The Christmas Cavalcade Benefits For the Homeless has been a tradition for over a decade, raising a good deal of money over the years for the Noah Shelter for the Homeless and its parent organization, The Housing Assistance Corporation of Cape Cod, and giving some of the bay state's best musicians a chance to get together and do seasonal songs that either aren't in their repertoire at all or only appear for a few weeks annually. They are hosted by Cape Cod icon Chandler Travis.

They're real community bashes, family affairs where it's not unusual to see performers playing with their kids, as Steve Shook did with his daughter Liz when she was growing up, and as Sarah Swain will once again this year with her daughters Lucy and Jesse (whose Cavalcade careers started a couple of years ago, at the ripe old ages of 4 and 5.) At the other end of the age spectrum for a few years was Rock King, who was 86 last time we looked, all mixed in with some heavy duty pros like Livingston Taylor and Patty Larkin.

This year's Cavalcade features: The Chandler Travis Philharmonic WOMR's Lady Di Kami Lyle Monica Rizzio Toast and Jam Stephen Russell Fred Fried Tad & Kate from Sidewalk Driver The Spampinato Brothers Christine Ernst Sarah Burrill Jo Brisbane Crabgrass The Rip-it-Ups> Tripping Lily Diana Anderson & The Daughters of Moonlight Belly Dance Troupe Clã da Bossa Nova The Catbirds Sensible Shoes The Ding Donnelly and Danny Devereaux Show The Athol Thingerth and a cast of zillions!

All proceeds go to the The Housing Assistance Corporation of Cape Cod