The holiday season in Phoenix gets off to a merry start the weekend after Thanksgiving, when the Phoenix Symphony turns Symphony Hall into the North Pole for three days of pure family joy: “Elf in Concert” plays on the big screen while the full orchestra performs every note of the score live.
From Friday, November 27 through Sunday, November 29, 2026, audiences can relive the heartwarming adventure of Buddy — the human who was raised among Santa’s elves and travels to New York in full elf uniform to find his real father — as John Debney’s wonderful music is played in perfect sync with the film. The movie, a modern holiday classic, is projected on a giant screen, so every laugh, every surprise and every magical moment lands with the full power of a live symphony orchestra.
Performances take place at 2:00 p.m. each day at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix, making it an ideal daytime outing for the whole family. Part of the orchestra’s Films Series, “Elf in Concert” is a delightful way to kick off the holidays together — a celebration of music, movies and the season’s happiest spirit, all in one unforgettable afternoon.
Photo: Visitor7 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
