Fort Erie Ukes debut holiday concert at Crystal Ridge library branch
December 12, 2025 at 4:29 AM
The Fort Erie Ukes played their first public holiday concert Thursday night at Fort Erie Public Library’s Crystal Ridge branch. The event started at 6 p.m. and featured seasonal music, a food drive for the Salvation Army and a toy drive for the Crystal Ridge Dream Center.
Elaine Bryck, founder and leader of the Fort Erie Ukes, told Fort Erie Radio they were invited by library staff to perform the group’s first Christmas concert after years of playing mainly for themselves.
The Fort Erie Ukes first public Christmas concert, which featured both seasonal songs and familiar favourites. Credit: Andrew Hawlitzky | Fort Erie RadioThe local ukulele group formed in 2021 after Elaine Bryck learned to play the instrument and spent time performing with the larger Niagara-on-the-Lake Ukesters.
“We started on Zoom during the COVID years, and members have come and gone, but we have expanded a lot in the past five years,” said Bryck. “This is the first Christmas concert we’ve done, so it’s exciting.”
The group meets every other Thursday evening at the library branch on Ridge Road where members range from beginners to experienced players.
Donation bins at the concert were collected for the Salvation Army and Crystal Ridge Dream Center. Credit: Andrew Hawlitzky | Fort Erie Radio“Ukulele is the instrument of the people,” said Bryck. “Anyone can learn how to play it. It’s easy to play, and we have a great time.”
Above all, Bryck said what keeps members coming back every Thursday is that the group prioritizes having “fun.” The Ukes have about 200 songs in their repertoire and each meeting members are welcome to showcase any songs they’ve learned on their own.
The set list included 18 songs, with about a dozen holiday selections and a few other classics the group knows well.
Laura Galea, community services librarian with the Fort Erie Public Library who invited the Ukes to preform, told Fort Erie Radio the concert fit well with how patrons use the space.
“We were looking for an opportunity to engage our patrons,” said Galea. “We know that our patrons love concerts, and we thought it would be a great opportunity.”
Bryck hopes this performance leads to more community events in the future and welcomed the idea of making this concert an annual holiday tradition.
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About The Author
Andrew Hawlitzky
Andrew is a Niagara community journalist who has covered everything from local politics to annual festivals and breaking news. He works to make local news a platform where community voices lead the conversation. "If you don't like the news, go out and make some!"
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