There’s a reason that San Francisco Ballet’s “Nutcracker” is a holiday tradition for many Bay Area families and the first ballet experience for lots of children.

From the mysterious Drosselmeyer to a magically growing Christmas tree to sparkling Snowflakes dancing in a veritable on-stage blizzard, choreographer Helgi Tomasson’s “Nutcracker” has humor, heart, stunning spectacle, exquisite dancing and, most of all, a hearty dose of holiday magic. Set against a backdrop of 1915 San Francisco, toys come to life, siblings squabble, mice battle soldiers and a little girl realizes her dream of becoming a beautiful ballerina.

But even the most exciting ballet can be a challenge for little ones, with no dialogue and a run time of nearly two hours, including a 20-minute intermission. 

If you’re considering making the ‘Nutcracker’ part of your family’s tradition, these tips will help you make the most of the experience with a young child. The production is recommended for ages 5 and up, and children must be at least 3 to attend.

Plan Ahead

Consider your child’s schedule when buying tickets. Most performances are at 2 and 7pm, but there are a few at 4 and 6pm, and one at 11am (see below).

Help your child learn the story of “The Nutcracker” in advance so they’ll be better able to follow the action on stage. Since the first ballet premiered in Russia more than 130 years ago, there have been countless adaptations. You can read classic picture books like those by Jan Brett, Susan Jeffers or Maurice Sendak, or watch an animated film like  

“The Nutcracker Suite” or a live-action version like Disney’s “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.” There are also tons of animated shorts on YouTube, including one from the makers of “Baby Shark.”

If you don’t have a chance to bone up at home, San Francisco Ballet’s magazine-length program has an excellent synopsis with photos, as well as puzzles and activities for kids.

Listen to Tchaikovsky’s score, and then challenge your children to keep an ear out for the familiar songs, whether you’re out shopping of watching a holiday movie like “Elf.”

Decide what to wear. It’s so charming to see children dressed in their holiday finery, both on stage in the party scene and out in the audience. But a two-hour ballet may not be the best time to try out a stiff new pair of shoes or a starchy dress with a scratchy tag. A dress rehearsal at home can help determine if your child can be both cute and comfortable.

Arrive Early

We all know Bay Area traffic, transit and city parking can be unpredictable. Give yourself plenty of time and avoid the stress of potentially arriving late and clambering over other patrons in the dark to get to your seats.

You’ll be rewarded with enough time to see the grand War Memorial Opera House decked out for the holidays with beautiful wreaths and a glittering tree in the lobby decorated with Nutcrackers. There’s a hot cocoa cart and other sweet treats available to eat outside the auditorium, as well as a small shop in the lobby and a much larger gift shop on the second floor if you’d like to make purchasing an ornament or other gift part of your holiday tradition. You can also pre-order concessions before the show to pick up at intermission, avoiding long lines.

If you’re sitting in the orchestra level, grab a booster seat for your child on the way in to help them see better. (The seats on the three balconies – Grand Tier, Dress Circle and Balconies – are more steeply stacked, making it easier for children to see over those in front of them.) And, of course, it’s a great idea to use the restroom before the show.

Take a Break

Despite best-laid plans, your child may become upset or just too squirmy to sit that long.

Don’t worry! San Francisco Ballet has a special Family Viewing Area, on the third floor Dress Circle level, with a television broadcasting the ballet plus child-size tables and chairs, books, toys, coloring and more. There’s a family restroom adjacent.

In addition, the ballet will have a special Sensory-Friendly Performance on Dec. 28 at 11am with accommodations and a more relaxed atmosphere for neurodiverse audiences that is also great for families with young children (sfballet.org/community/sensory-friendly-adaptive-programs/sensory-friendly-nutcracker).

For more active engagement, the ballet and its school offer family-friendly Dance-Along workshops for families with children ages 3-7 (sold out for this year), as well as two Sensory-Friendly Dance-Alongs for neurodiverse audiences on Dec. 21.

Families with young children may also want to consider other local “Nutcracker” performances designed for kids, including “Mark Foehringer’s Nutcracker Sweets,” a 50-minute version at Fort Mason through Dec. 21 (mfdpsf.org/nutcracker-sweets), New Ballet’s “My Very First Nutcracker” in San Jose on Dec. 14, 15 and 22 (newballet.com/nutcracker) and “Once Upon a Nutcracker,” a shortened version of “The Original San Jose Nutcracker,” on Dec. 12 in San Jose (sjnutcracker.com). 

For more tips on bringing children to the San Francisco Ballet “Nutcracker,” visit sfballet.org/venue/bringing-kids-to-nutcracker.

Get Tickets

San Francisco Ballet’s “Nutcracker” plays through Dec. 28 at the War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness Ave. For tickets and more information, visit sfballet.org/nutcracker. Use promo code SFBFF for 20% off, excluding weekend matinees.

Janine DeFao is an associate editor at Bay Area Parent.