Now in its 18th season, Holiday Express is a traveling Christmas party, a from-the-heart troupe of musicians bringing music, friendship, help and hope to those too often left out in the cold at the most special time of the year. Playing far from the limelight, in sometimes desperate circumstances, and all for absolutely no pay, more than 70 of the best musicians on the Jersey Shore play more than 50 shows between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and with several dozen support staff in tow, deliver not only music, but toys, clothing, food and fun to children with cancer, people living with AIDS, the mentally ill, disadvantaged families, the isolated elderly and the desperately homeless. The annual benefit concert at the Count Basie Theatre is a significant source of support for the all-volunteer, nonprofit, nonsectarian organization, and with more than 50 musicians and singers on the stage, playing everything from "White Christmas" to "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch" (with the Grinch himself in attendance) to Chuck Berry's "Run, Run Rudolph," the annual benefit concert is an always-sold-out season tradition in itself.
