FRANKLIN—An estimated 450 people attended the U.S. Air Force Heritage Concert Band’s appearance Thursday evening in Franklin High School’s 500-seat auditorium.

The free event, sponsored by The Tidewater News, featured a variety of music for the season.

The theme was “Let It Shine,” and Capt. Mike Hoerber, the newly arrived commander for the band, led the ensemble in a variety of music ranging from Stephen Melillo’s “Festival of Light,” which celebrates Hanukkah,” to a gospel style, “This Little Light of Mine.”

The Blue Aces, a rock band within the group, performed “I’ll be Home for Christmas.”

Daniel Omer, who plays the French trombone, arranged “Stille, Stille, Stille,” as photos of servicemen and women overseas were shown.

Children in the audience were invited to hear one of Santa’s elves read a version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

After which, Jaden Temple and Alex Russell joined in performing Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.”

As Temple would shake the sleigh bells, Russell cracked two joined pieces of wood to make a whip sound.

The evening ended with an audience sing-along of popular Christmas carols.