Enjoy your Thanksgiving feasting with family and friends because the holiday season officially kicks off tomorrow. For many people this is their favorite time of year, and if you count yourself in that category you will have plenty to enjoy in the weeks ahead.

For starters, there’s Moonlight Magic in Shelburne Falls this Friday, and Jingle Fest kicks off in Greenfield on Dec. 6. Welcome Yule will be at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls beginning on Dec. 13, the Franklin County Community Chorus Winter concert will take place in Greenfield on Dec. 8, and Zara Bode’s Too Much Trouble for Christmas Show is on Dec. 20 in Brattleboro and Dec. 22 in Northampton. And those are just a few of the many events you can enjoy.

But for some people holiday season is a stressful time, and some could do without Santa, snowmen, and all the shopping. If you feel ho-hum about all the ho-ho-ho, believe it or not, there is a show for you.

An “anti-holiday spectacular” will be hosted by singer-songwriter Erin McKeown of Northampton on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Iron Horse in Northampton – so get ready for a night of laughter and music. This show, hosted by the irreverent McKeown, is a fun-filled night that will appeal to the Grinch in everyone. McKeown sums it up best, describing the show as being “filled with profanity, irreverence and just plain bad behavior. ‘F that!’ is the antidote to all that annoying holiday spirit.”

McKeown will be joined at this show by some special friends and a crowd-sourced cranky chorus.

The show will feature material from McKeown’s two anti-holiday albums “F That!” released in 2011 and the newly released EP “FU Too!” – these titles basically summing up McKeown’s feelings about the holiday season.

The first album features songs about tense family gatherings, mass consumerism and false holiday cheer. The eight songs on the new EP carry on the tradition with songs like “The 12 Crisis of Christmas” which relates a Christmas morning disaster that includes a fire in the Christmas tree, seven puppies eating chocolate, and six partners fighting.

Then there is “The Candle Song,” about finding an old candle in your closet to gift an unexpected guest – and we can’t forget “Kamala Ye Faithful” written in support of the recent presidential campaign of Kamala Harris. I should note that there are “clean” and “dirty” versions of each song.

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Whatever inspired McKeown to write an anti-holiday album to begin with?

“The valley-based theatre troupe, the August Company, was putting on an original Christmas play (‘Santacide’), and they asked me to write a few naughty Christmas carols for intermission,” explained McKeown. “Once I wrote a couple, I couldn’t stop and I quickly made ‘F That!’ during this time.”

McKeown added that the songs were initially motivated by a kind of adolescent and sophomoric anger based on childhood experiences. But McKeown felt that the songs also tapped into the feelings of loneliness and isolation so many others feel at this time of year.

“Like a lot of people, I also found myself frustrated at the rampant consumption around the holidays. I wanted to expand the list of folks that felt welcome around the holidays,” McKeown said. “These days, I am more ‘integrated,’ as they say in therapy. But I do think people need to have a laugh, even a dark laugh, at this time of year. There’s a lot of pressure for families, celebrations, and children to be perfect – and they rarely are.”

The last performance of the exclusive anti-holiday shows occurred in 2013, but given the current state of the world, it seemed like the perfect time to revive it. So, dress up in your ugliest Christmas outfit, be ready to sing along, and bring your sense of humor! But don’t bring the kids – this show is not intended for the young ones.

Tickets are $24 and available at ironhorse.org

The House Theater at the Tree House Brewing Company in South Deerfield only has 200 seats, so the shows are inclined to sell out quickly. But there a a few shows coming up soon where a few tickets remain. On Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 8 p.m., Patterson Hood, the lead singer and co-founder of the Southern Rock band the Drive-By Truckers, will play a solo show at the theater. Hood will release his first solo album in “Exploding Trees and Airplane Screams” on Friday, Feb. 21. This show is one of two New England dates he has scheduled during this brief tour.

A handful of tickets also remain for rhythm and blues musician Son Little’s show at the theater on Thursday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m. Little is touring to support his latest album “Like Neptune.”

Tickets for Tree House shows are available at treehousebrew.com/live-music-and-events.

As you start your holiday shopping, remember that concert tickets are not just great gifts, but provide a memorable experience for the music lover on your list.

Last week we mentioned that the Green River Festival had announced part of their lineup, including headliners Mt. Joy, Courtney Barnett, and Waxahatchee. A weekend pass would make a great gift, and you can purchase one at greenriverfestival.com.

Also last week, Signature Sounds announced that the Back Porch Music Festival has been scheduled for March 7 through 9 in various venues throughout Northampton. The festival’s headlining shows will occur at the Academy of Music in Northampton in the evening and on Friday, March 7, they will present one of their Back Porch songwriter nights with an all-star tribute to Neil Young. On Saturday, March 8, it’s a Bluegrass Spectacular with The Travelin’ McCourys, the Sam Grisman Project, and East Nash Grass. On Sunday, March 9, it’s the great Lucinda Williams.

VIP passes for the festival, as well as general admission tickets for the Academy of Music shows, are on sale now.

In addition, attendees can purchase a Ramble Pass that provides admission to over 60 bands at ten different Northampton venues. Those performances and venues have yet to be announced, but the Ramble Passes go on sale on Dec. 4.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit backporchfest.com.

The StrangeCreekCampout that takes place every year at Camp Keewanee in Greenfield announced that it will be held on May 23 through 26, 2025. Tickets and lineups are unavailable as of this writing, so follow the Wormtown Trading Company Facebook page for updates.

The Shea Theater in Turners Falls announced a couple of shows for 2025. Singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega will be there on March 7, and Jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux on May 18. Tickets are available at sheatheater.org.

Sheryl Hunter is a freelance writer who resides in Easthampton. Her work has appeared in various regional and national publications. She can be reached at Soundslocal@yahoo.com.