Fun -- and seasonal -- happenings this week in Thurston County

Dec. 13

Choir invites light into the darkness

The Olympia Peace Choir welcomes the return of the light Friday with a concert in honor of the winter solstice, the time when winter’s short days begin to lengthen. (The solstice happens Dec. 21.) Those longing for more hours of daylight — and who isn’t? — or looking for a secular seasonal celebration are invited to join the choir at 6:30 p.m. in Huntamer Park, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey, to hear songs about light and the sun, songs ranging “from hauntingly ethereal to stirring and hopeful,” said the choir’s Karen Lunde. The free, family-friendly concert will end with the invitation to sing along to “This Little Light of Mine.” If you’d rather not stand for the 30-minute performance, bring a chair. Go to theolympiapeacechoir.org to learn more.

Dec. 13-15

More songs of the season

Those who can’t get enough Christmas carols have a concert option this weekend. The Capital City Chorus presents its second annual “Christmas With the Chorus” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1515 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia. It’s free, with donations appreciated. Learn more at cccolympia.org

Dec. 13-22

It’s ‘Nutcracker’ time

Olympia has not one but two long-running annual productions of Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet about a young girl who gets a nutcracker for Christmas and winds up having a fantastical adventure involving mice, royalty and dancing sweets. “It’s a tradition, and people want to go see it every year,” said Stephanie Wood-Ennett of Studio West Dance Theatre. If you’re one of those people, you have till Dec. 22 to check out one or both local productions.

• Ballet Northwest will stage its 35th annual “Nutcracker” at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 22 at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $14-$35.
• Studio West Dance Theatre’s 11th annual “Nutcracker” happens at 7 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, 6:30 p.m. Monday, 7 p.m. Dec. 20, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 21 and 1 p.m. Dec. 22 at the Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia. Tickets are $17-$27, with half-price youth tickets available for the Monday show.

Get tickets and more information on both productions at washingtoncenter.org or 360-753-8586.

Dec. 14

Still shopping for holiday gifts? Get quackin’

There’s some anti-gift-buying sentiment floating around this year. One meme suggests would-be shoppers ponder such questions as “Is it really necessary?” and “Who made it?” The Olympia Film Society’s annual Duck the Malls provides answers to the latter question, showcasing local artists and artisans from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. Even if you decide gifts aren’t necessary, there’s reason to go: The event includes a huge bake sale, with proceeds benefiting the film society. (Cookies are necessary. Right?) Get details at olympiafilmsociety.org.

Dec. 14

Where Santa and the Grinch share the spotlight

Saturday is the big day in Tumwater. The city’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting Festival features appearances by both Santa, who arrives on an antique fire truck, and the Grinch, who hangs out near an Intercity Transit bus where chilly festival-goers can get warm. There also are crafts, games and music and dance performances at the festival, happening from 2 to 5 p.m. at Tumwater Headquarters Fire Station, 311 Israel Road SW, Tumwater. Find out more at ci.tumwater.wa.us/departments/parks-recreation/classes-programs-sports/special-events/, or call 360-754-4160.

Dec. 14

When guitar meets violin

The two stringed instruments — one associated mostly with classical music and the other chiefly with popular tunes — share the stage at Emerald City Music’s Saturday concert, an intimate performance by Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux and violinist Kristin Lee, Emerald City’s artistic director. The program spans centuries and continents, including Argentinian tango, Italian classical works, Brazilian tunes and a medley of solo works by jazz legend Pat Metheny. Lee and Vieaux also will perform Vivian Fung’s “Twist,” composed for them in 2014. The strings will sing beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Olympia Ballroom, 116 Legion Way SE, Olympia. Tickets are $10-$43. Get them and find out more at emeraldcitymusic.org.

Dec. 15

Tidings of comfort, joy and (Bob) Hope

Olympia Musical Theatre’s holiday concert takes inspiration from the USO shows that have entertained soldiers abroad for more than 75 years. The Olympia Musical Theatre Singers and Kids in Concert, both directed by Troy Arnold Fisher, are teaming up for the tribute, tackling tunes from The Andrews Sisters and Bing Crosby to The Beatles and Pentatonix — and, of course, holiday favorites and sing-alongs. Photos and videos, including footage of the Kennedy Center tribute to Bob Hope, will set the scene. Also on the menu: an ice-cream social. The music begins at 7 p.m. Sunday at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia. It’s free, with donations appreciated. Find out more at olympiamusicaltheatre.org.