Knoxville520.com

When you think of Preservation Pub on Market Square, you probably don’t immediately think of raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens (okay, maybe brown paper packages tied up with string), but all that’s going to change on Friday, December 22nd.

At the stroke of 10:00 p.m., Preservation Pub will time warp back to a fantasy Christmas radio broadcast of yore. Actor and bon vivant Dennis Bussell, that shameless scene-stealer from Roane State Community College’s Halloween production of The Rocky Horror Show, will be our Yuletide host as he reads from traditional and modern holiday fare, performs commercials, and introduces us to a torch singer in a splendid gown and tuxedo clad musicians performing Christmas music. (I am not hallucinating. This is really going to happen!)

Dennis’s first musical guests will be Christabel & the Jons who will perform an all Christmas music set, including the classics as “Santa Baby” and “My Favorite Things.” Special guest Valerie Sanders will join the band with her seasoned and beautiful rich tones on clarinet and flute. After a naughty but nice intermission, Tommy Bateman & Thunder Thieves (yes, also in tuxedos) will continue the merriment with their Christmas music set. (No, I haven’t been dipping into the eggnog. Yet.)

Arrive early and partake of ice skating and funnel cakes on Market Square and then enter this seasonal twilight zone for a one-of-a-kind holiday extravaganza. And, fasten your seat belts…it’s going to be a bumpy sleigh ride!