(Radio Iowa) – Iowans in six cities will be able to celebrate the music of the Christmas season in an unusual way this weekend. Tuba, sousaphone, euphonium and baritone horn players of all ages and abilities will be playing in “TubaChristmas” concerts. Nationwide, it’s the 51st year that such displays of Christmas music have been happening. The first was in 1974 at the Ice Rink Stage of New York City’s Rockefeller Center as players gathered to honor the memory of world-renowned tuba player and Iowa native William Bell, who was born in Creston on Christmas Day 1902. The concerts in Iowa will be among the more than 200 similar concerts given throughout the United States and in several foreign countries this year.

This weekend’s performances include:
Dubuque — December 13 — 6:30 PM — University of Dubuque Heritage Center
Mason City — December 14 — 1:00 PM — Principal Pavilion, Southbridge Mall
Des Moines — December 14 — 2:00 PM — Drake University Performing Arts Hall
Cedar Rapids — December 14 — 3:00 PM — Downtown Cedar Rapids Public Library
Orange City — December 14 — 7:00 PM — Christ Chapel, Northwestern College
Ottumwa — December 15 — 4:00 PM — Indian Hills Community College St. John Auditorium

Photo by Bob Fisher

There’s one final performance in Perry on December 21st at 1 PM at First United Methodist Church. Performances were held earlier this month in cities including: Ames, Creston, Estherville, Oskaloosa, Sioux City and Spencer.