Holiday Pops in the Heartland

The Illinois Symphony Orchestra has made the decision to cancel our Holiday Pops in the Heartland concert at 7:30 PM on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at the ISU Center for the Performing Arts due to the inclement weather.

For tonight’s ticket performance, you may do one of the following:

• Exchange your ticket. You may exchange your ticket(s) for our Holiday Pops in the Heartland concert at 7:30 PM on Sunday, December 14, 2025 at the Illinois State Library in Springfield, IL. You may also exchange your ticket for a future performance this season
• Donate your ticket(s). Your tax-deductible donation today means that the next time you join us for a concert or event, the orchestra will be here to share the joy of live music with you. You can contact the ISU Center for the Performing Arts Ticket Office at (309) 438-2535 to donate your ticket fee. Please contact them by Friday, December 19, 2025.

For other options and questions, please feel free to contact the ISU Center for the Performing Arts Ticket Office at (309) 438-2535.

Get ready to deck the halls with music and merriment! We invite you to experience Holiday Pops in the Heartland, the region’s most joyful holiday tradition. This festive celebration fills the halls with sparkling melodies, heartwarming classics, and plenty of holiday cheer—a perfect way to make your season bright.

Adding brilliance to the evening, internationally acclaimed soprano Mikaela Bennett will captivate audiences with her luminous voice, performing beloved holiday favorites and stepping into the role of storyteller as she narrates the charming and whimsical tale Another Night Before Christmas. Her artistry promises to make this an unforgettable centerpiece of the celebration.

This year’s program celebrates community spirit! The Bloomington-Normal Youth Symphony joins forces with the ISO for an exhilarating side-by-side performance, blending youthful energy with orchestral brilliance. Adding a dash of fun, Tom Carroll, the winner of the Celebrity Conductor Challenge will take the podium to lead Leroy Anderson’s iconic Sleigh Ride—a beloved holiday classic guaranteed to bring smiles and cheers.

Holiday Pops in the Heartland is more than a concert—it’s a sparkling celebration for all ages. Come for the music—stay for the magic. Bring the kids, invite the grandparents, and share in a tradition that will warm your heart and lift your spirits. Make this the highlight of your holiday season!

Taichi Fukumura, Music Director | Mikaela Bennett, Soprano
Bloomington-Normal Youth Symphony - Bloomington-Normal Performance Only

Listen LIVE! Engage Your Mind.

Tickets:  $70 / $50 / $30 *
Students:  $10 *
* Not inclusive of online ticketing fees.

Important Parking Information:

Construction Project
The Center for the Performing Arts and other Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts buildings are beginning a multi-year construction project that will affect the parking and walking path for patrons attending our events. Free event parking is still available for our Illinois Symphony Orchestra events during this construction; however, it is in a different garage than previous performances. 

Free event parking is available in the South University Parking Deck (450 S University St, Normal, IL 61761). All traffic should enter the garage at the north entrance (look for the FINE ARTS PARKING sign).

• Those needing accessible parking spaces, use the far-right lane (VISITOR PARKING), and follow the drive around to the East end of the Garage. There are 6 accessible parking locations, and this is the exit closest to the Center for the Performing Arts.
• All other traffic, use the lane second (Permit Parking) from the right to enter the garage. Parking is available anywhere not marked by blue signage (top floor). 

After exiting the garage to the North, follow the sidewalk East to go towards the quad and the Center for the Performing Arts. See the map below for reference.

Accessibility Drop-Off
Unfortunately, due to the construction, there is no longer a location to drop off patrons before parking. Both the entrances to Centennial East and the Center for the Performing Arts are accessible, but there is not a location for vehicle drop off. 

Food Drive – School Street Food Pantry
Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts will once again partner with the School Street Food Pantry (SSFP) in an effort to support the needs of currently enrolled college and trade school students in the Bloomington-Normal area who are experiencing food insecurity. There will be drop-off locations in the CPA Lobby during all performances for those that wish to bring donations for this wonderful organization.  

What to donate:  Non-perishable food items such as pasta, grains, canned goods, dried goods, sweeteners, nuts, seeds, spices, oils, and personal care items.

Ticket Office Hours:  The CPA Box Office will be open 2 hours prior to the performance (5:30 p.m.) and close 30 minutes after the performance begins (8:00 p.m.). 

If there are any questions or issues regarding parking, please contact ISU Center for the Performing Arts Box Office at (309) 438-2535.