Two Nutcrackers in Alexandria this December, ArtSpireVa's Dec. 2-5 and Metropolitan School of the Arts' Dec. 12-13, plus A Christmas Carol and Holiday Pops.

Last checked Nov. 8, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates and times come from ArtSpireVa, the Metropolitan School of the Arts and its ticket office, the Little Theatre of Alexandria and its ticket office, the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, MetroStage and the city events calendar.

Alexandria has two Nutcrackers this December. ArtSpireVa’s Community Nutcracker, in its 18th year, runs Dec. 2-5. The Metropolitan School of the Arts follows with four shows on Dec. 12 and 13 at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center. Between them, the Little Theatre of Alexandria stages “A Christmas Carol” from Dec. 4 to Dec. 19, and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra closes the season with Holiday Pops on Dec. 19 and 20.

Box offices

  • Little Theatre of Alexandria: 703-683-0496, boxoffice@thelittletheatre.com; closed Nov. 26 and 27 for Thanksgiving, online sales stay open
  • Metropolitan School of the Arts Nutcracker: tickets through the school’s Nutcracker page
  • Alexandria Symphony Orchestra: 703-548-0885

The dates at a glance

Date Show Where Time
Wednesday, Dec. 2, to Saturday, Dec. 5 ArtSpireVa’s Community Nutcracker Venue not yet posted See times below
Friday, Dec. 4, to Saturday, Dec. 19 “A Christmas Carol” Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St. 8 p.m. weekdays; 2 and 5 p.m. weekends
Saturday, Dec. 12, and Sunday, Dec. 13 “The Nutcracker,” Metropolitan School of the Arts Schlesinger Center, 4915 E. Campus Drive Noon and 5 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 13 Colonial Handbell Ringers The Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. 2 and 4 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 14 “A Gospel Christmas with Robert E. Person” The Lyceum 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 15 “An Irish Christmas” The Lyceum 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 19 Holiday Pops, Alexandria Symphony Orchestra Schlesinger Center 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20 Holiday Pops, Alexandria Symphony Orchestra George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive 3 p.m.

ArtSpireVa’s Community Nutcracker, Dec. 2-5

ArtSpireVa, an Alexandria arts nonprofit, says this is its 18th year producing the show. Its cast is young dancers from the community alongside professional artists, and the nonprofit says the production gives a stage to young performers who could not otherwise afford a full-length show. Proceeds pay for its scholarships and outreach.

Show times, from ArtSpireVa’s Nutcracker page:

  • 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2: the Scout show, with its own tickets.
  • 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3.
  • 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4.
  • 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

Not yet confirmed (as of Nov. 8): the venue and ticket prices. ArtSpireVa’s page does not name the 2026 venue, and its ticket seller would not open for us. The 2025 production, in a newspaper article ArtSpireVa links from its page, was at West Potomac High School, in the Fairfax County part of Alexandria. We will add the 2026 venue when it is posted.

Metropolitan School of the Arts Nutcracker, Dec. 12-13

The Metropolitan School of the Arts’ ballet students dance Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” four times:

  • Noon and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
  • Noon and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13.

All four are at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, 4915 E. Campus Drive. The school’s ticket office lists each show at about two hours, with reserved seats, and had tickets on sale for all four when we checked. Ticket prices are shown only at checkout on the school’s Nutcracker page.

“A Christmas Carol,” Little Theatre of Alexandria, Dec. 4-19

The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., stages a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story, directed by Frank D. Shutts II. The theater calls it a child-friendly production. Its ticket office lists 16 performances:

  • Wednesdays to Fridays at 8 p.m.: Dec. 4, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18.
  • Saturdays and Sundays at 2 and 5 p.m.: Dec. 6, 12, 13 and 19, plus a single 5 p.m. show on Saturday, Dec. 5.
  • Tickets: $25 plus a $3 service charge (shows and tickets).

The theater and Goodwill of Greater Washington collect gently worn coats for all ages during the run; drop them in the Greenroom on the way in. For weekend shows, the box office opens one hour before curtain.

Holiday concerts

  • Colonial Handbell Ringers, “Tidings of Comfort and Joy,” 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, at the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum, 201 S. Washington St. Free; seating is first come, first served (city listing).
  • “A Gospel Christmas with Robert E. Person,” MetroStage, 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, at the Lyceum, with a jazz trio and backing vocalists (MetroStage).
  • “An Irish Christmas,” John Doyle, Cathie Ryan and Mick McAuley, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the Lyceum. $47.56, $16.20 for ages 12 to 17 (city listing).
  • Holiday Pops: Celebrate the Season!, Alexandria Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Schlesinger Center and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, 101 Callahan Drive. Conductor Victoria Gau and soprano Mandy Brown lead carols, classics and holiday favorites (tickets).

Getting there and parking

  • Schlesinger Center: 4915 E. Campus Drive. The school runs a noon and a 5 p.m. show each day, so allow time for the crowd from one show to leave before the next.
  • Little Theatre and the Lyceum: both are in Old Town, where parking is tighter than usual while City Hall and Market Square are renovated, the city says. The free King Street Trolley and DASH buses run nearby; see our getting around guide for garages and transit.
  • Saturday, Dec. 5, is also the day of the Scottish Walk Holiday Parade and the Boat Parade of Lights, so Old Town streets close in the morning; check our road closures page before a 5 p.m. “Christmas Carol” show.

What this means for you

  • Pick your Nutcracker: Dec. 2-5 for ArtSpireVa’s community show, Dec. 12-13 for the Metropolitan School of the Arts.
  • “A Christmas Carol” has 16 shows over three weeks, but only one, at 5 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 5.
  • Free options: the handbell concerts on Dec. 13 at the Lyceum.

Related guides: arts and exhibitions this month, holiday lights and Christmas events, Christmas parade and tree lighting and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

When is The Nutcracker in Alexandria in 2026?

There are two. ArtSpireVa’s Community Nutcracker runs Wednesday, Dec. 2, to Saturday, Dec. 5. The Metropolitan School of the Arts dances The Nutcracker at noon and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, and Sunday, Dec. 13, at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, 4915 E. Campus Drive.

Where is the Metropolitan School of the Arts Nutcracker?

At the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, 4915 E. Campus Drive. Each of the four shows is scheduled to run about two hours, and seats are reserved.

What are the show times for ArtSpireVa’s Community Nutcracker?

5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2 (the Scout show), 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, and 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. ArtSpireVa’s page did not name the 2026 venue when we checked on Nov. 8.

When is A Christmas Carol at the Little Theatre of Alexandria?

Friday, Dec. 4, to Saturday, Dec. 19, at 600 Wolfe St.: Wednesdays to Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 and 5 p.m., with only a 5 p.m. show on Saturday, Dec. 5. Tickets are $25 plus a $3 service charge.

When is the Alexandria Symphony’s Holiday Pops concert?

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Schlesinger Center and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.