On December 4th, 2025, over 11,000 fans braved frigid (18° F) temperatures to fill the Blue Cross Arena to near capacity, looking to have their spirits warmed with some Christmas magic from the uber-talented a cappella group Pentatonix. The group is on their “Christmas in the City Tour,” which kicked off on November 8th and will run until December 22nd, traversing the USA. The tour supports a brand new holiday album, aptly named “Christmas in the City.”
But first, a little backstory on Pentatonix, also known as PTX. Formed in 2011 in Arlington, Texas, the group has since risen to international fame after winning season 3 (2011) of NBC’s The Sing-Off. Group members are Scott Hoying – Baritone, Kirstin Maldonado – Mezzo-soprano, Mitch Grassi – tenor, Kevin Olusola – beat box(vocals) & cello, and Matt Sallee – bass(vocals) & drums. PTX has recorded 12 studio albums, 6 Eps, 34 singles, and 58 music videos to date. The group has amassed millions of followers across various social media platforms and listeners on music streaming platforms. The quintet has earned numerous awards, including three Grammys, and even has its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!
I was familiar with PTX from hearing their music on the radio, and was looking forward to attending a PTX live show, as I had never been to one before. Fans of all ages entered the venue, anticipating the start of the concert. At about 7:35pm, the show started, and the audience cheered loudly as the group took the stage singing “Christmas In The City.” From the very beginning, my impression was “WOW,” and that feeling stayed with me throughout the entire show! The stars of the show were the group’s voices, spreading a cappella magic throughout the venue. I was also impressed with the stage set. A two-level stage with a large video wall backdrop featuring multiple “scenes” and a dazzling array of effects played throughout the show. The group played through some Christmas favorites: “Silver Bells,” “The 12 Days of Christmas,” “Little Drummer Boy,” and a terrific version of “White Winter Hymnal.”
After performing these songs, the group brought two large inflatable dice on stage for an interactive game called Ding Dong Dice. Each number on the dice represented a song title or genre, displayed on large screens on stage…