The Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus doesn’t do understated. Their annual holiday concert has built a loyal following in Sacramento because it delivers what so many December performances promise but rarely deliver: actual fun. This year’s production, Holiday HITS! with a Splash of Sass!, lands at Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, December 5, with two chances to catch it — a 2 PM matinee and a 7 PM evening show.
If you’ve never been to one of their holiday productions, the short version is this: rich choral harmonies, sharp staging, comedic bits that land, and a willingness to go full camp when the moment calls for it. The chorus has made Memorial Auditorium’s grand stage feel like a party more than once, and this year promises more of the same.
What the Show Is
The Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus is one of the region’s more distinctive performing arts organizations — a large community chorus that takes its music seriously but knows when to let the sequins do the talking. Holiday HITS! with a Splash of Sass! mixes traditional holiday songs, big-ensemble harmonies, and a healthy dose of spectacle. Expect rich, soaring arrangements of holiday classics alongside comedic and theatrical moments that keep the energy moving across the full runtime.
Details about this year’s specific staging are still mostly under wraps, but past productions have featured elaborate costume reveals, themed vignettes between songs, and ensemble numbers that use the full depth of Memorial Auditorium’s stage. Audiences should expect to laugh, sing along under their breath, and leave with at least one earworm they didn’t see coming.
The chorus typically sells this show out — Memorial Auditorium holds over 3,800 seats, but the holiday production consistently draws a full house. Both the matinee and evening slots usually fill, with the evening show drawing a slightly livelier crowd. If you’re bringing a larger group, buy together and early.
Practical Details
Memorial Auditorium sits in downtown Sacramento at 15th and J Street, a straightforward drive or light rail ride from most of the region. Street parking on nearby blocks is free on weekends, and several garages along J and K Streets offer affordable hourly rates. The venue is walking distance from Old Sacramento and several restaurants along Capitol Mall, which makes it easy to build a full evening around the 7 PM show.
One item worth knowing before you buy: Memorial Auditorium is a historic building, and its upper tiers have no elevator or ramp access. If you or anyone in your group has mobility concerns, contact the box office before purchasing — they can help you find appropriate seating. Upper Balcony seats are also narrow wooden seats without padding, so the Orchestra level is the more comfortable option for longer sits.
Tickets are available through sacgaymenschorus.com/holidayshow. The chorus specifically advises against purchasing from third-party resellers, which charge additional service fees on top of the face value. If you prefer to avoid online convenience fees entirely, the Memorial Auditorium box office sells tickets by phone at (916) 808-5181, Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM.
If you’re looking for more holiday entertainment in the same stretch of December, the Glenn Miller Orchestra plays Memorial Auditorium the following week on December 14, making for a tidy pairing if you want two very different takes on the holiday concert experience within the same venue. For a broader look at what’s open in December, Sacramento’s full Christmas events calendar covers everything from tree lightings to theatrical productions. And if you’re still weighing options and considering multiple concert formats, the Candlelight Concerts series at Sacramento offers a quieter counterpoint to the big-stage productions.
The Details
- What: Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus — Holiday HITS! with a Splash of Sass!
- Date: Saturday, December 5, 2026
- Showtimes: 2 PM (matinee) and 7 PM (evening)
- Venue: Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J St., Sacramento, CA 95814
- Tickets: $35–$55, available at sacgaymenschorus.com/holidayshow
- Box Office: (916) 808-5181, Tuesday–Friday, 10 AM–4 PM
- Accessibility: No elevators or ramps to Lower or Upper Balcony; call box office for accessible seating assistance
- Parking: Street parking free on weekends; J and K Street garages nearby
- Light Rail: Memorial Auditorium stop on the Blue and Gold lines
Bottom Line
Sacramento has no shortage of holiday concerts in December, but few of them combine professional choral performance with the kind of theatrical energy that fills a 3,800-seat hall and still feels personal. The Gay Men’s Chorus has earned its reputation as one of the more joyful nights on the Sacramento holiday calendar, and Holiday HITS! with a Splash of Sass! looks set to continue that. Two shows on December 5 means most schedules can accommodate it — pick your time, buy early, and skip the reseller markup.
