An Afternoon at the PNW Ballet’s The Nutcracker

Every year, my friend Shanna and I treat ourselves to an afternoon at the PNW Ballet’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®. It’s been a tradition for several years now, but last year we made it official: rain, shine, or significant others – this is our thing. Once a year, we wine and dine ourselves at this magical Seattle event, no excuses.

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An Afternoon at the PNW Ballet’s The Nutcracker

How it all began

Once upon a time, I served as the Member Connections Chair at a local non-profit organization. During that time, my team and I gathered a group of gals to attend The Nutcracker together. Shanna and I spearheaded the event, and honestly, we haven’t looked back since.

It was such a treat to get dressed up, enjoy life outside of work, and bond with an incredible group of women. We talked about that experience for years afterward.

So… we went again.

Making It Work (and Making It Special)

At first, it was every other year. We were both paying off student loans and working hard to get out of debt. Eventually, we realized we could budget for it – just a little each month. By the time ticket season rolled around, we had enough saved for great seats and brunch.

It became our little end-of-year reward. A quiet celebration of progress and hard work.

There are a few years missing from the timeline – especially the year I traveled for the entire month of December (see my Christmas Market posts). In the past, we also tried to time our visit with the Urban Craft Fair to support local artists, but that hasn’t always panned out. Life happens.

This Year’s Plan (Thanks, Past Us 😘)

This year, we felt especially lucky because once again, past Alli and Shanna really took care of future us. We booked brunch at Toulouse Petit, known for their amazing beignets. This was our second year going, and they absolutely never fail us. That said, we’ve already decided we might mix it up and try something new next year.

We ran a little later than usual but still managed to get our obligatory photos in front of the Christmas trees in the lobby. We also treated ourselves to killer orchestra-level seats and, of course, a cookie during intermission.

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Why This Tradition Matters So Much

Every year, I feel so deeply grateful for our friendship. This tradition has become a reflection of how far we’ve both come – not just as individuals, but as friends. We started sitting far back and high up, and now we’re able to splurge and truly celebrate each other.

There’s something incredibly special about closing out the year like this, side by side with someone who has walked so much of life with you.

A Little Extra Magic This Year

Now that I’ve gotten a little sentimental… we both agreed that this year’s performance felt extra magical. The PNW Ballet cast was absolutely incredible – every solo, every performance, truly stunning. And the beautifully diverse cast felt like such a celebration of Seattle itself.

I loved every second and honestly wish I could do it all over again. But alas… there’s always next year.

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I’d love to know if The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition for you and your family or friends – or what you do instead. Someday, I’d love to see it performed in NYC or somewhere abroad. That feels like a super dreamy travel adventure.

Until then, wishing you an extra special Nutcracker season.

Other posts you might enjoy:

• Christmas Market Finds: Unique and Local Ornaments
• A Magical Holiday Tradition: The Pacific Northwest Ballet’s The Nutcracker (2024)
• PNWB’s The Nutcracker (2022)

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