In a flourish of light and music, Sacramento entertainer Peter Petty revealed himself from under a red coat and snowy beard. Smiles and chuckles scattered throughout the crowd as this former Kris Kringle discarded his outfit piece by piece until he stood panting center stage, clad only in shiny Santa boots and a sparkly pair of black booty shorts. Exhausted from an evening of dancing, comedy and song that December evening in 2021, Petty tore off his toupee and threw it out of sight, embodying the ages-old mantra: Leave it all on stage.

For the savvy audiences who seek him out, Petty is a gift that keeps on giving. For a nominal fee, the man has offered a unique holiday show every December for the last eight years. On Dec. 21, Petty returns to The Sofia for the ninth-annual Hepcat’s Holla’ Daze Swinging Yuletide Revue, with tickets available through B Street Theatre’s website and box office.

“Day of show, it’s crazy, and I don’t have a second to spare,” Petty says about mounting the show. “It’s my holiday greeting to Sacramento, and I just always feel so genuinely swept up in the enthusiasm of the holidays. I genuinely love it. It is not a chore. It is coming together with people and celebrating.”

For those who’ve had the opportunity to be serenaded and entertained by the holiday antics of Petty and friends — some of Sacramento’s brightest shining stars — 2024’s celebration promises some returning favorites.

Among the cast of recurring performers is award-winning blues phenom Katie Knipp, whose album “Me” hit #5 on Billboard’s Blues Album’s charts following its June release. Burlesque wildcard Mone’t Ha-Sidi, whose 2021 inclusion in Petty’s holiday spectacle featured a wildly humorous and amorous homage to Dr. Seuss’ holiday classic character, the Grinch, is slotted to return as well.

Singer and Rogue Music Project founder Omari Tau is set to join Petty on stage. Tau’s been a part of a few of the Hepcat Holidaze shows, dating back to Petty’s fourth holiday show at the Elk Tower Ballroom in 2018.

“It’s going to be wild and all over the place,” Tau says. “It really is kind of a reunion of sorts, because I don’t see many of these performers … anywhere outside of this. Peter pulls them together from all over.”

This year’s show will take place at The Sofia in Midtown. While Petty has performed at various venues throughout Sacramento, he has a special fondness for the space. “It’s a great spot for the show. The energy of the crowd is fantastic, and the space just works so well for what we’re doing,” Petty remarks.

Tau says Petty’s audience banter is always entertaining and that every year brings something new, whether planned or not. That’s part of the fun.

“I love the planned, chaotic unpredictability of it all,” Tau says. “My favorite thing is waiting to see what’s going to fall, what’s going to explode, what’s going to be improvised, what’s going to be added. It’s just always hilarious. … We just make it happen, and we just laugh our way through it and have a great time with the surprises at every turn.”

Petty’s son Simon often pitches in during the night’s festivities. Most notably, the younger Petty winds up hidden behind a rubber mask like an asino — an Italian Christmas donkey, that is. Peter Petty assures audiences of the upcoming show that, yes, Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey will make an appearance for a song and dance this year, even though previous attempts have left Simon exhausted and panting from beneath his concealment.

“Apparently you can’t breathe worth nothin’ in that thing,” Peter Petty says of the mask. “Oh no, he will be there. I’m thinking there might be a little more for Dominick to do. You know, you gotta put a new stitch in that gown each time.”

But Petty’s big holiday show isn’t all that Sacramento has in store for those seeking entertainment as the year draws to a close. The Sacramento Ballet has their annual performance of “The Nutcracker” planned for Dec. 13-22 at the Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center, with two shows on select dates. The day after Petty’s Dec. 21 event, The Pharcyde will be playing at Harlow’s. Fans of “The Polar Express” can visit the train in Old Sacramento and take a ride on the famed trolley through Dec. 22.

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