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For those families who can’t wait to return to the tradition of attending Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, the 2021 season in the greater Washington metropolitan area has many options. From traditional ballet to circus-style performances, from hip-hop reimagining to a puppet show, there are so many exciting Nutcracker performances to choose from, you won’t want to pick just one!

The Washington Ballet

The Washington Ballet’s American Revolution-themed Nutcracker featured historical figures like George Washington and King George III. Note, the performers dance to a recording of The Nutcracker, not a live orchestra, but the kids won't notice.

Insider Tip: Attend on Family Day, Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. and enjoy craft stations for coloring and ornament making, photo ops with dancers, and watch rehearsal to learn how dancers prepare for performance.

When: Nov. 27-Dec. 26
Where: Washington Ballet-Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW
COVID Policy: Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours is required to attend.
Online: tinybeans.com

The Puppet Company

For the youngest of the bunch, or families interested in a “My First Nutcracker” experience, The Puppet Company offers Tchaikovsky's familiar story of Clara and her prince with nursery rhyme spin. The Puppet Company is especially sensitive to the needs of children in theater, with gently dimmed lights and family-friendly seating.

Insider Tip: The Irish Inn at Glen Echo is walking-distance from the park and a great spot for a hearty pre- or post-performance meal. The Fish and Chips are delicious!

When: Nov. 26-Jan. 2
Where: Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD
COVID Policy: Performances are capped at fifty percent capacity and masking is required.
Online: tinybeans.com

Cirque Nutcracker

Troupe Vertigo’s acrobats, jugglers and high-flying aerialists join the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for a truly unique Nutcracker experience! Fusing together elements of cirque acrobatics, classical dance and contemporary theater, this promises to be a spectacular addition to holiday performances.

When: Dec. 11 & 12
Where: Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, 1201 Cathedral St., Baltimore, MD
COVID Policy: Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours is required to attend.
Online: tinybeans.com

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

A remixed and reimagined version of the classic, The Hip Hop Nutcracker returns to Strathmore as a holiday spectacle for the whole family. Enjoy a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set.

When: Dec. 20–22
Where: Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, MD
COVID Policy: Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours is required to attend.
Online: tinybeans.com

Worth-the-Drive Nutcrackers

Nutcracker Doll — Alexas_Fotos via Pixabay

Loudoun School of Ballet
If you are longing for a Nutcracker-themed tea, head to Purcellville to see excerpts from the Loudoun School of Ballet’s upcoming full-length Nutcracker. Enjoy delicious food and a host of photo opportunities as well. Loudoun School of Ballet will also perform a full-length Nutcracker on Dec. 4-6.

When: Nov. 21 (tea); Dec. 4-6 (stage performance)
Where: 200 E Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville, VA (tea); 340 N Maple Ave., Purcellville, VA (stage performance)
Online: lbpac.org

Metropolitan Ballet Theatre
Metropolitan Ballet Theatre offers a full-length Nutcracker as well as a shorter performance. Their Nutcracker Suite is a wonderful option for younger audiences who want to experience the ballet in under one hour. Audience size will be limited due to safety protocol for Covid-19, so get your tickets today and be a part of this seasonal ballet tradition!

When: Full-Length Performance: Dec. 4-12 (full length); Dec. 5 & 12 (short version)
Where: 51 Mannakee St., Rockville, MD
Online: mbtdance.org

Frederick School of Ballet
A Frederick holiday tradition, this full-length ballet features artists from the New York City Ballet and students from the Frederick School of Classical Ballet. Children under 2 are exempt and for children ages 2 to 12, the only requirement is to wear a mask.

When: Dec. 10-12
Where: 20 West Patrick St., Frederick, MD
COVID Policy: Proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test result within 72 hours required.
Online: weinbergcenter.org

The Maryland Theater
The Nutcracker features Washington Ballet artists Nicole Graniero and Oscar Sanchez as The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. A full cast of over 100 dancers, brilliant costume and prop design, and a good dose of theatrical magic bring this family Christmas tradition to life!

Editor's Note: The Maryland Theater does not require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test.
When: December 11 & 12, 2021
Where: The Maryland Theater, 21 S Potomac St., Hagerstown, MD
Online: mdtheatre.org

—Mary Martha Aubry

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I had been warned. I knew the deal. It’s the Grand Canyon, after all! That means lots of heights. Some peeps warned me that there were many places at the Grand Canyon which didn’t even have railings. What?! That’s crazy talk, I said. One could just fall off if not paying attention. And we were going to take a five-year-old to such a place?! Yet, despite all of the warnings from peeps we knew and loved, we still planned our trip to the Grand Canyon.

Spoiler: the peeps were right! Look, I’m not a huge fan of heights. In fact, the last true roller coaster I rode was in 1994 because I hyperventilated on it and was taken to the park’s underground emergency room to recover for a couple of hours. I didn’t even know that amusement parks had underground emergency rooms. But trust me, they do. And they aren’t amusing.

We finally cleared all the traffic and parked the car at the top of the hill, with my family eager to get a glimpse of the glorious Grand Canyon. Me? I was less than stoked. While my kid reached octave ranges I didn’t know was possible, my hands were starting to sweat. The nerves were setting in. What if all those peeps were right? Well, I already spoiled the fact that they were. What if I freak out? I’ll go ahead and spoil that one, too: Yep, I freaked.

You can’t really see the glory from where you park. The incline is enough to save that horrific moment for when you can no longer turn the car around. They know what they’re doing. So we got out and walked ever closer to the sprawl of canyons. Ever closer to my panic attack. And then…there it was. The largest nature thing I’ve ever seen. It was beautiful. As far as the eye could see, it was like nature upchucked rainbows and unicorns.

My daughter freaked. She took off towards what I could only see as inevitable doom. Just like my peeps had said, there were no railings. There was no way for me to control this situation. There was only nature’s throw up.

My wife attempted to calm me down, reminding me that she was all over it. And it’s not that I didn’t trust her. It’s just…cliffs! And doom! And vertigo-inducing heights! And she’s 5! She can’t even read! Not that there were any “could cause instant death” signs to be read, mind you.

The first place I wanted to go was a building that I saw. An enclosed—fully enclosed—building where you could read a little about the Grand Canyon while gazing out at its wonders. But most importantly…enclosed. We took a quick tour through the building, but it was clear I couldn’t win this battle. My daughter wanted to see the glory without glass in front of her. She wanted the full experience. Five-year-olds, am I right?

Eventually, we braved out close to the edges of insanity. I dubbed them that as I mustered up enough courage to approach them. I had no choice, of course, because my family was going with or without me. And I had to protect them from those cliffs! We even took some pictures, and as you can see, I’m darn close to that edge. I get weak-kneed just looking at that pic.

I yelled at my daughter to further herself from the edge numerous times as the day progressed. Am I proud of that? No. But this was survival mode. Instincts at full throttle.

Later, we decided to take a nice climb along the rim of the Grand Canyon. This was okay with me because the cliffs were a little further from us. But then the unthinkable happened. It started to snow. And we’re talking like, huge snowflakes at a wind-ridden whip. This, of course, turned the nice incline climb into a new level of terror. But, it also gave me an out. This was what I needed! Our five year old wasn’t dressed for snow. We had to get her out of there. Think of her health!

And thus began our descent, both towards the car and my own sanity. It took us quite a while, as the bus station lines were now longer than amusement parks at the holidays, but we made it back to wonderful solid ground, which wrapped around us on all sides like a warm blanky.

Despite my temporary insanity, my family managed to have an incredible time at the Grand Canyon. My daughter absolutely adored the trip. And I’ll be the first to admit that the views are nothing short of awe-inspiring. If you’ve never been, you should go. Just be prepared if you have a fear of heights.

The Grand Canyon. Yep, for this Dad, once is enough.

Featured Photo Courtesy: Me

Jason Hauser

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

I am a writer, producer, and unironical supporter of Taco Bell. But most importantly, I'm my kid's dad—and I take that job extremely seriously. Employers might argue that I take it far more seriously than my actual jobs.

ML Interest Tag: vertigo

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