Hometown Christmas returns with 3 shows on Saturday in Albion
Photo by Tom Rivers: Lauren Thomas practices for her role as the Sugar Plum Princess in the Nutcracker during a show last Saturday at Gotta Dance by Miss Amy. Lauren will perform a dance this Saturday during the 8th annual Nicholas Kovaleski Hometown Christmas.
ALBION – The 8th annual Nicholas Kovaleski Hometown Christmas returns Saturday for three shows by members of the Albion community. There will be singing, dancing and even comedy.
The show honors the memory of Nicholas Kovaleski, who the inspired the Albion community with his valiant fight against leukemia. He died at age 15 on June 29, 2011. He was a popular student at Albion, excelling at football, swimming and tennis.
There have been seven Hometown Christmas events and they have raised $18,000 towards scholarships given annually to graduating high school seniors who “Live with Purpose.”
Nick’s sister Michayla is among the dancers in Saturday’s shows. Nick’s younger brother Matt normally plays the drums for the Albion band and in the pit orchestra for school musicals. On Saturday he will make his debut as a soloist in singing.
Other community members will perform, including High School Chorus Director Gary Simboli. Two of his students, Riley Seielstad and Kate Krieger, will sing solos.
The Boy Scouts will perform three humorous skits. Jim Salmon, Doug Bower and Jim Babcock also will perform a skit, “Grandma Got Run Over by Reindeer.”
Altogether, there will be about 60 people on stage during the program.
“We just want people to come and have a good time,” said Amy Sidari, event organizer and owner of Gotta Dance by Miss Amy. “I’m humbled by the community with their support and love.”
The shows are at noon, 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the Holy Family Parish Lyceum, 106 S. Main St. Coffee and desserts are served and there is a basket auction. There will likely be about 50 baskets up for bid, including jerseys from Buffalo Bills greats Jim Kelly and Andre Reed, who are both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. There also is a 43-inch television in the auction.
For information about tickets, call Gotta Dance at (585) 354-2320.
Saturday is also the Hometown Holidays event in downtown Albion with events from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Click here for more information.
