Albs return for yearly holiday concert

• Albs return

Albs and friends (from left) Arlen Foss, Ron Vogel, Louise Wickstrom and Galen Benton take time out for a photo during a rehearsal Thursday night at the First United Methodist Church in Worthington.

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WORTHINGTON — A core area of Worthington will bustle with holiday activities on Sunday afternoon.

The Albs and Friends will present two fundraising concerts for the Worthington Christmas Basket Program; the Nobles County Art Center will open its annual holiday exhibit; the Historic Dayton House will host a holiday open house; and First Lutheran Church will offer two seatings for its annual Lutfisk and Meatball Dinner.

All these activities take place within about a three-square-block area in downtown Worthington.

It’s the 13th annual concert for the Albs and Friends, according to founding member Arlen Foss. Joining Foss on vocals will be Kris Besel, while Louise Wickstrom handles the keyboards, Galen Benton strums the bass and Steve Lynn adds rhythm on the drums.

“The theme is ‘Real Christmas Words,’” explained Foss about how the concert will focus on the “real” meaning of Christmas. “The idea is there are lots of Christmas words, but among all those there are some real ones, like angels, shepherds, Bethlehem. We’re going to concentrate on those with the music.”

Master of ceremonies for the concert will be American Reformed pastor Irwin Van Leeuwen. The Albs will be joined by a number of musical friends, including the Worthington Middle School and High School orchestras, Worthington Brass, students from the Dance Academy, a men’s quartet and other vocalists.

“Eric Parrish, from the college, is going to sing ‘Old Man River,’ but with new words, ‘Old Man Winter,’” hinted Foss about one of the program highlights. “There will also be some comedy. We’re going to take an honest look at the perils of lutefisk.”

ALB was originally an acronym for the group’s founding members: Arlen Foss, Louise Wickstrom and Bill Blundell.

“We go back to 22 years ago. Somebody asked if we do a program for PEO or something,” Foss explained. “Our biggest gig ever was at Jackpot Junction casino for about 1,000 people. We went up there and did our ‘Emotions of Music’ program.”

Eventually, the Albs hit on the idea of using their musical talents to raise money for the local Christmas Basket Program, averaging about $2,500 a year, which goes toward purchasing items to give less-fortunate people a more joyous Christmas.

“We started at American Lutheran, and the first year we did it, we had 850 people there,” recalled Foss, who at the time was a pastor at American Lutheran Church along with Blundell. “People were driving around and leaving because they couldn’t find a place to park. The next year we went to two shows at American Lutheran. When I retired, we moved it to the Methodist church.”

Albs personnel have come and gone over the years, but the spirit of the concert has remained the same.

“It’s more than just a show,” Foss said. “It’s a variety show; it’s a variety service. You can’t come away from this without the real spirit of Christmas, feeling like you’re ready to celebrate Christmas in a meaningful way.”

The concerts will be at 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday, with a time of fellowship following the second show, at First United Methodist Church, 408 11th St., Worthington.

Before the first concert gets under way, another event will already have taken place just a few blocks away, at the Historic Dayton House, 1311 Fourth Avenue. The historic site — once home to the founder of the Dayton and Target store empires — will have its holiday open house from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

“The board members will be on hand, if people want to ask questions,” explained Becky Schilling, Dayton House manager. “It’s just a time for people to come in and see what all these volunteers have done to decorate the house. People can come in and see how beautiful it is.”

Coffee and cider will be served; free-will donations will be accepted.

Other Sunday afternoon holiday events include the Lutfisk and Meatball Dinner, with seatings at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, 1200 Fourth Ave.; and the Holiday Exhibit opening reception from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Nobles County Art Center, 407 12th St.

Tags: news, worthington, holiday, music, arts