18 ways to have a holly jolly Oly holiday

Wondering what you’re going to do for the next three weeks or so — besides cook, bake, shop and get psychologically prepared to hang out with the relatives?

Get a cup of coffee (or even an eggnog latte), cue up your favorite holiday tunes (maybe Johnny Mathis’ “Winter Wonderland,” The Waitresses’ “Christmas Rapping” and Adam Sandler’s “Chanukah Song”) and pick your favorites from The Olympian’s guide to the buffet of local performances, parades and more.

Love a parade?

This time of year is a parade paradise South Sound, with at least four in the next two weeks.

• Olympia’s Jingle Bell Parade: 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, from Capitol Lake to Sylvester Park, Olympia. downtownolympia.org/Events/Downtown-for-the-Holidays

• Lacey Parade of Lights: 6:30-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, Huntamer Park, 629 Woodland Square Loop, Lacey. 360-491-0857, ci.lacey.wa.us/living-in-lacey/the-community/arts-and-events/

• The Parade of Lighted Ships: 6 p.m. Dec. 7, from Percival Landing to Port Plaza, Columbia St. NW, Olympia. 360-357-6767, olympiayachtclub.org

• Centralia’s Lighted Tractor Parade: 6-8 p.m. Dec. 14, Centralia. 360-527-1609, discoverlewiscounty.com

Ho-ho homes

Those who look forward all year to decking their halls can find inspiration and perhaps indulge in a bit of jolly jealousy at historic home tours and the annual Christmas in the Forest, a collection of themed trees.

• Holiday tours of the Governor’s Mansion: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 4, 11 and 18, Capitol Campus, Olympia. Free, but do make reservations. 360-902-8880, apps.des.wa.gov/Mansion/Mansion.aspx

• Holiday Tour of Historic Homes: noon-4 p.m. Dec. 8, featuring nine historic properties including the Bigelow House, 918 Glass Ave. NE, Olympia. $25. olympiahistory.org

• Providence Christmas in the Forest: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8, Hotel RL, 2300 Evergreen Park Drive SW, Olympia. $5, free for children 12 and younger. 360-493-7985, provforest.org

Theater all around

The holiday spirit is shining on South Sound stages, in local productions and in a visit from British comedy duo James and Jamesy.

• “O Christmas Tea,” a British comedy with James and Jamesy: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29, The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. $29-$44. 360-753-8586, washingtoncenter.org

• “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol”: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 and 30 and Dec. 4-7, 12-14, 19-21 and 26-28; 2 p.m. Nov. 3 and Dec.1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 24, 28 and 29; and 7 p.m. Dec. 31, State Theater, 202 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia. $25-$50; for the Dec. 4 show, pay what you can. 360-786-015, harlequinproductions.org

• “The Wind in the Willows”: 7 p.m. Nov. 29 and Dec. 5, 6, 13 and 20 and 2 p.m. Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22, Olympia Family Theater, 612 Fourth Ave E., Olympia. $15-$20; for the Dec. 5 show, pay what you can. 360-570-1638, olyft.org

• “Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley” presented by Olympia Little Theatre: Dec. 6-22, Olympia Little Theatre, 1925 Miller Ave NE, Olympia. $9-$15. 360-786-9484, olympialittletheater.org

Merry music

Seasonal sounds abound, from the traditional sing-along Messiah to the Olympia Symphony Orchestra’s new holiday concert.

• “Derik Nelson and Family: Home for the Holidays”: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 1, The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. $25-$49. 360-753-8586, washingtoncenter.org

• Community Messiah Sing-Along: 7 p.m. Dec. 6. The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Free. 360-753-8586, washingtoncenter.org

• “A Mannheim Merry Christmas” presented by Masterworks Choral Ensemble: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7, The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. $10-$26. 360-753-8586, washingtoncenter.org, mce.org

• “Home for the Holidays” presented by the Olympia Symphony Orchestra: 7 p.m. Dec. 23, The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. By donation. 360-753-8586, washingtoncenter.org, olympiasymphony.org

Christmas ’crackers

Nutcrackers, that is. While South Sound boasts a huge variety of theater and musical performances, Tchaikovsky’s beloved “The Nutcracker” is pretty much the one and only winter holiday ballet. In fact, for many people, it’s pretty much the one and only ballet, period.

• Ballet Theatre of Washington’s “The Nutcracker”: 7 p.m. Dec. 6, 7 and 13, 2 p.m. Dec. 7 and 14 and 6 p.m. Dec. 12, Historic Liberty Theatre, 413 North Tower, Centralia. $15-$20. 360-623-9010, balletwashington.org

• Ballet Northwest’s “The Nutcracker”: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 14, 20 and 21 and 2 p.m. Dec. 14, 15, 21 and 22, The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. $14-$35. 360-753-8586, washingtoncenter.org

• Studio West Dance Theatre’s “The Nutcracker”: 7 p.m. Dec. 14 and 20, 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 16, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 21 and 1 p.m. Dec. 22, The Minnaert Center for the Arts, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia. $17-$27. 360-753-8586, washingtoncenter.org