Tubas are big instruments, so it's only fitting that TubaChristmas needs a big venue.
The holiday brass concert moves from the Eastwood Mall to the Eastwood Expo Center for its 14th local edition.
Coordinator Teresa Kirkland said, "The event grew so much last year, we've kind of outgrown the mall. We're pretty excited to be able to expand and go over there."
After attracting about 100 tuba and euphonium players in its first decade or so, participation swelled to more than 130 players last year. Attendance also has increased, with nearly 2,000 people listening to last year's performance.
"I switched the date from Thanksgiving weekend to the first weekend in December, and that seemed to work out better for everyone," Kirkland said. "We've also been using social media, which as really helped the event grow too."
Niles TubaChristmas also made the switch from two hour-long performances to one 90-minute concert in 2010.
While this is the 14th annual concert in Niles, TubaChristmas is celebrating its 38th anniversary since Harvey Phillips staged the first event in 1974 to honor his teacher, the late William J. Bell, who was born on Christmas day in 1902. Since that concert at the ice rink at New York's Rockefeller Center, musicians have gathered to play Christmas carols arranged to spotlight the tuba and euphonium, instruments that traditionally stay in the background while trumpets, flutes and clarinets carry the melody in most concert band arrangements.
TubaChristmas now is a tradition in more than 250 cities, and the concerts attract musicians from age 8 to 90+.
Wesley O'Connor will conduct the local concert for the eighth time.
The concert starts at noon Saturday at Eastwood Expo Center, 5555 Youngstown-Warren Road, Niles. Admission is free.
For musicians interested in participating, the cost is $5, and registration starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at the expo center. The musicians will rehearse from 10 to 11 a.m. before the concert at noon. Breakfast for the musicians is provided by Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks.
Other sponsors for the event are Trumbull County Tourism Bureau, Eastwood Expo Center, Harvey Phillips Foundation and the Eastwood Mall.