The Second Annual Nashville Christmas Music Series will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center, located on the Three Rivers College Campus. Sponsored by Kiwanis International, last year's event raised more than $9,000 to benefit the all-accessible playground equipment installed at Kiwanis Bacon Memorial Park during the summer.
Organizer and Kiwanis member Subrina Berger said she hopes to see the same attendance "from our beloved community" on Saturday as Kiwanis raises funds to continue with phase two of the playground project.
"(Nashville based) Dream Music Group heard about our (playground) project and immediately set to work on putting together last year's outstanding list of young entertainers," Berger said. "We are so excited to see many of them return this year to continue their support."
Among the lineup is local face, 17-year-old musician Kyle Richards of Poplar Bluff, who last year discovered he and his manager at Dream Music Group, C. Kim Shrum, each have family members living with disabilities. Richards said during their discussion, he mentioned the Kiwanis fundraising efforts and Shrum jumped at the opportunity to bring musical talent to Poplar Bluff while also raising money to benefit kids.
The event will feature contemporary and traditional Christmas music performed by singers and songwriters from Nashville, whose homes are scattered throughout the country. Richards will perform, along with Maggie Thorn, Tori Wilson, Nathan Shore, Dallas Remington, Rachel Dixon, and Tiffany Ashton, many who performed last year.
General admission tickets are available in advance for $10 each and can be purchased at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce. A limited supply of VIP tickets are available for $25 each, which will allow VIP ticket holders a meet & greet session with the performers, reserved seating and hors d'oeuvres before the show. Tickets are available at the door for $15.
"Thanks to the artists and to C. Kim Shrum of Dream Music Group in Nashville," Berger continued, "as well as the following local businesses for their sponsorship and donations in support of phase two of our project in Kiwanis Bacon Memorial Park: U.S. Bank, Tasteful Creations, Office Depot, First Midwest Bank, Smith & Company, Subway, River Radio Group, Ozark Federal Credit Union, Pizza Inn, Thirty3 Productions, Whitworth's Gift Chest Jewelry, Heritage Title, Moore Funeral Home, Shonda & Simply Pretty Salon, Deanna Ford Paparazzi, Southern Bank, Lemonade House Grille, Smart Marketing, Dawn Vosburg LeVel, TRC Center Stage Crew, Bronze Owl Brewing Co., Poplar Bluff Realty, Scott Trade Center, Peabody Opera House, A Kwerd Productions and First Missouri State Bank."