Tim Bracken, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Now that the holiday season is in full swing, there are plenty of festive concert events scheduled in the D.C. region.
The holidays also bring an uptick in charitable events.
D.C. music venue 9:30 Club is midway through its annual charity raffle, which will benefit local non-profit organizations dedicated to helping feed and clothe those in need.
Through Dec. 31, anyone who donates new or clean clothes, a canned food item or makes a donation of $5 at the 9:30 Club box office will be given a raffle ticket for the chance to win two tickets to concert at the venue for a year.
There is a maximum of 10 raffle tickets given per night per person, and the winner will be drawn at the New Year’s Eve show featuring The Drive-By Truckers with North Mississippi Allstars Duo.
The raffle has naturally become a favorite among the music-obsessed.
Todd Savitch, who won in 2006, donated 10 items each day in December for a total of 310 raffle tickets.
“I was a little obsessed with the prize and donated pretty much every day,” he says. “I had family and friends donate through me as well.”
Savitch says he attended 166 concerts at the 9:30 Club the year following his big win.
Valerie Nannery, 2007 winner, blogged about the more than 100 concerts she attended.
In addition to events such as the 9:30 Club charity raffle, there are numerous holiday concerts scheduled in the coming weeks.
Here are some of this weekend’s highlights:
Sunday, Dec. 16
The Choral Arts Society of Washington will perform “A Family Christmas” at the Kennedy Center. The afternoon performance will feature stories and songs that children will love and will feature special appearances by Santa, Frosty and Rudolph.
The Strathmore is hosting the “Family Christmas Sing-Along.” The concert is led by Grammy Award-winning music instructor Betty Scott and folk duo The Sweater Set.
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