Pacific Symphony brings The Nutcracker for Kids to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa on Saturday, December 5, 2026, with performances at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The concert is part of the orchestra’s Family Musical Mornings series.
The show is a narrated, kid-sized adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s ballet. It follows Clara to the Land of Sweets, where she meets the Mouse King, the Nutcracker and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Dancers from the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School at Segerstrom Center for the Arts perform under artistic director Susan Brooker, and assistant conductor Moon Doh leads the orchestra. Cameras project the dancers and musicians on the hall’s big screen.
Before the music
The symphony lists lobby activities with hands-on games, coloring stations and holiday photo spots. They start at 9 a.m. for the 10 a.m. audience and at 12:15 p.m. for the 11:30 a.m. audience. A VIP add-on offers Breakfast with Santa at the Silver Trumpet restaurant at the Avenue of the Arts Hotel, with gingerbread cookie decorating and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Tickets
The concert is recommended for ages 5 and up, and the symphony says everyone needs a ticket regardless of age. Single ticket prices are not posted on the show page; tickets are sold through pacificsymphony.org or by phone at 714-755-5799. Because of demand, the symphony has opened the Choral Terrace seats behind the stage, which face the orchestra and show the dancers from behind.
The hall is at 615 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa.
Sources
- Pacific Symphony: The Nutcracker for Kids
- Pacific Symphony: 2026-27 Family Musical Mornings announcement
Featured photo: Paulkhor at Flickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
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