Ticket Alert: Bay Area Nutcrackers & Other Holiday Performances

Thanks to The Oakland Ballet Company for sponsoring this guide to Nutcracker performances and family-friendly holiday theater performances. 

Putting on a pair of not-sneakers and attending a ballet or holiday theater performance is an annual tradition for many families. If you’ve got kids who are ready for a large-scale theater experience for the holidays, here are some local shows to choose from.

East Bay Nutcrackers, holiday dance, and theater performances

The Oakland Ballet Company presents Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker. The spirit of the holidays is brought to life with beautiful dancing, magnificent scenery, and imaginative costumes. Cheer on Marie and her soldiers as she rescues the Nutcracker Prince from the evil Rat King and then soar with our dancing snowflakes to the Land of Sweets where luscious treats await. The Oakland Symphony along with the Piedmont East Bay Children’s Choir bring Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score to life. Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker will be the highlight of your holiday season! Performed in the Historic Paramount Theatre. Ticket prices start at $34.
Where: Paramount Theatre, Oakland
When: December 17 at 1 pm or 5 pm, December 19 at 5 pm

For matinee shows, look for an option to sweeten the experience for $15 and meet the characters after the show and enjoy sweet treats.

Buy tickets now >
Covid protocols are outlined here >

Diablo Ballet presents The Nutcracker Suite
This performance is 60 minutes in length, with no intermission.
Where: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
When: November 11 & 12, matinee and evening performances
Find tickets here >

The Hip Hop Nutcracker
A holiday mash-up for the entire family, The Hip Hop Nutcracker is an internationally touring show set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music in a 1980s Brooklyn dance club.
Where: Oakland’s Paramount Theatre
When: Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 pm
Website >
Discounted tickets on Goldstar >

Berkeley Ballet Theatre presents The Nutcracker
A one-act, shortened version of the holiday classic and narrated by Mother Nature. This performance is perfect for families and young children.
Where: Regents Theater, Valley View Center for the Arts, 3500 Mountain Blvd. Oakland, CA 94602
When: November 18 – 20, afternoon and evening performances
Website >

SMUIN Contemporary Ballet presents The Christmas Ballet
Run time is just under 2 hours, with one intermission.
Where: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
When: November 19 & 20, afternoon and evening performances
Find tickets here >
Discounted tickets on Goldstar >

Contra Costa Ballet presents The Nutcracker
This performance is 60 minutes in length, with no intermission.
Where: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
When: November 25 – 27, afternoon and evening performances
Find tickets here >

Vienna Boys Choir presents Christmas in Vienna
The perfect holiday treat for music lovers of all ages.
Where: Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley
When: Saturday, November 26 at 2 pm
Find tickets here >

The Puppet Company presents Nutcracker Sweet
For young audiences.
Where: Freight and Salvage, 2020 Addison St, Berkeley
When: Sunday, November 27 at 11 am
Find tickets here >

The Ballet School presents Once Upon a Christmas
An 80-minute narrated dance performance, no intermission.
Where: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
When: December 2 & 3 with afternoon and evening shows
Tickets are here >

Center REPertory presents A Christmas Carol
This two-hour musical performance has one intermission.
Where: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
When: December 8 – 22 with evening and matinee shows (save on select tickets)
Tickets are here >
Discounted tickets on Goldstar >

Temple Hill Orchestra & Rachel’s Ballet presents The Nutcracker
Free tickets and parking.
Where: Temple Hill Auditorium, 4780 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
When: Friday, December 9 at 7 pm and Saturday, December 10th at 2 pm
Find tickets here >

Orinda Ballet Academy & Company presents A Sweet Dream Nutcracker
Where: Orinda Library Theater (one BART stop from Rockridge plus a 10-minute walk)
When: December 9 – 11 with matinee and evening shows
Tickets are here >

California Revels presents The Butterfly Lovers of Gold Mountain
Follows the journey of a young Chinese opera singer from China to Gold Rush-era California. Children 4 and younger are free.
Where: First Congregational Church of Oakland​, 2501 Harrison Street, Oakland
When: Weekends December 9 – 18 with afternoon and evening shows
Find tickets here >

SRVDA presents Impressions of the Nutcracker Sweet 2022
In just under an hour, this popular story ballet performance will delight and entertain people of all ages.
Where: Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center in San Ramon
When: December 11 at 1 pm and 3:30 pm
Tickets are here >

The People’s Conservancy presents KOLA: An Afro Diasporic Remix of The Nutcracker
The play re-envisions The Nutcracker through the lens of African and Afro-Latinx music, dance, theater, and culture.
Where: Agency Oakland, 2150 Livingston St., Oakland 94606
When: December 15 – 18 at 7:30 pm
Tickets are here >

Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble presents The Biggest Gift
For younger audiences. This 45-minute performance has no intermission.
Where: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
When: December 16 – 18 with morning and afternoon shows
Tickets are here >

MAHALO! A Holiday Show of Thanks & Joy
Polynesian concert that brings together the dances, chants and songs of Hawaii and Tahiti.
Where: Dougherty Valley Performing Arts Center in San Ramon
When: December 18 at 4 pm
Tickets are here >

Berkeley City Ballet presents The Nutcracker
This 50-minute show has no intermission.
Where: Berkeley City Ballet in Berkeley
When: December 18 & 19 at 2:30 pm or 5 pm
Tickets are here >

The Marsh Berkeley presents Fool La La: Holiday Gift!
Performed by entertainer Unique Derique, this 70-minute show includes a mix of goofy fun and circus performance. It has one 10-minute intermission. For ages 3+. Families can join the 20-minute circus class after the performance.
Where: The Marsh Arts Center in Berkeley
When: December 21 – 24 & 27 – 30 at 2 pm
Tickets are here >

San Francisco Nutcrackers, holiday dance, and theater performances

ODC presents The Velveteen Rabbit
This 65- minute performance has one intermission.
Where: Blue Shield of California Theater at YBCA, San Francisco
When: Showtimes from November 26 – Dec. 11 at 11 am or 3 pm
Find tickets here >

A.C.T. presents A Christmas Carol
Sensory-friendly showing on December 18
Where: Toni Rembe Theater, 415 Geary Street, San Francisco
When: Nov. 30 – Dec. 24 with evening and matinee shows
Tickets are here >
Discounted tickets on Goldstar >

Mark Foehringer presents Nutcracker Sweets
Great for children and is only 50 minutes long.
Where: Cowell Theater, Fort Mason, San Francisco
When: Weekends from December 3 – 18
Find tickets here >

San Francisco Symphony Orchestra presents Deck the Halls
Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
When: Sunday, December 4 at 11 am or 3 pm
Tickets are here >

San Francisco Ballet presents A Nutcracker Spectacle
This show has a 2-hour run time with one intermission.
Where: War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
When: December 8 – 27 (times vary)
Tickets are here >
Discount tickets >

San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra presents Peter and the Wolf
Narrated by W. Kamau Bell.
Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
When: Sunday, December 11 at 2 pm
Tickets are here >

SMUIN Contemporary Ballet presents The Christmas Ballet
This show has a 2-hour run time with one intermission.
Where: Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, 700 Howard Street, San Francisco
When: Showtimes from December 14 – 24
Find tickets here >

San Francisco Symphony presents How the Grinch Stole Christmas with live orchestration
Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
When: Dec. 17 & 18 (times vary)
Tickets are here >

San Francisco Symphony presents Elf in Concert with live orchestration
Where: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco
When: December 21 & 22 (times vary)
Tickets are here >

Related: Browse a big, huge list of East Bay Christmas Activities & Events here >>

Parent Tip: Please check with the venue for current Covid-19 vaccination or testing requirements for your group and make sure you have your appropriate documentation before you head out.

Thanks to The Oakland Ballet Company for sponsoring this guide to holiday dance performances. 

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