One of the best parts of the holiday season is the music, and here in Maine there are plenty of shows worth checking out — we picked more than a dozen.

And for more holiday events, including tree lightings and plays, head to pressherald.com for a full slate of festive activities.

A Swingin’ Christmas: The Holiday Music of Tony Bennett

7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 & 6. Through Dec. 21. 2 p.m. shows on Dec. 14 and 21. City Theater, 205 Main St., Biddeford, $30-$35. citytheater.org.

Swing into Biddeford during most of December, where the spirit of late crooner Tony Bennett will be alive and well. A Swingin’ Christmas will be bursting with holiday chestnuts, along with some of Bennett’s signature tunes. Singers Kristen Gilhooly, Curran Crant, Rebecca Rinaldi and Owen White will regale you with songs like “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” “The Best Is Yet to Come” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” interspersed with heartwarming holiday tunes.

Tartan Terrors Celtic Christmas

8 p.m. Dec. 5. One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland, $40 in advance, $45 at the door. onelongfellowsquare.com.

Nearly three decades ago, siblings Ian and Ellen Irmisch formed the Tartan Terrors, and audiences have been enjoying highly-spirited Celtic music shows ever since. Expect plenty of fiddles, pipes and vocals as well as step-dancing galore.

Ryanhood: A Winter’s Evening

7:30 p.m. Dec. 6. Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, 86 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor, $30. boothbayoperahouse.com.

Arizona-based duo Ryanhood is leaving their warm climate behind for a show called A Winter’s Evening in Boothbay Harbor. Ryan David Green and Cameron Hood will perform original holiday compositions, along with wintry covers and reworked classics, with holiday stories and memories in the mix.

Cyrus Chestnut Trio plays ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’

7:30 p.m. Dec. 6. Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 Washington St., Bath, $40 in advance, $45 day of show. chocolatechurcharts.org.

Jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut will be performing the always delightful “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” by Vince Guaraldi. With songs like “Linus and Lucy” and “Christmas Time Is Here,” the songs are warm blankets of nostalgia. Chestnut has a storied career as a composer and performer, and has released more than 30 albums. He’s also worked extensively as a sideman with artists like Wynton Marsalis and Berry Carter.

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ with the Heather Pierson Trio

4 and 7 p.m. Dec. 7. One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland, $40 in advance, $45 at the door. onelongfellowsquare.com.

Pianist Heather Pierson, along with a drummer and standup bassist, have been playing the whimsical and poignant music from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” for several years. These tickets fly quickly, so grab yours while you can. You can also catch the show on Dec. 11 at the Denmark Arts Center, Dec. 19 at the Waldo Theatre in Waldoboro and on the afternoon of Christmas Eve at the Gem Theater in Bethel.

Béla Fleck & The Flecktones

8 p.m. Dec. 7. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, $45-$75. statetheatreportland.com.

“Jingle All The Way” is the name of the show by jazz, bluegrass, rock and funk fusion band Béla Fleck & The Flecktones. Led by banjo master Fleck, the holiday-themed performance will also feature Victor Wooten, Roy “Future Man” Wooten and Howard Levy, along with with special guests Jeff Coffin & Alash. “Jingle All The Way” is also the name of the band’s 2008 album, home to tracks like “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Sleigh Ride” and “The Hanukkah Waltz.”

Holiday Hot Chocolate

7:30 p.m. Dec. 12. Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 Washington St., Bath, $22, free for 12 and under. chocolatechurcharts.org.

The Volunteers Jazz Band will charm you with songs like “Hot Chocolate” from “The Polar Express,” “Joy to the World,” “Santa Baby,” “Sleigh Ride” and many others. The concert is a benefit for the host venue, the Chocolate Church Arts Center.

Magic of Christmas

Dec. 12-21. Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, $28-$94. porttix.com.

Portland Symphony Orchestra’s annual Magic of Christmas performances features guest vocalist and “American Idol” alum Julia Gagnon. The shows also include the Magic of Christmas Chorus, PSO Children’s Chorus and municipal organist James Kennerley. The program consists of classic carols and modern favorites, along with some holiday humor.

The Fogcutters Superfantastic Christmas Extravaganza

8 p.m. Dec. 13. State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland, $25 in advance, $30 day of show. statetheatreportland.com.

Portland’s big band The Fogcutters has 13 horn players, a five-piece rhythm section and the stellar vocal stylings of Megan Jo Wilson and Chas Lester. The show is always an entertaining evening of original and classic holiday tunes. This year’s slate of guest vocalists is Gina Alibrio, Zach Jones, Natalie Mishell, Sara Hallie Richardson, Rachel Doe and MC11 (better known as MC St. Nick).

Aurora Camerata: Christmas by Candlelight

3 p.m. Dec. 13. Cathedral Church of St. Luke, 143 State St. Portland. 3 p.m. Dec. 14. Episcopal Church of St. Mary, Church, 43 Foreside Road, Falmouth, $40 in advance, $45 at the door. auroracamerata.org.

Aurora Camerata (formerly St. Mary Schola) presents a pair of performances with Christmas songs that span nine centuries. Both churches will be illuminated by candlelight, and you’ll hear advent chants, ancient carols and festive songs, all led by artistic director James Kennerley. Both shows will also hold community food drives.

Spose: PDANK Xmas 11

8:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Aura, 121 Center St., Portland, $40.25, all ages. auramaine.com.

Maine rapper Spose will be holding court during his annual holiday show. With a bevy of special guests and a party vibe, the 11th annual show should be pretty epic. Spose has been releasing music since 2007, with his 2010 single, “I’m Awesome,” reaching No. 37 on the Billboard Hot 100. His latest release is the 2024 album “What Could Go Wrong?”

Celtic Christmas with Còig & Screaming Orphans

7:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 Washington St., Bath, $40 in advance, $45 day of show. chocolatechurcharts.org.

Canadian ensemble Còig is teaming up with Ireland’s all-sister folk-pop group Screaming Orphans for a night of Celtic Christmas music. Còig features more than a dozen instruments and Screaming Orphans’ four-part harmonies will knock your socks off. Screaming Orphans have collaborated with huge acts, including Sinéad O’Connor and Peter Gabriel. Expect an entirely joyful night of song from both acts.

Sons of Serendip Holiday Concert

7:30 p.m. Dec. 20. Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, 86 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor, $30 in advance, $35 day of show. boothbayoperahouse.com.

Classical-crossover quartet Sons of Serendip were finalists on “America’s Got Talent,” thanks to spellbinding interpretations of pop music that infuse vocals with harp, piano and cello. Their holiday repertoire includes “Silent Night,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” and “Mary, Did You Know?” Chances are good they’ll sing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”

Sing! It’s Christmas

6 p.m. Dec. 22. Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 Washington St., Bath, free. chocolatechurcharts.org.

Three days shy of Christmas Day is when you can repair to the Chocolate Church Arts Center for a heartwarming gathering. Remember the end of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” when they all sang together? That will be you, as you belt out Christmas classics and rub elbows with fellow happy souls. Christmas sweaters are very much encouraged.