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The Nutcracker Ballet and Other Holiday Shows for Kids in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Ballet's gorgeous Nutcracker production soars. Photo by Reed Hutchinson
Los Angeles Ballet's gorgeous Nutcracker production soars. Photo by Reed Hutchinson
11/10/24 - By Roberta B

Seeing a Nutcracker Ballet is a Christmas tradition for so many families. In a city like Los Angeles, there are over twenty Nutcracker shows for your pick of performance from Hollywood to Long Beach and so many places in between. 

To answer two of the most common questions posed by parents in search of a Nutcracker ballet in Los Angeles: Yes, there is a condensed version specifically for kids offered by the Festival Ballet Theatre down in Costa Mesa. And yes, there are local performances with full orchestra—​the Long Beach Terrace Theater is one of the best. There's even a fantastic and very LA production by Bob Baker's Marionettes, which is light on the dancing and heavy on the post-show ice cream, for little kids looking for a fun introduction to the classic Nutcracker Ballet. 

When you've had your fill of the Mouse King, let us direct you to some nifty Polar Express and Christmas train rides, neighborhood Christmas lights displays, and more in our Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events for Los Angeles Families. 

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The Nutcracker is done by marionettists and marionettes at the Bob Baker Theater.
The Nutcracker is done by marionettists and marionettes at the Bob Baker Theater.

The 10 Best Nutcracker Ballet Performances in Los Angeles

The Nutcracker Tea

Nutcracker Tea
Beverly Hills
Saturday & Sunday, November 23 & 24, 2024
We'll come right out and say it: this event is an expensive cup of tea. However, along with the fancy tea party, held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Beverly Hills, guests are treated to a special, intimate performance of selections from Los Angeles Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker, dancing with characters, shopping in the Winter Boutique, and photos with Santa, Clara, Nutcracker, and Baby Mouse.  READ MORE

Pasadena Civic Ballet Nutcracker Holiday Tea

Most Immersive Nutcracker
Pasadena
Saturday, November 30, 2024
Pasadena Civic Ballet is known for creating memorable and immersive experiences for all ages, and their production of The Nutcracker is no exception. Embark on a journey to Tchaicovsky's enchanting score in the Viennese Ballroom at The Langham in Pasadena, where viewers can enjoy an elegant tea party amongst the sugar plum fairies. This abridged performance will last one hour.  READ MORE

Bob Baker’s Nutcracker

Best Nutcracker with Puppets
Highland Park
Select dates from November 30, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Bob Baker's Nutcracker is spinning a tale of Christmas lore at the Sierra Madre Playhouse this year! This beloved version of the story has been running since 1969, and every performance ends with ice cream. Don't miss this LA holiday tradition!  READ MORE

Debbie Allen's Hot Chocolate Nutcracker

Hip-Hop Nutcracker
Redondo Beach
Thursday - Sunday, December 5 - 8, 2024
Debbie Allen brings her Dance Academy's popular adaptation of the classic dance tale to the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. The show has become a local holiday classic directed, choreographed by, and starring the unstoppable Ms. Allen. READ MORE

The Nutcracker for Kids

Best Nutcracker for Younger Kids
Costa Mesa
Saturday, December 7, 2024
Festival Ballet Theatre and Pacific Symphony offer a condensed version of Tchaikovsky's Christmas ballet that also includes a holiday sing-along and a visit from Santa. It's the perfect first introduction to this timeless holiday classic.  READ MORE

Red Chair Productions Performance of The Nutcracker

Best Nutcracker featuring children
Glendale
Saturday & Sunday, December 14 & 15, 2024
Red Chair Children's Production Company presents its annual holiday production of The Nutcracker, with lavish sets and glittering costumes. Unique among area Nutcracker productions, The Red Chair’s energetic rendition features young performers, ages 7 to 18, in principal and supporting roles. READ MORE

The Nutcracker (Long Beach Ballet)

Features a live horse
Long Beach
Select dates from December 14 -22, 2024
Long Beach Ballet presents The Nutcracker, performed with a full symphony orchestra, pyrotechnics, a flying sleigh, a real live horse, and a cast of over 200. This performance was voted the "best loved Nutcracker in the nation" by a Goldstar audience survey. It is crammed full of special effects and dazzling dancers. READ MORE

Los Angeles Ballet's The Nutcracker at the Dolby

Most "LA" Nutcracker
Hollywood
Select dates from December 19 - 28, 2024
Los Angeles Ballet's production of The Nutcracker is a classic with a distinctly Southern California twist. In this production, set pieces are designed to mimic beloved landmarks and trademarks of Southern California, while the ballet stays true to Tchaikovsky's iconic score.  READ MORE

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet

Best Russian Ballet
Koreatown
Friday & Saturday, December 20 & 21, 2024
The beloved family tradition is back at the Wiltern, with an international cast and Ukranian principal artists. This performance features jaw-dropping acrobatics, larger-than-life puppets, and dazzling sets and costumes. This ballet tours throughout the U.S. during the holiday season.  READ MORE

The Nutcracker (Pacific Festival Ballet)

"Snowy" Nutcracker (Snow falls on the audience!)
Thousand Oaks
Saturday & Sunday, December 21 & 22, 2024
This production is complete with opulent sets and costumes along with dazzling choreography, but the main draw is an 100% chance of snowfall on the audience!  READ MORE
A Christmas Carol in Pasadena. Production photo courtesy of A Noise Within Theatre
A Christmas Carol in Pasadena. Production photo courtesy of A Noise Within Theatre

Other Holiday Shows in Los Angeles

Mariah Carey's Christmastime

Hollywood
Friday, November 8, 2024
All I want for Christmas is you... and a ticket to Mariah Carey's Hollywood Bowl concert kicking off the holiday season. Mariah Carey performs her iconic Christmas hit, plus some others, at this one-night-only holiday spectacular.  READ MORE

A Christmas Carol

Costa Mesa
Select dates from November 30 - December 24, 2024
Ghost of Christmas Past: South Coast Rep returns with its annual production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Ebenezer Scrooge says "Bah, humbug!" several times, and they all have a happy Christmas in the end. READ MORE

A Christmas Carol

Pasadena
Select dates from November 30, 2024 - December 30, 2024
A Noise Within brings back its popular annual production of the Dickens classic. Production quality is high, with beautiful costumes, fun ghost effects, and a large, talented cast presenting a highly traditional rendition of the Victorian Christmas tale of goodwill to all men. READ MORE

Winter Spectacular: Holidays of Light

Thousand Oaks
Saturday, December 7, 2024
The New West Symphony, Los Robles Children's Choir, and vocal soloists come together for an evening celebrating the warmth and joy of light in this holiday performance. The Snowman, an Oscar-nominated animated short film, plays as a musicians play symphonic works and beloved holiday carols.  READ MORE

Nochebuena Christmas Spectacular

Northridge
Saturday & Sunday, December 7 & 8, 2o24
The Soraya's annual Nochebuena celebration returns for its 8th year to celebrate the holiday traditions of Mexico. Special guest vocalist Camila Fernández, the granddaughter of the legendary Vicente Fernández and daughter of Alejandro Fernández, joins the Mariachi-infused holiday performance. READ MORE

Peter Pan & Tinker Bell: A Pirates Christmas

Thousand Oaks
Select dates from December 13 - 29, 2024
The pirates are hoping to catch Peter Pan as a Christmas present for Captain Hook, but Wendy, Tinker Bell, and Peter are onto their plans and aim to teach them a lesson. This family-focused production involves audience participation, magic, dancing, singing, and plenty of fun. This performances is presented by TOArts and 5-Star Theatricals.  READ MORE

Holiday Sing-Along

DTLA
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Tune up your Rudolph; Walt Disney Concert Hall wants you to sing along! READ MORE

Theatricum Botanicum Holiday Family Faire

Topanga
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Theatricum Botanicum transforms into a Winter Wonderland for the Holiday Family Faire, a holiday marketplace complete with festive food and drink, caroling and singing madrigals, storytelling, and Santa and Mrs. Claus. READ MORE

Home Alone in Concert

DTLA
Saturday & Sunday, December 21 & 22, 2024
Feel all the Christmas feels as Somewhere in My Memory swells and swirls through the Walt Disney Concert Hall at this live to picture performance of Home Alone, conducted by David Newman. The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra performs John Williams' iconic score in time with the movie.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Scherr Forum Theatre-Thousand Oaks Civic Arts