American Festival Pops Orchestra: Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season 2026

The American Festival Pops Orchestra continues its cherished tradition of seasonal music with Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season, an annual concert conducted by Artistic Director Peter Wilson, a former senior enlisted music advisor to The White House. The orchestra brings together more than sixty professional musicians, including faculty from George Mason University's Dewberry School of Music, instrumentalists from U.S. Armed Forces music ensembles, and players from local orchestras. This family-friendly event offers a festive evening of beloved holiday tunes in the Concert Hall of the university's Center for the Arts.

When: Saturday, December 12, 2026, at 4 p.m.

Venue: George Mason University Center for the Arts, Concert Hall, on the Fairfax Campus.

Tickets: Ticket prices are $70, $60, and $45, with half-price admission for youth through grade 12. All prices include fees.

Ages: The performance is suitable for all ages.

Note: A pre-performance discussion begins one hour before the concert. A limited number of free tickets are available for George Mason University students, released two Tuesdays prior to the event on a first-come basis. This same program is also presented on Friday, December 11 at 8 p.m. at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Virginia.

Lineup: The American Festival Pops Orchestra performs under the direction of conductor Peter Wilson, with a roster of over sixty professional musicians drawn from the university faculty, military music ensembles, and regional orchestras.