Nutcrackers, lights, The Messiah and ugly sweaters can entertain you this weekend
South Sound’s oldest Nutcracker
Ballet Northwest’s The Nutcracker, an Olympia holiday tradition for over 35 years, will offer four performances of Tchaikovsky’s holiday ballot this weekend. The production features more than 200 local dancers, and guest artist Sanford Placide from Dance Theater of Harlem. Brave toy soldiers battle mischievous mice, snowflakes dance, and Clara and the Nutcracker Prince celebrate with the Sugar Plum Fairy in the magical Land of Sweets. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 16-17, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18 at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets range from $15 to $36. To purchase tickets, visit www.washingtoncenter.org/bnw or call 360-753-8586.
A nuttier Nutcracker
For those who might want a laugh this season, South Sound Dance is offering a twist on the typical holiday dance with a spoof called Son of a Nutcracker! In this comical take, a very large elf travels through the land of snow to New York City in search of his real family. Performances are at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at the Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College’s Olympia campus. Tickets are $20 to $30.
Dazzling drive-thru
Tenino’s third annual Grand Twinkle Tour runs from 6-7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, and is a no-cost community celebration. Visit the drive-thru light and holiday displays at Tenino Middle School, 301 Old Highway 99 N., Tenino; enter at the Custer Street entrance where the Tenino Food Bank Plus with be gathering donations. The event is put on by the Combined Tenino PTSA.
Get out your ugly sweater
Senior Services For South Sound is once again hosting its Ugly Sweater Bingo for the holidays. Doors open at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and games start at 7 p.m. at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, Olympia. It’s $25 cash at the door to play (it’s a cash only event), and all participants must be 21 or older. The event also includes a snack bar, full service bar, 50/50 raffle, special game tickets and daubers. Plus, of course, a costume contest with prizes.
Hallelujah!
Come to sing or come to listen to the 22nd annual Community Messiah Sing-Along at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19, at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. This event is free and open to the public, but donations are gladly accepted. Cameron May, who is music director and conductor for Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia (SOGO) will lead participants as well as soloists Lauren Zinke (soprano), Stacy Brown (mezzo soprano), Dan Colgan (tenor) and John Guarente (baritone). If you’re serious about your singing, you can practice with a virtual recording, or check out the list of titles being performed ahead of time. Vocal scores will be available for purchase or to borrow. For more information, visit studentorchestras.org.
This story was originally published December 15, 2022 at 5:00 AM.