The holiday performing arts season is kicking off this week, so now is the time to make plans and purchase tickets. This year, why not give a holiday performance as a gift? 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. Sunday, Dec. 7, (Arlington), 2 p.m. &7 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13 &14 (Everett) and 2 p.m. &7 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20 &21, Edmonds-based Olympic Ballet Theatre presents its annual full-length production of the holiday ballet, presented Dec. 7 at Byrnes Performing Arts Center, 18821 Crown Ridge Blvd, Arlington, Dec. 13 &14 with the Everett Symphony at the Everett Civic Auditorium, 2415 Colby Ave., Everett, and Dec. 20 &21 at the Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds. 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. 138, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, Ballet Bellevue, accompanied by orchestra, present this holiday tale based on the beloved Raymond Brigg’s story 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 $15-22, reserved, available at www.npacf.org, www.ticketswest.com, 800-992-TIXX or at local TicketsWest outlets.

“The Nutcracker”: 2 &7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, Emerald Ballet Theatre with Rainier Symphony present Tchaikovsky’s holiday fantasy, at the Northshore Performing Arts Center, 18125 92nd Ave. NE, Bothell. Tickets are $15-30, reserved, available at www.npacf.org, www.ticketswest.com, 800-992-TIXX or at local TicketsWest outlets.

Theater

“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”: 7 p.m. Sundays, 8 p.m. Mondays &Tuesdays, Dec. 7-16, Driftwood Players Alternative Stages presents Barbara Robinson’s holiday play about a seemingly doomed annual Christmas pageant, at the Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds. Tickets are $10 for show and dessert buffet, available by calling 425-774-9600 or www.driftwoodplayers.com.

“The Eight: Reindeer Monologues”: Midnight Fridays &Saturdays, Dec. 12-20, The Driftwood Players Late Night series presents this unconventional tale about Santa’s reindeer and revelations of how things really are at the North pole when the sleigh ride is over, at the Wade James Theatre, 950 Main St., Edmonds. Not recommended for those who believe in Santa or are easily offended. Tickets are $5 general, available by calling 425-774-9600 or www.driftwoodplayers.com.

“The Velveteen Rabbit”: 2 p.m. &4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, Village Theatre Pied Piper Presents Enchantment Theatre Company’s production of the holiday classic featuring puppets, masked actors, and magic to tell the story of how “love can make you real,” at the Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett. Recommended for Grades PreK-5. Tickets: $12-$14, available by calling 425-257-8600 or visit www.villagetheatre.org.

“The Christmas Foundling”: 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays &Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays &Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays, through Dec. 27, Taproot Theatre, 204 North 85th St., Seattle, presents an adaptation of the Bret Harte story of California Gold Rush miners celebrating Christmas Eve who instead find themselves tasked with raising a helpless infant. Tickets: $25-$32, available by calling the box office at 206-781-9707, Ticketmaster at 206-292-ARTS or www.taproottheatre.org.

“A Christmas Longing”: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, Edgewood Baptist Church, 20406 76th Ave. W., Edmonds, presents this original musical drama, with a reception following in the church’s Family Activity Center. Admission: Free. Childcare provided. Info: 425-776-5104.

Music

“A Ceremony of Carols”: 3 p.m. &7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, Choir of the Sound’s 32nd annual holiday concert, directed by Judy Filibeck, at the Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Ave. NE, Shoreline. Tickets are $18 adults, $16 students &seniors, $9 children 12 &under, $12 group rate for eight or more tickets, available by calling 800-838-3006 or visit choirofthesound.org/tickets. Tickets purchased at the door are $20.

Trinity Lutheran Church Christmas Concerts: 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.

7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, Seattle Jazz Singers Holiday Concert with Frank DeMiero.

3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, “Alpha &Omega” Trinity Lutheran College Advent Festival Concert.

7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, The Esoterics Choral Group.

7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, Edmonds Symphonic Choir.

“Holiday Magic — Winter Wonderland”: 3:30 p.m. &7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, under the direction of Frank DeMiero, the 90-voice SnoKing Community Chorale performs its annual holiday concert featuring traditional seasonal music, at the Edmonds Center For The Arts, 410 4th Ave. N., Edmonds. Tickets are $15 adults, $13 students &seniors, $5 children 12 &under, plus $2 service fee, available by calling 425-275-9595 or visit www.ec4arts.org.

Christmas Spectacular 2008 “The Gift of Music”: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, the 8th annual fundraiser for the Volunteers of America food bank features Dehner Franks, Ksenia Popova, Chris Clay, Victor Benedetti, Carl Kelley, Brian Tracey, Megan Chenovick, Shelley Logan &the Snohomish Children’s Choir and the Imagine Children’s Museum Singers, at the Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave. Tickets: $15 general admission through the box office or by phone at 425-258-6766.

Holiday Big Band Dance: 7:30-10:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, the award-winning Shorewood High School Jazz Band, SW Stage Band and special guests the Shoreline CC Jazz Band perform at the new Pagoda Union Building on the Shoreline Community College campus. Dance lessons prior to concert. Tickets: $15 adults, $10 students, available from Shorewood Jazz Band members, or by emailing director Paul Harshman (paul.harshman@shorelineschools.org). A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

SCC Concert Band: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, a special holiday program at the Shorecrest Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Ave. NE, Shoreline. Tickets:$8 general, $6 seniors (60+) &non-SCC students, $4 children 14 &under &SCC students, available by calling Brown Paper Tickets, 800-838-3006, on line at www.brownpapertickets.com, at the SCC Cashiers Office and at the door.

Chamber Chorale and Shoreline Singers Concert: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, the SCC choirs, directed by Dr. Fredrick Lokken, present a program of choral music from the Renaissance to the contemporary eras, featuring Vivaldi’s “Magnificat,” with chamber orchestra and soloists, at Calvin Presbyterian Church, 18826 3rd Ave. NW, Shoreline. Tickets: $8 general, $6 seniors (60+) &non-SCC students, $4 children 14 &under &SCC students, available by calling Brown Paper Tickets, 800-838-3006, on line at www.brownpapertickets.com, at the SCC Cashiers Office and at the door.

Mountlake Terrace High School Choirs &Orchestra “Gloria” Concert: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, the student groups perform a concert of Vivaldi’s “Gloria” in the MTHS Theatre, 21801 44th Ave. W. A benefit for the Concern for Neighbors Food Bank in Mountlake Terrace and Clothes for Kids in Lynnwood, cash donations, non-perishable food items, and new or gently used clothes for infants through high school will be accepted, along with gift cards. Info: www.mthsmusicboosters.org.

Mountlake Terrace High School Bands Concert: 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, school bands, including the nationally recognized Jazz Ensemble 1, will perform in the MTHS Theatre, 21801 44th Ave. W. A benefit for the Concern for Neighbors Food Bank in Mountlake Terrace and Clothes for Kids in Lynnwood, cash donations, non-perishable food items, and new or gently used clothes for infants through high school will be accepted, along with gift cards. Info: www.mthsmusicboosters.org.

“Winter Wonderland”: 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, the Pontiac Bay Symphony Orchestra with guest conductor and Hollywood film and TV composer, Hummie Mann, presents a program of music from animation and holiday favorites, including The Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, a medley of music from the Charlie Brown TV specials, Chronicles of Narnia, The Polar Express and others, at the Museum of History and Industry, 2700 24th Ave. E., Seattle. Tickets are $17 general, $15 student/senior/child, available at www.pontiacbay.org and 206-364-0907.