The first night of Christmas Burns Red consisted of Once Nothing, Crystal Lake, Spite, Brand of Sacrifice, Texas In July, and August Burns Red on December 8th at Freedom Hall in Lancaster, PA.

The band to kick off the night was Once Nothing, opening their set with "Whiskey Breath" and "Darkest Days.” They may not always be active, but this band can walk on stage and bring energy. Their set showcased their ability to bring hardcore and metalcore sounds with a spice of southern metal to the mix.

Hailing from Tokyo, Japan, Crystal Lake was up next. From the moment they walked on stage, the band wasted no time tearing through their setlist. They played fan favorites "Apollo," "SIX FEET UNDER," and "Watch Me Burn." Crystal Lake's fiery energy got the crowd moshing and moving. 

As soon as Spite took the stage, they immediately showed the crowd that they meant business. They started their set playing "Caved In" and "Root of All Evil," and fans quickly started crowd surfing at a frequency that security could not keep up with. Spiote finished their set with their hit, "Killed or Be Killed'.

As the crowd started to sing the Pokemon theme song, Brand of Sacrifice took the stage. They played fan favorites "Demon King," "Dawn," and “Exodus." These songs showcased vocalist Kyle’s dynamic vocal range, seamlessly transitioning from heavy growls to clean singing. The crowd was infected by the band's energy.

The crowd was eager for Texas in July to start. They kicked off their set with a new song, "False Dignity." The heavy breakdowns and screamed vocals caused a plethora of heavy moshing. The band played fan favorites "Bloodwork," "Bed of Nails," and "Hook, Line and Sinner."

The last band to take the stage was August Burns Red. The metalcore legends walked onto a stage full of Christmas decor. The band started their set by playing their album Rescue and Restore in full. During the instrumental breaks, vocalist Jake Luhrs could be seen dancing gracefully, a sight that the crowd loved. The band ended their set with the classic Christmas song "Carol of The Bells" and the band’s classic single "White Washed."