SUNDAY, DEC. 15

For this 37th incarnation, the Long Beach Ballet brings Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker to the Long Beach Terrace Theater again. And, once again, the production will be dazzling with a flying sleigh, a real live horse, on-stage pyrotechnics and a full symphony orchestra playing to a cast of more than 200 dancers.

Photo by Ben Majors. Courtesy Long Beach Ballet/Weekly Runt.

But what’s especially exciting about The Nutcracker performance this year is Long Beach Ballet teaming up with local dog rescue Sparky and the Gang and pet advocate and blogger of the Weekly Runt, Katy Cable, to bring folks the “Mutt-Cracker.”

Before you get excited, no, there won’t be any dogs in the annual performance, but there will be dogs outside the Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center for you to pet, swoon and “awww” over this Sunday, Dec. 15 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Many of the dogs you see in the photograph above will be at the event, just waiting to find a new loving home. Sparky and the Gang will be there accepting applications and donations, ready to answer any questions you may have about adoption.

Another great thing: Can’t make it this Sunday? Another “Mutt-Cracker” adoption event will take place again on Saturday, Dec. 21.

Giving us a moment’s paws: 

The Nutcracker runs Dec. 14 through Dec. 22 (and Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2 p.m.) in the Long Beach Terrace Theater at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center; 300 E. Ocean Blvd. Ticket prices range from $34 to $115 and can be purchased here. For more information you can check out their website, here.

Sparky and the Gang “Mutt-Cracker” adoption event is Sunday, Dec. 15 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Terrace Plaza in front of the Long Beach Performing Arts Center; 300 E. Ocean Blvd. They’ll be hosting a similar event again on Saturday, Dec. 21.