Dance

Ballet Bellevue
Raymond Briggs "The Snowman"
December 8-9, 2pm/7:30pm
Northshore Performing Arts Center, 18125 92nd Ave NE, Bothell
The first US ballet production of The Snowman is based on the beloved children's book by Raymond Briggs, with Jennifer Porter's original choreography and enchanting music by Howard Blake.
Ticket info: BalletBellevue.org

International Ballet Theatre
The Nutcracker
December 7-9
Kirkland Performance Center
December 13-23
Meydenbauer Theatre in Bellevue
IBT's Nutcracker features world renowned dancers, Dmitry Zavalishin and Maria Makarenko, from St. Petersburg, exquisite costumes and sets custom-made in Ukraine, and reflects the original choreography created in 1892.
Celebrate with Afternoon Tea before the December 16th matinee.
More info: (425) 284-0444 or InterBalletTheatre.org

Heritage

Eastside Heritage Center
Magic Season Fireside Storytelling & Crafts
Saturday, December 8, 11am to 3pm
Winters House, 2102 Bellevue Way SE
Open-house activities include winter season stories told by long-time Bellevue residents, guided tours of this nationally registered historic house and grounds, heritage exhibits, and craft objects to make and take home. Everyone is welcome!
Info: (425) 450-1049 or EastsideHeritageCenter.org

Eastside Heritage Center
Golliver Family Santa Collection
At Crossroads Bellevue is a display of over 100 Santas in "The Santa Collection, Santas from Around the World"
At the Winters House find "Santas of Christmas Past" and "How Does Santa Get Around the World"
At Key Center in Bellevue are Santas "Home for the Holidays"
At Meydenbauer Center is a show of "Santa Ceramics"
Info: EastsideHeritageCenter.org

Music

Bellevue Opera
Mozart's THE MAGIC FLUTE
December 1-2, at 7:30pm/2pm
IKEA Performing Arts Center, Renton
A holiday treat for the young and the young-at-heart, with some of the most beautiful music ever written for the voice. Bellevue Opera debuts by Seattle Opera Young Artist Jared Rogers, Linda Mattos and Craig Grayson
Tickets: TicketWindowOnline.com; info: BellevueOpera.org

Bellevue Chamber Chorus
Christmas in America
December 1, 7:30 pm
Trinity Lutheran Church, Lynnwood
December 2, 3:00 pm
St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, Bellevue
Includes Lauridsen's O magnum mysterium, Ives' A Christmas Carol, and Daniel Pinkham's Christmas Cantata with guests Cascadia Brass. Directed by Dr. Fredrick Lokken
Tickets: (425) 881-0445 or BellevueChamberChorus.net

The Bellevue Philharmonic
"40th Anniversary Concert"
Saturday, Dec 1, 7:30 pm
Sunday, Dec 2, 2:00 pm
Theatre at Meydenbauer Center
Fusao Kajima, music director; Peter Soave, soloist.
Puccini: Capriccio sinfonico; Prokofiev: Lt. Kije Suite; Piazzolla: Concerto for Bandoneon; Tchaikovsky: Rome and Juliet Fantasy-Overture
Tickets: BellevuePhil.org or from TicketWindow: (206) 325-6500 (Tues-Sat, 12-6pm)

Master Chorus Eastside
Gloria! Music for Chorus and Harp
Sunday, Dec 2, 3pm
Kirkland Performance Center
Saturday Dec 8, 7:30pm
Eastlake Performing Arts Center
Bring in holiday cheer with Master Chorus Eastside as they present carols ancient and modern, accompanied by the instrument of the angels. Guest harpists are Patti Warden and Heidi Dunlap.
Tickets: (425) 392-8446 or MasterChorusEastside.org

Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra
Free Concert
Sunday Dec 2, 2pm
Crossroads of Bellevue
BYSO Flute Orchestra performing. Info: BYSO.org

Kirkland Choral Society
20th Season Opening Concert
Sunday, Dec 2
Bastyr University Chapel
KCS sings Bruckner's Mass in E Minor and Respighi's Laud to the Nativity, and pieces by Barber, Whitacre and Lauridsen.
Tickets: 425-417-9283 or KirklandChoralSociety.org

Music Works Northwest
First Friday Concert
December 7, 7:30 pm
14360 SE Eastgate Way, Belleuve
A selection of music for the holidays, played by the Sammamish String Duo and Sammamish Brass. Free admission, donations accepted at door, kids welcome. MusicWorksNW.org/Concerts

Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra
Columbia Choirs
Magic of Mistletoe
Sunday Dec 9, 7pm
Theatre at Meydenbauer
BYSO Youth Symphony, Sinfonia, Columbia Vocal Ensemble.
Tickets at door. Info: BYSO.org

Cascadian Chorale
"Elements...of the season...of the year"
Dec. 15, 7:30 pm
St. Margaret's Episcopal, Bellevue
Dec. 16, 2:30 pm
Plymouth Congregational, Seattle
Silent nights and eternal lights have inspired this program featuring Lauridsen's "Lux Aeterna."
Tickets: (206) 286-6028 or CascadianChorale.org

Sammamish Symphony Orchestra
Holiday Pops
December 15, 7:30 pm
December 16, 2pm
Eastlake Performing Arts Center, Sammamish
Conducted by R. Joseph Scott. Tickets: 1-800-965-4827 or SammamishSymphony.org

Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra
Winter Wonderland
Monday December 17, 2pm
Carco Theatre, Renton
BYSO Premiere Orchestra, Debut String Orchestra.
Tickets at door. Info: BYSO.org

Academy of Music Northwest
Academy Chamber Orchestra Concert
December 18, 7:30 pm
Congregational Church of Mercer Island, 4545 Island Crest Way, 98040
Academy Chamber Orchestra; Chamber Music Ensemble; Award Winning Soloists. Freewill donations at the door support performance programs.
AcademyChamberOrchestra.org

Kirkland Performance Center
The Bobs - Too Many Santas
December 22, 8:00pm
Richard Greene, Matthew Bob Stull, Amy Bob Englehardt and Dan Bob Schmacher are a contemporary a cappella quartet that fuses music, theatre and comedy with the spirit of the season.
Tickets: (425) 893-9900 or KPCenter.org

Christmas Ships
Enjoy performances by EAC members on the following dates:
Columbia Choirs: Dec 4, 13 and 15
Bellevue Chamber Chorus: Dec 16
Master Chorus Eastside: Dec 21
Pacific Sound Chorus: Dec 22
ArgosyXmasSchedule

Theatre

Village Theatre Originals
Love is Love
Thru December 16
First Stage Theatre, Issaquah
From the creator of the eternal Annie comes the journey of 12 unique women as they grapple with the mysteries and complications of love.
Tickets: (425) 392-2202 or VillageTheatre.org

Studio East
'Twas the Night...
Thru Dec 16
Fridays @ 7pm, Saturdays @ 10, 1, 4, & 7pm, Sundays @ 1 & 4 pm
Studio East Mainstage Theater, 402 Sixth Street South, Kirkland
Now in its 7th season. Join us for this hilarious spin on the familiar holiday poem - a live musical guaranteed to have the whole family laughing! Written and directed by Lani Brockman & Susan Bardsley. Recommended for all ages. (90 mins)
Tickets: (425) 827-3123 or Studio-East.org

Village Theatre - Issaquah
The King and I
Thru January 6
Rodgers and Hammerstein's Tony Award-winning classic is a stunning tale of learning to love and learning to change, and is perfect for the entire family.
Tickets: (425) 392-2202 or VillageTheatre.org

SecondStory Repertory
The No Hole Holiday
December 7-23
Back by popular demand! The Grump Sisters have sabotaged the factory that makes all the Holes. Can Axel the Elf save the day?
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:15pm. Special Saturday matinee December 22 at 2:15pm
Tickets: (425) 881-6777 (Tue-Sat 1-5) or SecondStoryRep.org

Bellevue Youth Theatre
Miracle on 34th Street
December 7 & 8, 7pm
December 9, 2pm
Theatre at Meydenbauer
Tickets: $10 reserved seating - (425) 452-7155 Bellevuewa.gov/youth_theatre_productions

Thistle Theatre
Merry Chris Mouse, puppet production
December 8-9, 2pm & 4pm
Bellevue Youth Theatre
16661 Northrup Way
Mouse twins Christine and Christopher scamper out to scavenge in a child's room and discover a caged white mouse in need of rescue. An original heartwarming story of sharing at holiday time, performed by the Bunraku puppeteers of Thistle Theatre.
Tickets: (206) 524-3388 or ThistleTheatre.org

Kirkland Performance Center
Santaland Diaries and Other Stories
December 15, 8pm
David Sedaris' anti-holiday classic is based on his real-life experiences working as an elf in Macy's, and reveals the true story of what goes on behind Santa's workshop!
Tickets: (425) 893-9900 or KPCenter.org

Kirkland Performance Center
Galumpha
December 16, 3pm
Family entertainment that combines acrobatics, human architecture and physics. Their inventive choreography and physical comedy will have the whole family wondering: how did they do that?
Tickets: (425) 893-9900 or KPCenter.org

And for something quite different.....
Eclectic Theater Company
He Sees You When You're Sleeping
Nov 30 - Dec 29
Friday & Saturday, 8pm
Odd Duck Studio, 1214 10th Ave, Seattle, 98122
Trim the tree and stuff the stockings with death!!! It's horror for the holidays as Blood Squad presents live, improvised, horror-movie mayhem. Better watch out, better not die.
EclecticTheaterCompany.org

Visual Arts

Kirkland Arts Center
Holiday Arts Sale
December 1 -19, 10:30-6pm
Art, fine crafts, jewelry and gifts created by KAC faculty and members. Free Family Event on Sat, Dec 8, 10:30-1pm
KirklandArtsCenter.org

Eastside Association of Fine Arts
32nd Annual Exhibition
December 2 - January 4
Mon-Fri 10-5
Redmond City Hall Lobby, 15670 NE 85th
Works by 100 local and regional painters, sculptors and photographers, chosen by nationally-prominent watercolorist Carla O'Connor (Gig Harbor, WA). Opening Reception on Sunday, Dec 2 (2-5) coincides with a reception for outgoing Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives.
EAFA.org

Bellevue Arts Museum
Don't miss the exhibitions: Russel Wright: Living with Good Design, A Tapestry of Memories: The Art of Dinh Q. Lê, Ed Pien: Haven, and The Premonition, Paul Marioni. BellevueArts.org

Bellevue Arts Museum
Holiday Shopping Event
Friday, Dec 7, 10am-9pm
Find the perfect gift or treat yourself to something special. Get 10% off in the Museum Store during this one-day only event! BellevueArts.org

Bellevue Arts Museum
Holiday Crafts
December 18-21, 4-5 pm
Visit the Museum for a range of holiday-themed craft activities. There will be a different project each day. Drop-in for one or all of them. Free to the public. BellevueArts.org

Classes, Camps & Workshops

KBCS 91.3FM, Community Radio
FREE trainings
Wednesdays, 7:30-9pm
Bellevue Community College
1st Wed. (Dec 5) Public Affairs Volunteer Orientation
2nd Wed. (Dec 12) Radio Journalism
3rd Wed. (Dec 19) Art of Interviewing
Info/RSVP: Joaquin Uy at (425) 564-6195, or juy@kbcs.fm KBCS.fm

SecondStory Repertory
Winter Break Camps
No Fear Shakespeare (Ages: 11-18)
Meets Dec 19-21 10am-4pm
Musical-Where the Sidewalk Ends (Ages: 7-14)
Meets: Dec 26-28 10am-4pm
More details: (425) 881-6777 (Tue-Sat 1-5) or SecondStoryRep.org

Kirkland Choral Society is holding open auditions throughout the season. Schedule yours by emailing Auditions@KirklandChoralSociety.org