Fun things to do in Thurston County this week

Ballet Northwest brings its annual production of “The Nutcracker” back to the stage at the Washington Center for Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE. The production features 200 local dancers. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 17. Tickets start at $14. Go to washingtoncenter.org to get yours.

Studio West Dance Theatre presents its production of “The Nutcracker” at the Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW. Featuring guest artist Joshua Grant, soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet, the production blends traditional ballet and comical surprises and showcases the talents of more than 230 performers. It runs one weekend, from Thursday through Dec. 18. Each matinee hosts Clara’s Winter Wonderland Party for children ages 3 and older one hour before showtime. Tickets start at $17 and are available at washingtoncenter.org

The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour, which celebrates the spirit of outdoor adventure and mountain culture, is coming to the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. The festival features the best mountain films of the year which will be screened over two days — at 7 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 military, Mountaineers or Olympia Film Society members, and $26 for a weekend pass. Go to olympiafilmsociety.org for more information.

With a mission to provide free quality concert experiences to the community, the Olympia Choral Society is made up of nearly 100 singers directed by Terry Shaw. The group has donated more than $150,000 to local charities from donations received at its concerts. This year’s holiday concert, “The Best of Christmas Past,” will benefit the North Thurston Education Foundation. Concerts are at 7:30 p.m. Friday (Dec. 8), 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Koval Center for the Performing Arts at North Thurston High School, 600 Sleater Kinney Road NE, Lacey. Go to olympiachoral.org/home.html to learn more.

The Miró Quartet is an internationally renown classical quartet based in Austin, Texas. It will perform at The Evergreen State College Recital Hall, 2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets start at $10 and are available at emeraldcitymusic.org

Putting a spotlight on locally produced holiday gifts, Duck the Malls takes over the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, on Saturday. Help support local artisans, plus benefit the visual art programming at the Olympia Film Society, with a day of shopping from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. There also will be a bake sale along with the more than 50 vendors. Admission is free. Find out more at olympiafilmsociety.org

Three local plays are continuing in production. Here’s what’s playing:

Olympia Little Theatre’s latest production, “On Golden Pond,” explores the long love story between Ethel and Norman Thayer. It is playing through Dec. 17 at the theater, 1925 Miller Ave. NE, Olympia. Showtimes are 7:25 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 1:55 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $11-$15 and available online at olympialittletheatre.org.

The Olympia Family Theater’s childhood classic “Winnie the Pooh” will continue through Dec. 23. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets — available online at olyft.org/tickets — are $19 adults, $16 seniors/student/military and $13 youth younger than 12. The theater is at 612 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia.

Harlequin Productions continues its holiday tradition with another in its Stardust series, "The Stardust Christmas Fandango." The musical is set in 1961 and led by the Latino rock 'n' roll duo Frankie and Nash. The musical continues through Dec. 31 at the State Theater, 202 Fourth Ave. E. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, with matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are $49 general admission, $45 senior/military, and $25 student/youth. Go to harlequinproductions.org for a complete schedule and to get tickets.

This story was originally published December 8, 2017 at 7:28 AM with the headline "Fun things to do in Thurston County this week."