Fantastic Footwork ... Friday-Sunday

Clara's nutcracker is back. And so is the army of mice, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the entire enchanting story of "The Nutcracker" during Ballet Theater of Lancaster's annual performance, happening Friday through Sunday at Lancaster Mennonite High School's Fine Arts Center. This 19th annual production once again features the Donetsk Ballet Company from Ukraine, along with performers from Lancaster. The Donetsk Ballet Co. is a professional ballet company of 24 Ukranian dancers, and Ballet Theater has 83 local dancers performing with the Donetsk. Set to the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky, "The Nutcracker" has become a holiday tradition for many, and this particular production has local families coming back year after year. Performances begin with a special senior citizen and school show Friday at 9:45 a.m. (special rates apply). Regular performances will be held Saturday at 1 and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $16 to $25. For tickets or information, call 672-0826.

Young Voices ... Saturday

Normally, putting about 40 fourth- to eighth-grade boys together in a room wouldn't result in the kind of sounds that would be music to anyone's ears. But the young men of the American Boychoir are the exception. The choir, featuring boys from all ethnicities from across the country, will perform a holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 31 S. Duke St. Under the direction of Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, the choir will perform a program featuring traditional carols spanning centuries and the globe, including a medley of American popular holiday songs and a Christmas carol sing-a-long. Included in the evening's performance will be Benjamin Britten's "A Ceremony of Carols." There is no admission for the concert, but an offering will be received. For more information, call the church at 397-2734 or visit www.americanboychoir.org.

New Holland Holiday ... Friday, Saturday

Christmas comes early to New Holland during the community's annual Christmas on Main celebration, taking place tonight and Saturday at a variety of locations on Main Street in the borough. Sponsored by the New Holland Business Association, the event kicks off with a showing of the film "Home Alone" (starring Macaulay Culkin, below) Friday at 8 p.m. at the Evangelical United Methodist Church, 276 W. Main St. If you'd rather be moving, check out the dance at the Ritz on Main, 138 E. Main St. Proceeds from the event, held from 8 p.m. to midnight, benefit the New Holland Area Food Bank and the New Holland Farmers Day Association. Tickets are $20. Call 354-6846. But most of the activities will be held Saturday, including breakfast with the big guy at St. Stephen United Church of Christ, 249 E. Main St. That takes place from 8 to 11 a.m. Businesses up and down Main Street will hold special events, offer refreshments and host live music. A little off the Main drag, but worth the walk, is The Christmas Market, where vendors will offer a variety of holiday gift-giving and decorating options. That will be held in the Farmer's Fair building at S. Roberts and Franklin sts. The Laurel Dance Company will perform scenes from "The Nutcracker" at 3 p.m. at St. Stephen's, followed by a 5 p.m. performance by the Pas de Chat Dance Studio. And that's just a sampling of what's going on. If your legs get tired you can take a ride on a carriage or hay wagon. Carriage rides leave from Trinity Lutheran Church, 221 E. Main St., and Boswell's Restaurant, 140 W. Main St. Hayrides depart from the corner of Roberts Avenue and Main Street (where Santa will arrive at 6 p.m.). Both are offered between 4 and 7 p.m. The evening culminates with the community tree lighting around 7 p.m. (also on that same corner!) For more information on any of the events, or for a full listing, visit www.christmasonmain.com.