MYRTLE BEACH (WBTW) – The Carolina Opry Christmas Special, “The Christmas Show of the South,” presents its 31st season of awe-inspiring holiday performances!

Owner, producer, and entertainer Calvin Gilmore, works for months to create an unforgettable holiday experience, with his usual signature flair for production. As always, the 2016 Christmas show will bring stunning changes, beautifully blended with time-honored tradition to create a family experience that is second to none. New talent will mingle with acclaimed rotating artists and long-standing Opry favorites. In addition to a holiday brass section, there are always a few new vocalists in store.

“All That,” stars of NBC’s America’s Got Talent, will offer all-new dance material to heat up a cold winter evening—and some big

surprises. All of these are joined by an award-winning cast of over 35 including Calvin Gilmore, Rita Gumm, Christie Templeton, Brad Long, Tangena Church, Kym “Bogie” Shurbutt, Eric Gumm, Gary Baker, Trent Wideman, Gary Brown, Martha Brown, Kevin Hughes, Jeff Simmons, Kevin White, Steve Wilkerson, The Carolina Opry Dancers—and a real horse-drawn sleigh and real snow!

Deck the halls

The holiday decorations at The Calvin Gilmore Theater are an attraction in themselves—second to none. When you enter the theater, you enter the embodied spirit of Christmas. In a dramatic one-week shut-down, the transformation into a winter wonderland begins as the crew spends all night and the entire following week preparing over 35 Christmas trees, (including a 30 foot lobby tree with 25,000 lights,) 75 wreaths, over 5 miles of tree lighting wire, countless tree ornaments, and mounds of Christmas snow!

Award winning producer, director and performer Calvin Gilmore said recently, “Right now, families and groups need light-hearted entertainment more than ever before. We are pulling out all the stops to make this the most amazing, funny, warm and wonderful show ever.” He adds, “Wait until you hear our show-stopper. Not even going to give you a hint of what it is.”

The Carolina Opry is touted as “the real thing.” Real talent, real production values, real entertainment—the “Top attraction in Myrtle Beach” according to CNBC, and a holiday tradition for over twenty-six years, The Carolina Opry Christmas Special brings the warm, wonderful, and fun spirit of Christmas to life with music, comedy and dance.

Shows run November 1, 2016 through January 1, 2017, with regular evening performances and selectively scheduled matinees. For a full schedule or to book tickets, visit thecarolinaopry.com or call 800-843-6779.

Information provided by thecarolinaopry.com.