Holiday Happenings

The Evergreen City Ballet & Orchestra's Nutcracker—"It is that time again when toy soldiers battle giant mice, snowflakes glide through the chilly air, and the fantasies of the young at heart meet in a land of sweet dreams." With choreographer Wade Walthall and conductor A. Brian Davenport. Performing Arts Center, 700 E Main, Auburn, 253-833-9039. $10-$20. 12/9-10 at 7:30, 12/11 at 1:30 and 7:30, 12/12 at 1:30 and 5:30.

16th Annual Holiday Open House—Alpacas and sheep and goats, oh my! A holiday dream come true: pony rides, story time with Santa, and one treat you'll only find in the Pacific Northwest . . . Santa's team of salmon! 12526 Avondale Rd NE, Redmond, 425-885-5678. 12/2-5, 12/11-12 noon-4; pony rides available 12/5, noon-3:30. 12/9-12.

The Dina Martina Christmas Special—She's baaack . . . with a hilariously entertaining and sometimes touching holiday ride filled with song, dance, stories, special guests, and festive gifts for lucky audience members. Also featured is Miss Martina's charming and talented daughter, Pheobe "pocket full of smiles" Martina. On the Boards, Behnke Center for Contemporary Performance, 100 W Roy, 292-ARTS. $15 Thu and Sun, $18 Fri and Sat, $2 discount for students, seniors, and groups of six or more. 12/9-12 and 12/16-18 at 8.

If Ornaments Had Lips—Written and performed by Lauren Weedman and directed by Shawn Belyea, this black holiday comedy tells the story of Debraa, whose modus operandi is to dive into the dark depths of the season by forcing all her holiday guests to listen to her explain the emotional significance of each and every ornament that hangs on her tree. On the Boards, Behnke Center for Contemporary Performance, 100 W Roy, 292-ARTS. $10 Thu and Sun, $12 Fri and Sat, $2 discount for students, seniors, and groups of six or more. 12/9-12 and 12/16-19 at 9.

Union Gospel Mission's Gift Drive—Long's Drugs is teaming up with Seattle's Union Gospel Mission to scrape together some holiday gifts for the homeless. Participate by dropping off art supplies, baby/children's items, calculators, pens, perfume/cologne, socks, tote bags, disposable cameras, hair accessories, cosmetics, razors, soap, brushes, deodorant, and shampoo at participating Long's Drugs stores in Ballard, Bellevue, Burien, Edmonds, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Lynnwood, Northgate, Seattle on Rainier S, and Tukwila. Call 723-0767 ext. 104 for more information. 12/9-15.

Holiday Gift and Craft Sale—Don't miss this event that features handcrafted items beautifully displayed in a gallery setting in the heart of creative Capitol Hill. Free parking and admission. 526 19th E, 328-7158. Free. Mon-Fri noon-4:30, Sat-Sun 10-6. 12/9-17.

University Village's Annual Sharing and Caring Tree—Now's your chance to share the spirit of the season with children in need by selecting a gift wish ornament from the Sharing and Caring Tree. Shoppers can also purchase a child's gift wish and return it unwrapped to the tree for delivery to the child's home on Christmas Eve. Cosponsored by the University Sunrise Rotary Club and Boy Scout Troop #186, donating to University Food Bank, Central Area Motivational Program, and Fremont Food Bank. University Village, Center Court, 523-7104. Gift drop-off times: Weeknights 5-8, Sat 10-6, Sun noon-5. 12/9-19.

The Nutcracker Puppet Ballet—Whirling ballerina puppets! Frolicking Russian bears! Don't miss out on this magical theatrical event. Northwest Puppet Center, 9123 15th NE, 523-2579. $8.50/$7 seniors/$6.50 children. Fri at 7:30, Sat-Sun at 1 and 3. 12/9-19.

Annual Holiday Art Sale—Check out the largest selection of holiday art and gifts in the Northwest, with thousands of items in all price ranges and media. Help support students and emerging and established visual artists. Free apple cider. Pratt Fine Arts Center, 1902 Main, 328-2200. Free. 12/9-19, noon-8. (12/18-19: discount weekend, with all items 25 percent off!)

Citizen Scrooge—Unexpected Productions brings back this much-requested hilarious cross between Orson Welles' film Citizen Kane and the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. Market Theater, 1428 Post Alley, 781-9273. $10. Thu-Sat at 8, Sun at 7. 12/9-23.

Photos with Santa—No way will any Christmas ever be complete without a photo of your darling little child getting his picture taken while whispering into Santa's ear. You can even bring your dog along, in case he wants to sit on Santa, too. Country Village, 23714 Bothell-Everett Hwy, 282-2767. Thu-Fri 3-6, Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5. 12/9-23.

The Art of the Holiday Season Tour—What's better than a trip to Vancouver? A trip to Vancouver with a tour of selected group artist studios where you can buy one-of-a-kind works in ceramic, wood, glass, and other media. This tour of Vancouver features neighborhoods filled with festive lights and a visit to the home gallery of Trudy Van Dop, one of the most prominent galleries in Western Canada and home of an outstanding collection of contemporary Canadian fine art and crafts from across the country. Pickup from downtown Vancouver hotels, call 604-646-6636 for information. $56. 12/9-23, 5-9pm.

The Argosy Christmas Ship Festival—It's the 50th year of the Argosy Christmas Ship Festival, so come aboard The Spirit of Seattle, the unofficial Christmas Ship, decked with hundreds of shimmering white lights. Aboard ship, joyous voices from the Northwest's finest choirs sing holiday greetings; on shore, young and old gather around roaring bonfires hosted by Seattle's Best Coffee. The Argosy Christmas ship Festival cruises to over 45 waterfront locations throughout Seattle, Lake Washington, and the Puget Sound area, and benefits The Seattle Times Fund for the Needy, which supports nonprofit agencies providing vital services to thousands of deserving families and youth in our community. Call 623-1445 or visit www.argosycruises.com for times and locations. Christmas ship: $26.50/$16.50 children; Argosy follow boats: $17/$12. 12/9-23.