The 2000 edition of the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas tour, which opened last week in South Dakota, is scheduled to visit 16 cities by year�s end. Mannheim Steamroller is an orchestra headed by New Age composer Chip Davis.

As is the norm for the annual tour--which first took to the road in 1984--each arena is outfitted in a holiday theme. As audience members enter the arena, they are greeted by costumed snowmen, gingerbread men, and caroling choirs. On the arena floor is a holiday village display featuring toy soldiers, gingerbread houses, a moving train and snow-covered trees.

Davis has released four Christmas albums--"A Fresh Aire Christmas," "Mannheim Steamroller Christmas," "Christmas in the Aire" and "Christmas Live"--which have combined for sales of more than 18 million units, according to tour publicists.

In 1998, Mannheim Steamroller released an album titled "The Christmas Angel" in conjunction with a television special on NBC that starred ice skaters Dorothy Hamill, Rudy Galindo and Elvis Stojko. The show, hosted by Davis and Olivia Newton-John, will be re-run by NBC on Nov. 26.