The holidays are here again, and whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or some winter pagan festival your family celebrates, chances are you're tired of doing the same old stuff. This year, you could try not supporting the capitalist overlords who cram seasonal merchandise down your throat. Or, better yet, try drinking too much eggnog and building an anatomically correct snowman on your neighbor's lawn.

Or, perhaps more appropriately, check out this guide to the South Sound's holiday happenings. There are plenty of events planned to get you and your holiday guests out of the house and into the spirit.

DANCE

Pantages Theater. Tacoma - Downtown. Tacoma City Ballet - The Nutcracker. Dec. 18 3 pm, Dec. 21 1 and 5 pm. $19-$60. (901 Broadway, 253.591.5894)

• Mount Tahoma High School Auditorium Tacoma - South. Dance Theatre Northwest presents Nutcracker in the form of a bedtime story. Dec. 18 4 pm. $11-$26. Washington Contemporary Ballet presents Nutcracker with original choreography by Kay Englert. Dec. 21-23 7:30 pm. $15-$18. (4634 S. 74th St., 253.778.6534).

Stadium High School Tacoma - Stadium District. Tacoma Performing Dance. Co. presents Nutcracker with original choreography by Jo Emery. Dec. 18 1 and 6 pm. $18-$22. (111 N. E St., 253.752.8530).

EVENTS/FESTIVALS

Tollefson Plaza. Tacoma - Downtown. Franciscan Polar Plaza - Holiday Skating. Through Jan. 2. 4-10 pm Mon-Fri 10 am-10 pm Sat 10 am-8 pm Sun. $8 General, $7 TAM members, Active Duty Military. TwoFiveTrees tree lot. Through Dec. 20. 10 am-10 pm Sun-Fri 8 am-10 pm Sat. (17th and Commerce, 253.627.2175)

• Courtyard By Marriott. Tacoma - Downtown. Pacific Grill Presents: New Year's Eve with Chris Anderson. Dec 31 8:30-midnight. $35-$60. (1515 Commerce Street, 253.591.9100)

Farrelli's Gourmet Wood Fire Pizza Tacoma. Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Santa's Coming to Farrelli's Pizza in Tacoma! Dec 19 5-8 pm. Free. (3518 6th Avenue, 253.759.1999)

• Mandolin Cafe. Tacoma - Central. Winter Solstice Celebration. Dec 21 6-10 pm. $25. (3923 South 12th Street, 253.761.3482)

Meeker Mansion. Puyallup. Christmas at the Mansion. Daily, through Dec. 20. 10 am-4 pm. $3-$5. (312 Spring St., 253.848.1770)

• Percival Landing. Olympia - Downtown. Dancing Lights Marine Christmas Show. Daily, through Dec. 24. 7 pm. Free. (625 Columbia St.)

Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. Tacoma - Northend. Scuba Diving Santa. Every Wednesday, through Dec. 28. 6:30 pm. Free with Zoolights admission. ZOOLIGHTS. Daily, through Jan. 1. 5-9 pm (open every night except Dec 24). $7-$15.50, 2 years and younger free. (5400 N. Pearl St., 253.591.5368)

• Spanaway Park Spanaway. Fantasy Light holiday drive-through light show. Through Jan. 1 5:30-9 pm. $13 per vehicle. (Just west of 152nd Street and Pacific Avenue, 253.798.4177).

Imperial Dragon. Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Strypes Annual New Year's Eve Bash with Vital Signs. Dec 31 8:30 pm. $20 per person. (6805 Sixth Ave., 253.565.5477)

FILM

The Grand Cinema. Tacoma - Downtown. Tuesday Film Series: Miracle on 34th Street. Dec 20 2 pm 6:30 pm. (606 South Fawcett Avenue, 253.593.4474)

THEATER

Capital Playhouse. Olympia - Downtown. Scrooge, the Musical. Through Dec. 26. 7:30 pm Thurs-Sat 2 pm Sun. $28-$39. (612 4th Ave. E., 360.943.2744)

• Knutzen Family Theatre. Federal Way. Centerstage Theatre Presents: Pinocchio. Through Dec. 23. 2 pm Sat-Sun 7:30 pm Sat. $12.50-$27.50. (3200 Southwest Dash Point Road, 253.835.2020)

Harlequin Productions. Olympia - Downtown. Stardust Serenade. Through Dec. 11. 8 pm Thurs-Sat 2 pm Sun. $25-$38. (State Theater, 360.786.0151)

• Lakewood Playhouse. Lakewood. Oliver! Through Dec. 23. 8 pm Fri-Sat 2 pm Sun also 2 pm Sat Dec 10. $22-$28. Oliver! Daily, through Dec. 23. 7 pm. $22-$28. (5729 Lakewood Towne Center Boulevard SW, 253.588.0042)

Olympia Little Theater. Olympia - Eastside. Holiday Memories. Through Dec. 18. 7:55 pm Thurs-Sat. 1:55 pm Sun. $12-$14. (1925 Miller Avenue, 360.786.9484)

• Rialto Theater. Tacoma - Downtown. Puget Sound Revels presents: The Christmas Revels. Daily, Dec. 17-18, 20-21. 7:30 pm Tues-Wed, 2 pm and 7:30 pm Sat, 1 pm and 5:30 pm Sun. $12-$27. (310 S. 9th St., 253.591.5894)

Tacoma Little Theatre. Tacoma - Stadium District. A Christmas Carol. Through Dec. 24. 7:30 pm Fri-Sat 2 pm Sun. $14.50-$24.50. Dec 8 7:30 pm. Pay What You Can performance. Dec. 15 7:30 pm Actor Benefit Performance. (210 North I Street, 253.272. 2281)

• Tacoma Musical Playhouse Narrows Theatre. Tacoma - Sixth Avenue. Peter Pan - The Musical. Through Dec. 18. 8 pm Fri-Sat 2 pm Sun Also 2pm Sat Dec 10 and 17. $20-$27. (7116 6th Avenue, 253.565. 6867)

Washington Center for the Performing Arts. Olympia - Downtown. Olympia Family Theatre Presents: A Christmas Story. Through Dec. 18. 7 pm Thurs-Fri 1 pm Sat-Sun. $12-$19. (512 Washington St. S.E., 360.753.8586)

LINK: Send us your holiday events

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

LINK: Santa Says Blog