The annual outdoor holiday concert TubaChristmas, featuring about 100 tubas, baritones and euphoniums returns to U.S. Bank in downtown Naperville at 10AM Saturday, December 6. Standing on the lawn, audience members can sing along to classical and contemporary Christmas favorites.
The first TubaChristmas was held at the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink in New York City in 1974. It was created by Harvey Phillips to honor his teacher Bill Bell, who was born on Christmas Day in 1902. This year, over 290 TubaChristmas concerts are held all over the world, including in Australia, Canada and Costa Rica.
TubaChristmas Naperville held its first concert at the U.S. Bank (current location) in 1979 under the direction of the late Ron Keller, Director Emeritus of the Naperville Municipal Band. TubaChristmas-Naperville started performing at the Fox Valley Mall in 1981. They have performed every year until 2019. Then they returned to the Fox Valley Mall in 2024.
In the event of inclement weather, the concert will move into the Municipal Concert Center (the rehearsal location). The outside hanger doors to the Concert Center cannot be opened if the temperature is below 65 degrees or the winds are above 15 miles per hour, which eliminates using the park as a TubaChristmas performance venue in the winter.
Participants practice for one hour, then perform for the public. There are two performances on December 6, 2025. The first performance is held at U.S. Bank on South Washington Street at 10AM. The second performance is held at the Round1 Event Courtyard inside the Fox Valley Mall at noon. Each performance lasts about 45 minutes.
Participants range in age from 9 years old to 80 years old, and they come from all over the United States to participate in the Naperville concert. TubaChristmas-Naperville is directed and coordinated by David Carroll, who directs elementary and middle school bands in Naperville District 203.
For more info, visit tubachristmasnaperville.com.
