There is nothing like holiday coloring pages, music and milk and cookies on a Saturday morning to bring every family member into the holiday spirit. The Southeast Missouri State University Percussion Ensemble's Family Holiday Concert will provide just that at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 10 in the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall.

"We do two concerts a semester and this one is more fun and laid back," Shane Mizicko, director of Percussion Studies said. "It is a professional show geared towards young audiences."

Mizicko said he started the percussion show because he wanted a concert that catered to families with children. He ropes off stroller parking outside the theater, and the theater doors are kept open during the performances. In the past directors even provided coloring pages and crayons for children before the event.

"I had an art major draw up some pages for kids with elves playing instruments," Mizicko said.

To keep the kids' attention during performances, a slideshow is played on a big screen behind the performers of Frosty the Snowman, the Grinch and Rudolph.

Even though it's focused on the kids, performers have their favorite parts of the show, too. Student percussionist Jerry Davidson, a second-year concert participant, said collaborating with other groups is his favorite part of the show.

"Last year there was a choir, and this year there is an orchestra," Davidson said.

Mizicko said the ensemble has teamed up with a guest performer every year since the concert began. This year's 50-minute production is rounded out with 20 stage performers, 60 guest performers from the Cape Central High School Orchestra and the 20 members of the percussion ensemble to complete the concert's biggest cast to date.

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri helped promote the concert through advertising and donated cookies for the after concert event.

Student percussionist Justin Wibbenmeyer, a fourth-year concert participant, said the audience has grown larger. The 2010 concert had 700 attendees. The first concert had 200.

There is no charge to attend the concert, but this year directors are asking for a $1 donation per person 6 years and older to help buy and repair instruments.

"I would really like to keep it as free as possible," Mizicko said.