THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT'S UP THIS WEEKEND >>>

WEATHER REPORT

Friday: Clear and cold, hi 45, lo 30

Saturday: Mostly sunny, hi 43, lo 34

Sunday: Partly cloudy, hi 43, lo 32

>>> THURSDAY-SUNDAY: A Christmas Story

True, there are a boatload of holiday theater productions to choose from right now - including Capitol Playhouse's Scrooge: The Musical and Tacoma Little Theatre's A Christmas Carol, both of which received rave reviews in this week's Volcano. Still, only one South Sound holiday production stars the Volcano's own Christian Carvajal, theater critic extraordinaire! And that production is Olympia Family Theatre's A Chrismtas Story, currently running through Dec. 18 at the Minnaert Center-Black Box. Rather than watching the re-run on TBS for the 800th time, see Ralphie's quest for the elusive Red Ryder BB gun with the whole family in Olympia.

• The Minnaert Center-Black Box, through Dec. 18, 7 p.m. Thursday - Friday, 1 p.m. Saturday - Sunday, recommended for ages 8+, $9-$16, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia, 360.753.8585

>>> SATURDAY, DEC. 10: SANTARCHY TACOMA

Anarchy is once again coming to Tacoma, and it's wearing a Santa suit. Well, hopefully hundreds of Santa suits. The pan-continental holiday riot known as Santarchy could easily be denounced as just another excuse to get s***faced - like wedding receptions or a visit to Sea World. But it's more. The revelry involves dozens, hundreds, sometimes thousands of Santa-suited sots marauding about town - and in Tacoma it's been a tradition since 2007.  This year Tacoma's version of Santarchy goes down Saturday, Dec. 10. And there's a Santarchy party bus involved! The Santarchy party bus takes off from the Harmon at 5 p.m. (must have a purchased bracelet to ride), and will drop the drunken Santas off at 9 p.m. at O'Malley's. Before, during, and afterward craziness will ensue. Follow Tacoma Santarchy on Facebook for all the details.

>>> SATURDAY, DEC.10: BEAUTIFUL ANGLE HOLIDAY PARTY & POSTER SALE

Now in its ninth year, there's there's no doubt that the annual Beautiful Angle Holiday Party and Poster Sale is an event Tacoma has come to know and love. Going down this Saturday at King's Books and kicking off at 7 p.m., the event will be a, well, beautiful exposition of everything Tacoma's underground-legend guerilla arts project is all about. If you're not on the Beautiful Angle train yet, see what you've been missing. Bryan John Appleby, along with special guest, The Living, will be providing the music. And you'll have the opportunity to buy a poster or two while meeting Lance Kagey and Tom Llewellyn. It's a win-win.

• King's Books, 7 p.m., free admission, 218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.8801

>>> SATURDAY, DEC.10: DICKENS FEST

Oh Dickens! It's time for another Stadium District Dickens Festival! Every year, for one Saturday in December, Tacoma's postcard-esque Stadium District (Hey, they make postcards of a lot of stuff...) gets all Dickensy in the spirit of the holidays, busting period costumes, carriage rides, beard contests and even Bill Baarsma telling stories of the Chinese expulsion (What, really?). It's all true. Even the Baarsma part (he'll be at King's Books at 4 p.m.). Get in on the tradition this year. Find all the info you'll need right here.

• Stadium District, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., all ages, most events are free, $40 dinner and theater package available, dickensfestival.net

>>> SATURDAY-SUNDAY: THE NUTCRACKER

Stop pretending you're some sort of tough guy and go see the goddamn Nutcracker already. You know you want to. You're fascinated by people in tights. Plus, the local productions are simply amazing. In Tacoma, Tacoma City Ballet does its thing at the Pantages. In Oly, catch Ballet Northwest's take at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.

• Pantages Theater, Tacoma City Ballet presents The Nutcracker, Saturday-Sunday through Dec. 18, 3 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 1 p.m., $19-$60, 901 Broadway, Tacoma, 253.591.5890
• Washington Center for the Performing Arts, Ballet Northwest presents The Nutcracker, Friday- Sunday through Dec. 18, Friday- Saturday 7:30 p.m., Saturday - Sunday 2 p.m., $14-$30, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia, 360.753.8586

>>> WHAT SOME OF OUR STAFF MEMBERS ARE UP TO

NIKKI TALOTTA Features Writer
All things Christmas. Finding and cutting the perfect tree with my boys, shopping at Duck the Malls arts and crafts sale, baking and decorating yummy cookies and with my hubby - a little kissing under the mistletoe. Sweet stuff.

JOANN VARNELL: Theater Critic
Saturday the whole family is going to the annual Beautiful Angle Holiday Party where we will grab some amazing limited posters (I may throw an elbow or two if necessary so watch out) and listen to Bryan John Appleby!!! The little son and I will be going to his first toddler birthday party for his best friend on Sunday.

STEVE DUNKELBERGER Meat Market Photographer
Going to the Dickens Festival and Happy Feet II with the kiddos as well as working in the church yard and then some jammy time around the house... Oh the glamorous life of a writer.

ALEC CLAYTON Visual Arts Critic
PFLAG holiday party and white elephant gift exchange Sunday.

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CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL Theater Critic
I'll be fighting a furnace all weekend as The Old Man in Olympia Family Theater's production of A Christmas Story. Hosticklepfeiffer!

LINK: More arts and entertainment events in the South Sound

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