CHRISTMAS offerings at two of Birmingham’s leading venues are set to pull in the crowds who enjoy their festive cheer.

Raymond Gubbay’s Christmas Festival at the city’s Symphony Hall has become a key part of the festive tradition drawing in fans from all around the Midlands including Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

This year, as always, there will be a wonderful mix of annual favourites for all to enjoy with friends, family or colleagues and at the same time great savings are being offered on certain shows when you book tickets for groups of 10 or more, 20 or more or even 50 or more!

To set the festive ball rolling there’s the Christmas Classics evening on December 17 (7.30pm), which will feature joyous seasonal and traditional music that perfectly captures the true spirit of Christmas and adding to the occasion will be Kevin Whately, the star of the television detective series Morse and more latterly Lewis, who will be the special guest reader.

The music will be conducted by Adrian Lucas and features Julia Doyle soprano with the City of Birmingham Choir, along with Fanfare Trumpeters from the Band of the Queen’s Division and the London Concert Orchestra.

It will include Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah, excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, Cullen’s Joy to the World, and several popular carols such as Come all ye Faithful and Hark! The herald angels sing.

This will be followed by a Christmas Carol Sing-a-Long on Monday, December 19 (2.30pm), Celebration - a special concert featuring Katherine Jenkins on Thursday, December 22 (7.30pm), White Christmas the following day at 7.30pm and on Christmas Eve it will be Carols by Candlelight at 2.30pm.

Rounding off the festive schedule on Tuesday, December 27 (7.30pm) will be a Last Night of the Christmas Proms which will feature Jonathan Antoine as special guest singer.

Birmingham’s Town Hall will also offer the chance to Sing Carols with the City Organist and Birmingham Cathedral Choir on Monday, December 19 and an Andy Williams Christmas Extravganza on Friday, December 23 (7.30pm).