Payson Roundup | Payson, AZ

Complete with duets, touching skits, singing angels, and even a shower of balloons, Sunday’s Spirit of Christmas concert offered an impressive demonstration of our community’s talent.

The village of light-adorned houses and half a dozen lit Christmas trees added to the festivity established by the cast of nearly 50 musicians, singers and actors filtering on and off the stage — playing wonderfully fun, upbeat renditions of some classic Christmas favorites.

Volunteers created a striking set, including a makeshift manger complete with realistically rendered sheep, camels and cattle and a creatively rendered Bethlehem city backdrop. Many sections of the show revolved around Mary and Joseph, portrayed by Haylie Henning and Mike Wilcox, with little Talon Connolly dressed as baby Jesus.

The concert was a cooperative effort put on by several churches.

Pastor Joe Hittle of Calvary Chapel delivered a beautiful holiday message to a packed audience in the Payson High School auditorium.

Sunday’s two performances were dedicated to all those who serve our country and to Mike Barr, who has played one of the wise men in the holiday concert for several years.

Among the brilliantly skilled vocalists were Arielle O’Connor, Rachael Smith, Jeff Barnett, Jeff Rushlow, Beth Campbell, Haylie Henning, Lora Henning and Eric Santana.

The dancers leaped, spun and gyrated to the sound of the singers and musicians, who included Eric Santana, Linda Jackson, Diana Rushlow, Les Barr, Don Gibson, Ric Quigley, Caleb Jackson and Issac Bradford.

If the unseasonably warm temperatures have kept you from getting into the holiday spirit, the heartfelt performances Sunday will surely have done the job.