CARTHAGE — New England Celtic Arts will present the Barra MacNeil family’s “Cape Breton Christmas” at Unity College Center for the Performing Arts in Unity on Saturday, Dec. 3, and at Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Dec. 4.

Good fellowship is the tone for concert celebrating the joys and peace of Christmas.

“Once in Royal David’s City” and “O’ Holy Night” will be presented as well as jolly and spirited tunes, hymns and songs, including a Galician carol and a fiddle party in Washabuck, the MacNeil’s parent’s home place.

As a group, the six MacNeil siblings are regarded as one of the greatest live concert acts in the Celtic world. Hailing from Nova Scotia, the family is deeply rooted in Celtic music, culture, dance, language and history.

In 2007-2008, the Barra MacNeils celebrated a 20-plus recording and touring career. This was accented with a two-CD 20th anniversary package featuring live concerts and tracing the group’s musical career, from humble beginnings to worldwide acclaim. A tour in support of that project took the group across Canada and the United States as well as in Ireland and Scotland.

Last year, the group released two live CDs, “In Concert” and “In Session,” featuring instrumental and vocal material the group performs at concerts and lesser-known material from its more informal musical gatherings.

The Barra MacNeils continue to perform to sold-out audiences and headline major festivals. The family’s one-hour Christmas television special (2000) continues to be broadcast on Country Music Television and Public Broadcasting Services.

Curtain is 7:30 p.m. at Unity, 7 p.m. at Skye. There will be jam sessions one hour prior to show. Skye is at 2 Highland Drive off Winter Hill Road and U.S. Route 2. UCCPA is at 42 Depot St., Unity. Ticket are $25 for adults, $12.50 for children 15 and younger at the door. For reservations, call Skye at 562-4445 or UCCPA at 948-7469.

The Barra MacNeil family will bring a “Cape Breton Christmas” to Unity College Center for the Performing Arts in Unity and Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center in Carthage on Dec. 3-4, respectively.