Artful holidays

It’s never too early to start planning for the festive holiday performances local arts groups are preparing to stage this season. In fact, now is the best time to make plans and purchase tickets, for many of these events sell out before the Thanksgiving turkey has thawed. Why not give a holiday performance as a gift this year? Tickets make great gifts while supporting local arts organizations at the same time.

Here’s a sampling of upcoming holiday arts performances:

Dance

“The Nutcracker”: 2 p.m. &7 p.m. Saturdays, Dec. 1, Dec. 8 &Dec. 15, 2 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 2, &Dec. 9 &3 p.m. Sunday. Dec. 15, Edmonds-based Olympic Ballet Theatre presents its 27th season full-length production of the holiday ballet, presented Dec. 1 &2 with the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra at the Northshore Performing Arts Center, Dec. 8 &9 with the Everett Symphony at the Everett Civic Auditorium, and Dec. 15 &16 at the Edmonds Center for the Arts. Tickets are $14 to $38, available at OBT’s offices in the Frances Anderson Center, 700 Main St., Edmonds, at www.olympicballet.com, by calling OBT at 425-774-7570, and at TicketMaster outlets and 206-292-ARTS.

“The Snowman”: 2 &7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, Ballet Bellevue and the Ballet Bellevue Orchestra present this holiday tale about a young boy’s imagination and his journey to the land of snow, set to the music of English composer Howard Blake, at the Northshore Performing Arts Center, 18125 92nd Ave. NE, Bothell. Tickets are $17-22, reserved, available at www.npacf.org, www.ticketswest.com, 800-992-TIXX or at local TicketsWest outlets.

Theater

“The Grand Christmas History of the Andy Landy Clan”: 7 p.m. Sundays, 8 p.m. Mondays, Dec. 2-10, Driftwood Players’ Alternative Stages takes on Jules Tasca’s tale of the annual holiday letters of a family who manages to survive crashing planes, drowning nuns and flaky Hollywood wanna-bes, at the Wade James Theatre, 950 Main Street, Edmonds. Tickets are $10 for the show and dessert buffet following each performance, available by calling 425-774-9600, or visit www.driftwoodplayers.com.

“A Christmas Carol: Scrooge &Marley”: 8 p.m. Fridays &Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 23-Dec. 9: The New Everett Theatre players present playwright Israel Horovitz’s fresh update of the Dickens classic, at the Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 seniors, students and military, $10 children 12 &under, available by calling the theatre at 425-258-6766 or at www.everetttheatre.org.

“The Elves &the Shoemaker”: 2 p.m. &4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9. Village Theatre’s Pied Piper Presents stages this Brothers Grimm holiday story of kindness and giving, at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett. Tickets are $14 general, $12 youth (under 21) &senior (65 &over, available by calling 425-257-8600.

“The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of A Christmas Carol”: 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays &Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. &8 p.m. Saturdays, Nov. 23-Dec. 29: Taproot Theatre Company, 204 N. 85th St., Seattle presents this play-within-a-play about a fictional drama troupe and their missteps as they try to mount a production of the Dickens tale. Tickets are $20-$33, with a special $52 dinner &theater package Nov. 29, Dec. 5 &6, available at the box office, 206-781-9707 or www.taproottheatre.org.

Music

Tingstad &Rumbel: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, Seattle’s Grammy award winning guitar and woodwind duo present this holiday concert at the Northshore Performing Arts Center, 18125 92nd Ave. NE, Bothell. David Lanz with Gary Stroutsos open. Tickets are $25 adults, $21.25 students/seniors, reserved, available at www.npacf.org, www.ticketswest.com, 800-992-TIXX or at local TicketsWest outlets.

Magical Strings Celtic Yuletide Concert: 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25: The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council’s Arts in Culture Series presents the 27th annual Celtic Yuletide Concert, featuring three generations of the musical Boulding clan, along with lyrical juggler Ryan Mellors, Scottish fiddler Brian McKasson and his sister, pianist and harpist Cali McKasson, Mark Raney on vocals and guitar and the Raney Irish Dancers, at Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Ave. NE, Shoreline. $18 general, $15 seniors &youth, available by calling 206-417-4645 or online at www.ShorelineArts.net.

“Simply Memories”: 3 p.m. &7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, Choir of the Sound’s 31th annual holiday concert, directed by Judy Filibeck, is a nostalgic holiday music program through favorite holiday music, from cartoons to carols, at the Shorecrest High School Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Ave. NE, Shoreline. Tickets are $18 adults, $16 children &seniors, available by calling 206-528-9990, or $20 at the door.

Trinity Lutheran Church Christmas Season Concert Series: at Trinity Lutheran Church, 6215 196th St. SW, Lynnwood presents this special holiday music series. For more information call 425-778-2159 or visit www.trinitylutheranchurch.com.

¿ Bellevue Chamber Chorus: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Tickets are $18 adult, $14 senior/students,$9 junior (12 years &under), available at the door.

¿ Bells of the Sound: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. Admission: $10 adults, $8/youth &seniors suggested donation collected at the door. Children under 8 are free.

¿ Edmonds Symphonic Choir: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3. Tickets available at the door.

¿ Providence Classical Christian School Concert: 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6. Free.

¿ NOEL! Music of Harp, Strings, and Winds: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7.

Tickets: $10-15, available at the door.

¿ Sacred Music Chorale: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15. Admission: Freewill offering.

¿ 2007 A Festival of Lessons &Carols Featuring the Northwest Boychoir:

7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. Tickets: $20 adult, $15 senior, $10 student, reserved, available at 206-524-3234 or www.nwchoirs.org.

¿ Crescendo! Handbell Ensemble Concert: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21. Admission: Donation at the door.

¿ Artists at the Organ presents Norma Aamodt-Nelson: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, music for the Christmas season and Carol singing. Admission: Free.

Chamber Chorale and Shoreline Singers Concert: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5, the SCC Chamber Chorale and Shoreline Singers perform a holiday concert of Christmas and Hanukkah choral music from the Renaissance to contemporary periods, at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, 722 N. 145th St., Shoreline. Tickets are $7, $5 seniors, $3 SCC students &children 14 &under, available by calling 206-546-5899.

“Christmas Dessert Theatre: A Musical Revue”: 7:30 p.m. Friday &Saturday, Dec. 7 &8, Edmonds’ North Sound Church hosts this family friendly live holiday music show and a creative re-telling of the Christmas Story, at Edmonds Conference Center, 201 Fourth Ave. N. in Edmonds. Tickets are $12.50, which includes holiday desserts and beverages, available at www.northsoundchurch.com or by calling 425-776-9800.

“Holiday Magic — Home For The Holidays”: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, under the direction of Frank DeMiero, the 90-voice SnoKing Community Chorale performs its annual holiday concert featuring traditional seasonal music plus “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” at the Edmonds Center For The Arts, 410 4th Avenue North, Edmonds. Tickets are $15 adults, $13 students &seniors, available in advance from chorale members or at the door. For further information, call 425-673-7671 or visit www.sno-kingchorale.org.

“An Old-Time Radio Holiday Show”: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, the Pontiac Bay Symphony Orchestra presents a 1940’s, holiday-themed, old-time show with orchestra and vocal performances of popular music of the day, and classic radio episodes from Jack Benny, Red Skelton, and Fibber McGee and Molly, at Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Avenue North, Edmonds. Tickets are $15 general, $12 student/senior/child, www.brownpapertickets.com, www.pontiacbay.org, or 206-364-0907.

Seattle Jazz Holiday: 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, the Seattle Jazz Singers perform holiday favorites at the Wade James Theatre, 950 Main Street, Edmonds. Tickets are $20, available by calling 425-774-9600, or visit www.driftwoodplayers.com.

Breath of Aire: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, Leavenworth’s Christmas and holiday musicians return to the Wade James Theatre, 950 Main Street, Edmonds. Tickets are $20, available by calling 425-774-9600, or visit www.driftwoodplayers.com.

Soulful Sounds of Christmas XX: 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, the Total Experience Gospel Choir, directed by Pat Wright, with soloist Nichol Venee’ Eskridge perform Christmas &Gospel music at the Shoreline Community College Campus Theater, 16101 Greenwood Avenue North, Shoreline. Tickets are available by calling 206-234-7859, or visit www.veneeoutreachministries.org.