We all know Christmas is for kids-and the kid in all of us.

And we also suspect that it would not really be Christmas in Highline without the annual ChoralSounds Northwest holiday concert.

This year, young people from KidSounds Northwest are joining with 65 ChoralSounds members to present "Christmas is for Children" Friday, Dec. 14, through Sunday, Dec. 16, at the Highline Performing Arts Center, 401 S. 152nd Street in Burien.

Tim Root is the new conductor for the holiday event. He has been music director for local youth theater group The Hi-liners, and served six years as music director at John Knox Presbyterian Church in Normandy Park.

Currently, Root teaches at an Auburn elementary school and directs music for Oberlin Congregational Church in Steilacoom.

The Christmas concert is an audition for Root as ChoralSounds seeks a permanent conductor to replace founder Mark Adrian. Adrian resigned as director in 2006 but still conducts the Cantare Vocal Ensemble.

Finalists for the ChoralSounds post are David Spring, who conducted the group's last two Burien performances, James Hing, who will lead this spring's concert, and Root.

Regardless of who leads the chorus, a ChoralSounds performance always provides an entertaining mix of beautiful choral arrangements, heart-warming songs and some wackiness.

And the 2007 version appeals to all ages with music spanning from an acclaimed 1940s Christmas movie to a recent holiday children's favorite.

The price is right for young people 17 and under, who are admitted free to any performance with a paying adult.

Baby boomers are not forgotten with songs from the King and a Beatle as well as a reminder of past "groovy" gifts.

Coming from a church choir background, Root introduces hand bells into the performance beginning with the opening number, "Can you Hear the Christmas Bells?"

As always, the concert's first half unfolds amid a traditional setting with beautiful carols.

Favorites include "The Very Best Time of the Year," the American spiritual "Born In Bethlehem" and "Angels We Have Heard on High."

Youth Choir members join the adults for "Believe" from the movie, "The Polar Express." By the end of the song, it might be difficult to tell who are the children and who are the grown-ups.

Many members step out of the choir into the spotlight.

Soloists in the first half include Bill Houser, Gretchen Semke, Hilde Smith, Greg Smith, Kate Losleben, Jennifer Rice and Ronald R. Heimgartner II.

For the opening segment's finale, "Hope for Resolution," featured performers are Marlene Stone, Christina Olds, Sarah Gendron, Lee Noble, Smith and Houser.

The second half curtain opens on a festive village scene.

Choir members proclaim they are having a "Wonderful Christmastime" utilizing the words and music of Beatle Paul McCartney.

Things quickly get silly as choir members remember gifts they used to get (eight-tracks, anyone?) during "The Twelve Groovy Days of Christmas."

Remembering past presents are Penny Rempfer, Dyann Beal, Norma Sitton, Skip Viau, Lisa Bejsovec-Dunn, Shirley Milligan, Patrick Gleason, Noble and Heimgartner.

Genie Middaugh and Viau then team up for a "Perfect Christmas Night."

After that, Chuck Tobin is Elvis crooning about a "Blue Christmas," accompanied by his adoring poodle-skirted backup dancers.

Another icon, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," follows.

The show wraps up with a medley of songs from the enduring post-World War II classic film White Christmas. The medley ends, of course, with the title song leaving the audience to exit into the perhaps rainy weather dreaming of a white Christmas.

Providing solos from the movie are Wendy Butzerin, Sarah Flegel, Sue Jacobsen, Houser, Gleason, Rempfer and Losleben.

The Friday show begins at 8 p.m. while the Saturday and Sunday matinees start at 2 p.m.

Reserved tickets are $25, $18 and $15. As noted above, youth 17 and under get in free with a paying adult making it an affordable family event.

For tickets or more information, call 206-246-6040 or visit www.nwassociatedarts.org.

Helping fund ChoralSounds are 4Culture the city of Burien, Fred Meyer, Horizons Foundation, J. R. Mailing Services, Glaser Foundation, PONCHO, Qwest Foundation, Washington State Arts Commission, Seattle Mayor's Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs. Signet Press and Target.