A Holiday Tradition: Ballet Idaho’s The Nutcracker

Downtown Boise is truly magical during the holiday season. Bundle up and stroll the streets of our vibrant city! Admire images of winter wonderlands, hand-painted onto storefront windows, marvel at the town’s 45-foot tall Colorado Blue Spruce tree strung with more than 5000 twinkling lights, shop for locally sourced gifts at one of many charming boutiques, or revisit childhood fun at The Grove Plaza’s very own outdoor ice skating rink. 

The city is truly aglow with hundreds of lampposts wrapped in glistening lights, brightly lit wreaths hung throughout, and glittering snowflake swag strung across bustling intersections. 

With the holiday season approaching, be sure to plan a special evening to take it all in. There is no better way to get into the spirit or experience the magic of the season. Visit The Saint Alphonsus Festival of Trees to view magnificent holiday decorations, celebrate with neighbors at the Plaza’s tree lighting ceremony, enjoy fine-dining at one of the city’s hot spots, and partake in one of the season’s favorite traditions – The Nutcracker – performed by Ballet Idaho. 

We are thrilled to feature this year’s production of The Nutcracker, a graceful retelling of the beloved, age-old tale, and Ballet Idaho sent us the following information about this special performance. 

“Once again, Ballet Idaho will bring its resplendent confectionary holiday tradition that is The Nutcracker to Treasure Valley audiences, a longtime staple for many Boiseans in December. With enchanting choreography by Peter Anastos, magical and opulent sets by Christopher McCollum, and shimmering, breathtaking costumes by Margaret Mitchell, this production has been a local favorite for years. 

Ballet Idaho will continue the cherished collaboration with the Boise Philharmonic to bring the lush sounds of Tchaikovsky’s score to life at the Morrison Center for the Performing Arts. One of Ballet Idaho’s biggest shows, the production casts upward of 90 children from Ballet Idaho Academy and utilizes every Ballet Idaho company member and Ballet Idaho Trainee. From the moment the curtain opens at the vivid home of the Stahlbaums, through the snowy, winter woods under a full moon, to the saturated and glittery Land of Sweets, Ballet Idaho’s version of this timeless classic is not to be missed.”