The Wizards of Winter occupy a specific corner of the holiday entertainment calendar: Christmas rock opera, performed by musicians who have spent serious time in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra circuit and know what theatrical scale demands. The ensemble launched in 2010 as a project by husband-and-wife duo Scott Kelly (keyboards) and Sharon Kelly (lead vocals and flute), originally organized around supporting their local food pantry. What they built has since grown into a nationally touring 11-member production, its roster drawn from veterans of TSO, Rainbow, Alice Cooper, Trixter, and Def Leppard, designed to fill a room rather than settle into the background.
About the Show
The December 4 performance presents The Christmas Dream, the band’s holiday rock opera, drawing from three recordings (The Christmas Dream, the self-titled Wizards of Winter, and The Magic of Winter) and building them into a theatrical narrative about the meaning of Christmas. The ensemble delivers violin, soaring harmonies, guitar leads from Steve Brown (Trixter, Def Leppard), powerful percussion, and the narration of Tony Gaynor (Trans-Siberian Orchestra). Reviewer Marie Gilbert once described the experience as “Think THE WHO meets The Nutcracker with a Pink Floyd light show” — a line that is easier to believe once you’ve looked at the lineup. The Salamanca date is one of six stops on this year’s national tour, stretching through Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky.
The band’s national profile has grown steadily. A PBS special began airing in November 2024 through Song of the Mountains and has since reached multiple PBS stations nationwide. Their live double album, Wizards of Winter Live Volume 1 & Volume 2, documented their 2023 tour with no studio overlay; co-founder Scott Kelly described it as containing “no overlaid, prerecorded tracks.” Their song “Christmas Dream” has crossed a million streams on Pandora. The band also maintains charitable partnerships with Tunnels to Towers, which provides housing for veterans and first responders, and Backpack Friends, a nutrition assistance program for children.
Venue & Logistics
The show takes place at the Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino Event Center in Salamanca, in western New York. Show time is 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4.
Tickets
Tickets start at $25, per the Seneca Allegany venue listing. On sale August 21, 2026, through Ticketmaster or at The Logo Shop at the resort. Social Club members are eligible for preferred seating and special offers. Buy tickets