The Nutcracker

PURE HOLIDAY MAGIC

with the City Ballet Orchestra, John Nettles conducting

Awarded San Diego’s Best Nutcracker, City Ballet of San Diego performs the traditional full-length holiday classic with live orchestra.

Performances and Tickets

$39 • $59 • $79 • $99 • $119

Concert Hall
California Center for the Arts, Escondido

Individual and Season tickets available now!

Sat, Dec 20, 2025
2:00pm

Sat, Dec 20, 2025
7:30pm

Sun, Dec 21, 2025
2:00pm

Mon, Dec 22, 2025
7:30pm

Tue, Dec 23, 2025
2:00pm

Tue, Dec 23, 2025
7:30pm

Theater box office will add fees and service charges to the above ticket prices.

Discount Tickets Available

Season Tickets
Save up to 20%

Discount Tickets Available

Season Tickets
Save up to 20%

Program

Holiday Carols in the Lobby

Join live carolers in the theater lobby prior to each Nutcracker performance and be part of the full holiday experience

The Nutcracker

Full-Length Ballet Classic

The classic Victorian-era story of the adventures of Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, Herr Drosselmeyer, and the Sugar Plum Fairy told through a magical theatrical experience set to Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s famous score. Young and old alike will be captivated by Elizabeth Wistrich’s choreography, the exquisite costumes and grand sets. Let your childhood dreams return and inspire you to imagine a bygone time.

Choreography

Elizabeth Wistrich (1995), after Rudolph Nureyev, Lev Ivanov, Vassily Vainonen, and William Christensen

Music

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1892)
Performed live by City Ballet Orchestra, John Nettles conducting

Last performed by City Ballet of San Diego in December 2024

Programming subject to change

Thank you to the Production Sponsor

Individual ticket sales begin Tuesday, Sep 2^nd, 2025.

Purchase a season ticket package today and save up to 20%.

Season Tickets

Thank You to Our Season Sponsors

Photography provided by Chelsea Penyak, Jaroslav Richters, Sophie Robertson, Anna Scipione, Dale Stokes, and Carly Topazio. The photography on this website depicts choreography copyrighted by the individual choreographers. Videography provided by Gary St. Martin of Convention Video. Choreography by George Balanchine is copyrighted by The George Balanchine Trust.

“City Ballet of San Diego” and the block letter logo are copyright trademarks of City Ballet, Inc.