A family variety show presented by Friends of Club 21 that highlights the gifts and talents of our community with Down syndrome and special abilities.

Watch the 2025 Show

Save the Date | December 5 & 6, 2026
ENT Center for the Arts | Colorado Springs, CO

Tickets to go on sale this summer!

Sponsor the 2026 Show

Thank you to our 2025 Show Sponors

Our sold out shows were incredible! Thank you for helping us make this season’s show a reality through your generous support and partnership!

Valley of Hope
~

High Valley Park Neighborhood Giving Circle

FNB_Master_3435_378-2022 Update- two color (3)

In-Kind Sponsors

Adventures Out West, Chick-fil-A, Cole Market, Crumbl Cookie, Global Technology Group Inc., Holly Jolly Christmas Trees, Loyal Coffee, Phelan Gardens, Rick’s Garden Center & Nursery, RM Soap Market, SKO Coffee, Song of Joy Carolers, Tri-Lakes Printing

About the Show

Christmas This Year is about bringing beauty from the sidelines to the spotlight.

A Colorado Springs-based family variety show, Christmas This Year lets the happiest people on earth lead us in the happiest season of all!

Passionate performances, stunning stories of hardship and triumph, dance, music and celebration — these are building blocks of what make this show a new tradition for our community and yours.

You won’t want to miss this annual tradition both in-person and livestream.

Watch Past Shows

Get Involved

There are a variety of ways you can get involved in the Christmas This Year show and join us in celebrating our community with Down syndrome and special needs.

Buy Tickets

All the proceeds from Christmas This Year ticket sales go to help Friends of Club 21 raise awareness of Down syndrome and special needs.

Get Tickets

Share on Social

Many people hear about the show through word of mouth. Help us spread the word about Colorado Springs' best annual holiday tradition!

Watch Past Shows

In 2019 we started recording our shows and live-streaming them around the country. Watch the 2021 show in it's entirety.

Watch Past Shows

Give Us A Review

If you've seen the show, we'd love to know what you thought! Send us your review. We'd also love your feedback, suggestions or questions.

Join our Email List

Join Our List

Donate

Donate to support the Down syndrome community. Your yes helps us offer meaningful resources and programs, and create more inclusive spaces where every voice matters and every gift is celebrated.

Donate Now

How It Began

A small school in Pretoria, South Africa started by a mother who wanted suitable education for her son began to shine a light on the possibilities for children with Down syndrome.

In a country that offers no special education in their public schools, Izelle Els founded Club 21 School in 2012 to bring support and education to her son and others living with special abilities. Today with four campuses throughout South Africa, Club 21 School is thriving and inspiring us to reimagine how our friends with special abilities can play a critical role in our communities.

In the spring of 2015, Jared Anderson went with a small team to visit South Africa and Club 21 School at the request of Tim Middlebrook, founder of Friends of Club 21 based in Colorado Springs. The students at the school had learned a few of his original songs, and they performed together at a theater to benefit the community around Club 21 School.

This profound experience inspired the team to question, “What could we do to help people understand our beautiful people with special abilities right here in Colorado Springs?”

Christmas This Year started in 2015 with a handful of performers in a small auditorium and has grown each year.

Get in on this goodness! Join us for these amazing performances in-person or online. Take your place in the story and discover what gifts might be waiting for you this holiday season.

Get Tickets

We’re proud to give this gift to our city. Our friends with Down syndrome and special abilities are worthy of our support, and engagement, and celebration.

A family variety show presented by Friends of Club 21 that highlights the gifts and talents of our community with Down syndrome and special abilities.

Thank you to our 2025 Show Sponors

Valley of Hope ~

In-Kind Sponsors

About the Show

Christmas This Year is about bringing beauty from the sidelines to the spotlight.

Get Involved

Buy Tickets

Share on Social

Watch Past Shows

Give Us A Review

Join our Email List

Donate

How It Began

A small school in Pretoria, South Africa started by a mother who wanted suitable education for her son began to shine a light on the possibilities for children with Down syndrome.

We’re proud to give this gift to our city. Our friends with Down syndrome and special abilities are worthy of our support, and engagement, and celebration.

Jared Anderson

Valley of Hope
~