Holiday studio tour will celebrate 36 years

The Holiday Art Studio Tour will again be held over two weekends — Dec. 6 and 7 and 13 and 14 — from 10 a.m. to  4 p.m. each day.

Now in its 36th year, the tour, a free and self-guided event, will feature 32 studios, shops and galleries. Visitors will be able to talk with the artists, see where and how they create their work and purchase art directly from the artists .

Studio tour maps are available at vashonislandartstudiotour.com and at island businesses.

Chorale will offer a variety of holiday songs

Vashon Island Chorale’s holiday concerts will be held at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, both at  Bethel Church.

Almost all the songs slated for the show were suggested by singers and audience members. Traditional carols include music from Germany, Ireland, Canada and Appalachian America, with several sacred songs from composers Rachmaninov, Lauridsen and Bach. Three songs were composed just for Christmas, and one piece is about winter. Marita Ericksen is a featured soloist.

Tickets are available at brownpapertickets.com, the Vashon Bookshop and at the door if still available.

VAA dancers will perform beloved holiday classic

In its 15th year under the direction of Christine Juarez, “The Nutcracker” ballet is VAA Center for Dance’s marquee program. This year will be the first time Juarez’s cast of 80 students will perform on the stage at Vashon High School. Juarez has added new material to the beloved classic, and the show will open with a seasonal tap number choreographed by Crissy Baker, one of the VAA dance staff. Baker has designed the piece to be in the same Victorian period as “The Nutcracker.“

“The Nutcracker” will be performed from 1 to 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5 as an abridged and narrated children’s matinee. Evening performances will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6. Full performance matinees will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7. Tickets are available at the Blue Heron and vashonalliedarts.com.

Step out for the year’s final Gallery Cruise

Step into the holiday season with a visit to Vashon’s galleries and art spots on Friday, Dec. 5, during the First Friday Gallery Cruise. Most galleries will be open from 6 to 9 p.m.