During Christmas in Germany, town squares glow with candlelight and color as bustling holiday markets fill the air with communal spirit.

Indeed, even in snow-free Southern California, ‘tis the season for music of all sorts — especially festive sounds mingling with centuries-old traditions.

On Saturday, Dec. 20, Musica Angelica will bring this kind of music to First Congregational Church of Long Beach with “A Baroque Christmas in Germany,” a program featuring the luminous sound world of 17th- and 18th-Century Germany.

Framed by candlelit architecture and period-informed performance, the evening will celebrate the season through masterworks by Bach, Handel, Telemann, and their contemporaries.

Under the direction of Maestro Martin Haselböck at the organ, the program pairs virtuosic instrumental writing with soaring vocal works.

For instance, trumpeter Josh Cohen and soprano Robin Johannsen join the artists of Musica Angelica, bringing brilliance and intimacy to music originally written for both festive courts and sacred spaces.

Highlights should include Telemann’s Trumpet Concerto — a showcase of Baroque clarity and rhythmic vitality — and selections from Handel’s “Gloria in excelsis Deo,” in which choral splendor and solo lines intertwine.

Bach (the master of this sort of music) and his radiant “Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen,” serves as a thrilling embodiment of the season’s joy.

The second half of the concert expands the holiday lens with Gregor Joseph Werner’s Il “Decèmbre, im Christmonat,” a musical calendar that paints December through a series of characterful movements, from winter imagery to reflections on the year’s end.

Handel’s beloved aria “Let the bright Seraphim” adds a ceremonial sparkle to the end of the evening.

Patrons are invited to begin the evening with a hosted pre-reception from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., featuring hors d’oeuvres and beverages, before the concert begins in the sanctuary.

With its blend of historical artistry, virtuosic performance, and seasonal warmth, “A Baroque Christmas in Germany” offers Long Beach audiences a refined way to celebrate the holidays.

For more information, head to musicaangelica.org.

Kwanzaa

The African American Cultural Center of Long Beach invites the community to an art-forward celebration of Kwanzaa with a two-day program that centers creative expression alongside tradition.

Taking place Saturday, Dec. 27 and Sunday, Dec. 28 at the Expo Arts Center, the event will blend ceremony, performance, and hands-on workshops to honor the holiday’s principles.

Saturday’s events will feature the official Kwanzaa community celebration, including a candle lighting ceremony, a tribute to ancestors, and a Karamu feast.

Music and visual art will also be included on Day 1, of course, as these are all part of Kwanzaa’s themes of unity, and collective purpose.

Then on Sunday, the celebration will shift into participatory mode with a slate of workshops designed to deepen cultural understanding through practice.

Offerings include West African drum and dance workshops, an adult paint and sip session, and a kid’s corner focused on creative play.

Head to aacclb.org for more information.

Handel’s ‘Messiah’

Handel’s “Messiah” is, indeed, a true holiday classic.

But you may have never heard this masterwork in its entirety — so now’s your chance with Long Beach Camerata Singers on Monday, Dec. 22 at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church.

Performing with the singers is the Tesserae Baroque Ensemble, an Los Angeles-based period instrument ensemble specializing in music from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

Formed in 2010, Tesserae explores some of the most beautiful, historically-informed repertoire of the Renaissance and Baroque eras.

Join Long Beach Camerata Singers, Tesserae Ensemble, and Long Beach music lovers for a powerful, joy-filled Monday evening performance packed with soaring melodies, dramatic moments, and the famous “Hallelujah” chorus.

Check out shorturl.at/bYtEA for more information and for tickets. The show will start at 7:30 p.m.