The Celtic folk band The Chivalrous Crickets will host its second annual “Twelfth Night: An Olde World Celtic Christmas Revel,” 6:30 p.m. Jan. 6, 2024, at Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St., Bethlehem.

“If there ever was a town in which to extend the Yuletide season by two more weeks, and to recreate a historic Twelfth Night celebration centered on the English and Celtic carols and tunes at the heart of America’s traditional Christmas repertoire, it’s this town,” said Bethlehem native Fiona Gillespie, co-founder and manager of The Chivalrous Crickets. “We hope to make this a staple of Bethlehem’s holiday offerings going forward and to partner with local businesses and organizations to grow this into a mini-festival of sorts, falling each year on the weekend dates closest to Twelfth Night.”

The performance is a recreation of historic Twelfth Night traditions, such as mumming, wassailing and crowning a Lord of Misrule, from England, Celtic nations and Appalachia when Jan. 6 (Epiphany/Twelfth Night) was the biggest culmination of the 12-daylong Christmas holiday. The evening includes music performances, caroling, group dancing, games for all ages, cider, sweets, cheeses, greenery and storytelling all rolled into one, creating an event to cap off the Christmas season in high style and revelry. Participation and wild dress are encouraged.

At intermission, local trivia veteran Steven Bost will host a trivia game for a chance to win prizes. After the performance, there will be a 20-minute ceilidh dance session and singing in the New Year. Attendees are welcome to stay.

The Chivalrous Crickets was formed in 2018 by Bethlehem native sisters Fiona and Genevieve Gillespie, daughters of Tom and Alison Gillespie from the Lehigh Valley Celtic band Blackwater. Band members of The Chivalrous Crickets include Genevieve Gillespie (fiddle and vocals); Genevieve Gillespie’s husband, Bradley King (cello, bass and vocals); Fiona Gillespie (vocals, flutes and percussion); Fiona Gillespie’s partner, Paul Morton (plucked instruments); and longtime friend Ben Matus (pipes, winds and vocals). Joining them for their Twelfth Night show will be New York City-based musical polymath Spiff Wiegand on a plethora of instruments and vocals.

“Bethlehem’s combined love of Christmas, history, Celtic music and hosting festivals makes it the perfect home for an annual Twelfth Night observance, with the Ice House, located in the heart of the historic district, as the uniquely perfect venue,” Fiona Gillespie said. “The historic building’s large, open theater makes it ideally suited to an audience-involved event. Doug Roydson’s (curator of Ice House Tonight) work to facilitate the Ice House as a place for community artists to make their own is critical to our ability to put on this show.”

The evening kicks off 6:30 p.m. for cider, treats and seating, with the show beginning 7 p.m. There is a cost.

For further information, tickets and a YouTube video of the show trailer, visit the band’s website at chivalrouscrickets.com/twelfth-night.html.