It’s the holiday season, and for many families, that means it’s also The Nutcracker season! There’s something so special about hearing a live orchestra play the famous music and seeing professional dancers perform.
In Austin, Ballet Austin performs The Nutcracker each December at the Long Center. It’s such a fun experience in the middle of the city, but if you need more info to see if it’s right for you this year, I’ve got FAQ about The Nutcracker below!
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How long is The Nutcracker Austin?
The Nutcracker is just over 2 hours: two 50-minute acts with a 20-minute intermission in the middle.
How much are tickets to The Nutcracker?
Tickets range from $25 to $135.
Kids 3 and under can get a free Lap Ticket at the box office if they don’t need their own seat.
Where do you park for The Nutcracker at the Long Center?
There are a few options for parking when you see The Nutcracker. The Long Center shares a parking garage with the Palmer Events Center, and there are entrances on Barton Springs and Riverside. It’s $10 per car. The line can get very long to enter, so arrive early, especially if it’s a weekend and there are events happening at the Palmer Events Center too.
You can also valet park at the Long Center. $20 to $40.
Other garage options are: Riversouth Garage, 801 Parking Garage, One Texas Center Garage.
What do you wear to see The Nutcracker in Austin?
There is no formal dress code for attending The Nutcracker, but many people take it as an opportunity to dress up. Ballet Austin suggests business casual attire, including dresses, blouses, skirts, dress pants, nice polo shirts, button-up shirts, sports coats or suits. You will likely also see people dressed more casually, .
The theatre is air conditioned, so bring a sweater if you tend to get chilly.
How early should I get to the Long Center?
I recommend aiming to get there at least an hour early. That way you can get through the parking lines and walk to the Long Center without stress. There are also pre-show activities, shopping, concessions and photo ops to fill your time if you arrive early.
Last year, we didn’t get there early enough and were stuck in the line for parking and starting to panic that we’d miss the beginning of the show. This year, we gave ourselves more time and it was SO much more enjoyable!
What is the best age for a child to see The Nutcracker?
If a kid can’t sit through a movie yet, they won’t do very well at The Nutcracker. It is long, slow and quiet at parts, with no words to help them understand what’s going on.
People bring kids of all ages to The Nutcracker, so you can of course bring your kids no matter how old they are. But if we’re talking about sitting through most of it and not being too disruptive, I’d say 4 or 5 is the youngest.
Tips for seeing The Nutcracker with kids
Whatever age your kid is, set yourself up for success by preparing ahead of time. These tips will help you all enjoy it more.
- Read or watch the story of the Nutcracker before you go. Since there are no words, it’s helpful to give kids an idea of the story they’re watching. It’s not clear if you haven’t heard the story before!
- Listen to the music beforehand. Kids love familiarity, so if they can recognize the songs, they’ll be more interested in seeing the dances.
- Make it special by dressing up and/or buying a special ornament or nutcracker while you’re there.
- Buy or bring some snacks. When your kid starts to get wiggly or bored, hand them a small snack or piece of candy. It resets their boredom clock a little bit. Repeat as needed.
- Bring a silent activity. I bring a small pad of paper and a pen and let my daughter draw a little when she’s getting tired of watching (normally in the second act). The market area in the lobby also sells a small Nutcracker sticker set for $5 that is perfect.
- Sit on an aisle seat. If you’re worried that your little one will start to disrupt others during the performance, try to book a seat near the aisle so you can duck out early.
Are there other, smaller productions of The Nutcracker in Austin?
Ballet Austin is the big Nutcracker production in Austin, but there are other dance companies and studios that put on their own versions.
- The Austin Dance Conservatory at The Palace Theater in Georgetown. Dec. 16-17.
- Ballet Afrique at The Paramount Theatre. Dec. 15
- Metamorphosis Dance at Penfold Theater. Dec. 5-7
- There are also lots of opportunities to see youth ballet studios perform The Nutcracker all over Austin.
Looking for more seasonal fun? Try one of these posts: