There is a moment each year when the leaves are down, the weather turns, and the calendar suddenly fills with things you actually want to do indoors. This year, a good share of them at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.

The Hylton’s November and December lineup runs from blues and jazz to a lunchtime concert, a free gallery exhibit, family comedy, and a full slate of holiday performances. Here is the season in date order, with prices and accessibility notes, so you can plan around the dates that matter to you.

Free or Under $40

•     Walter Kravitz: The Living Line gallery exhibit, Nov. 3–Jan. 9: free

•     Mutts Gone Nuts, Nov. 21: $25

•     Shemekia Copeland, Nov. 7: $35

•     Ju Percussion Group, Nov. 15: from $35; half-price for youth through Grade 12

•     Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel, Nov. 8: from $38; half-price for youth through Grade 12

 Late October

Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Galapagos George (Hylton Family Series)

$20 | Recommended for ages 5–10 | 2 p.m. show is sensory-friendly

The season’s first family show comes from Barefoot Puppet Theatre, the Hylton’s 2026–27 Mason Artist-in-Residence. The handcrafted puppet tale follows a tortoise inspired by “Lonesome George” through the Galápagos Islands, where he meets sea lions and marine iguanas. Dabble Creative Reuse Center leads family craft activities an hour before each performance.

Starting Tuesday, Nov. 3 Walter Kravitz: The Living Line

Free | Buchanan Partners Art Gallery | Through Jan. 9

The gallery on the second floor of the Didlake Grand Foyer opens a new exhibit of works by artist Walter Kravitz. It is free and open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and two hours before each performance, which makes it an easy add-on to a show night.

Saturday, Nov. 7, 5 p.m.  Shemekia Copeland (American Roots Series)

$35 | Gregory Family Theater

The five-time Grammy nominee brings her powerful blues vocals to the Hylton’s casual, up-close theater, where you can bring snacks and drinks to your seat.

Sunday, Nov. 8, 2 p.m.  Keyboard Conversations with Jeffrey Siegel

$60, $52, $38; half-price for youth through Grade 12 | Captioned

Pianist Jeffrey Siegel returns with his mix of virtuosic playing and conversational commentary, this time on music by Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Debussy, and Gershwin.

Tuesday, Nov. 10, lunch at 12:30 p.m., concert at 1:30 p.m.  Ars Populi: AMERICANA (Matinee Idylls)

Lunch, concert, and dessert $80; concert and dessert only $50 | Captioned

This afternoon series pairs a lunch from a local caterer with a one-hour concert, followed by dessert and coffee with the artists. The vocal ensemble Ars Populi performs a program of distinctly American music.

Saturday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m.  Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra: To Swing Through the Sky

$65, $55, $45; half-price for youth through Grade 12

The orchestra celebrates its 25th anniversary with a multimedia program on the shared history of jazz and flight. Free tickets are reserved for veterans and servicemembers with ID, up to two each, at the Hylton ticket office.

Sunday, Nov. 15, 3 p.m.  Ju Percussion Group: Energy, Infinite

$55, $48, $35; half-price for youth through Grade 12

Taiwan’s Ju Percussion Group makes its Hylton Center debut with a program that blends Asian and Western musical traditions.

Friday, Nov. 20, through Sunday, Nov. 29 Frozen (ARTfactory Actors Theatre)

$30 adult; $25 senior, student, child | Gregory Family Theater

Performances run Nov. 20 and 27 at 7 p.m.; Nov. 21, 22, and 27–29 at 2 p.m.; and Nov. 21 and 28 at 10 a.m.

Saturday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.  Mutts Gone Nuts: Unleashed (Hylton Family Series)

$25 | 11 a.m. show is audio-described

An all-star lineup of canine performers takes the stage for a comedy spectacular built for the whole family.

Friday, Nov. 27, 2 and 6:30 p.m.  Virginia National Ballet: The Nutcracker

$80, $75, $60 adult; $72.50, $68, $63.50, $54.50 child (3–11) and group

The first of two Thanksgiving-weekend Nutcrackers at the Hylton.

Saturday, Nov. 28, 2 and 6 p.m.  Academy of Russian Ballet and Northern Virginia Ballet: The Nutcracker

$50 adult; $40 senior, military, child

A second Nutcracker option the next day, at a lower ticket price.

Sunday, Nov. 29, 4 p.m.  Chanticleer: A Chanticleer Christmas

$70, $60, $45; half-price for youth through Grade 12 | Captioned

The New Yorker has called Chanticleer the “world’s reigning male chorus.” The group returns with a program of traditional seasonal classics and gospel numbers.

Sunday, Dec. 6, 2 and 5 p.m.  Seán Heely’s Celtic Christmas

$70, $60, $45; half-price for youth through Grade 12 | 2 p.m. show is captioned

U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion and vocalist Seán Heely leads a winter journey through the Scottish Highlands, with Irish tunes, Gaelic carols, and Christmas melodies.

Friday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.  American Festival Pops Orchestra: Holiday Pops, Songs of the Season 2026

$70, $60, $45; half-price for youth through Grade 12 | Captioned

Conductor Peter Wilson leads the orchestra’s annual holiday tradition.

Sunday, Dec. 13, 4 p.m.  Vienna Boys Choir: Christmas in Vienna

$70, $60, $45; half-price for youth through Grade 12

In a much-awaited return, the Vienna Boys Choir closes out the Hylton Presents holiday lineup with a program of Christmas music.

Where: Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas. Unless noted, performances are in Merchant Hall.

Tickets: Buy at the Hylton Center Ticket Office (open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and two hours before all performances), by phone at 703-993-7759, or at HyltonCenter.org.

Good to know: Programs, artists, and dates are subject to change. Check HyltonCenter.org for the latest.

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