The Cape Cod Christmas CavalcadCape Cod Christmas Cavalcade is in its 17th year, according to founder Chandler Travis. But this time around, things will be a bit different.

It will consist of “vintage clips from Cavalcades past,” plus some new material, split into two one-hour shows hosted by Ding Donnelly and Danny Devereaux, on Thursday, December 17th and Sunday, December 20th at 7 p.m. Watch it at chandlertravis.com for free, but donations to the Housing Assistance Corp. of Cape Cod are strongly encouraged.

Performers include the Chandler Travis Philharmonic, Zoë Lewis, Suede, Toast & Jam, Fred Fried, the Spampinato Brothers Band, Trevor the Juggler, the Ticks, the Rip It Ups, Scream Along With Billy, the Catbirds, and others.

“I’m one of those weirdos with a thing for Christmas music,” says Travis. Every year, the Cavalcade is a chance to do something for others, though “usually, of course, I’m completely against it,” he adds, tongue in cheek. “There are things I sort of theoretically wanted to avoid — mainly, the solo, lonely folk singer in his living room, or the 12 people on headphones in little boxes in different rooms.” And don’t expect holiday jingles about toilet paper. “Basically, the less I hear about Covid, the better.”

To those wondering why it’s called a “cavalcade,” Travis says, “Why not? You’ve got to call it something.” —Saskia Maxwell Keller