez Almeida)

Our flagship production, The Christmas Revels, is a festive, fully staged celebration of the Winter Solstice and the return of sun and light after the “shortest day,” radiating hope and joy in the renewal of life and the circle of the seasons. Seen by over 10,000 people every December, it draws on traditions and rituals from many lands and peoples, focusing each year on a different culture or related cultures.

Select a link below to learn more about that production.