Leave your frowns at the door.

When Ronnie Ezzell and Southern Comfort take the stage at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Spring Hope Opry House for the first of two Christmas concerts, the group wants the audience ready to cheer, clap, sing and have a good time. If you’re not in the Christmas spirit before the show begins, the group hopes you will be by the end, lead singer Ronnie Ezzell said.

This will be the third annual Christmas concert in the former Spaulding Middle School Auditorium for the group, and each year is bigger than the last, Ezzell said. There were about 230 people at the first show in 2007 and 410 in 2008. Ezzell credits a fun atmosphere and the performances with bringing people back.

“When my performers are onstage, they are singing from the heart, and they are selling their song every time they are on that stage,” Ezzell said.

This year, demand was so high that Marshall Stephenson, the Opry’s music director, suggested adding a second show at 7 p.m. Dec. 12.

Tickets for the show are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. Advance tickets almost are sold out for Saturday’s show, but there will be tickets at the door, Ezzell said. Both are available for the Dec. 12 show. To reserve advance tickets by phone, call 903-9424.

People shouldn’t come expecting a typical Christmas concert, said Erin Strickland, one of the members. The singers will perform more than 30 duets, solos and group songs. The evening will be a mix of country and Christmas music, including “Christmas in Dixie,” “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus” and “The Greatest Gift of All.”

“It is a big variety. You won’t know what to expect,” said Strickland of Greenville.

There will be plenty of opportunities for audience members to join in if they know a song. There also will be a portion of the show where the group does a salute to veterans.

The Christmas concert continues to grow in success because it combines good musicians, great songs, a local venue and an affordable price, Ezzell said. People are looking for entertainment at this time of year, and it is great that they have a venue like the Opry to provide it locally, he said.

The Opry’s next show will be an Elvis tribute show by Alvin Smith on the King’s birthday, Jan. 8, Stephenson said. There will be a birthday cake, and Ezzell will be master of ceremonies and perform as well.

For details, call 919-633-5576.