My Review of  Pa Ballet Nutcracker:  I took my sister, daughter,and niece.  What a great da,  it took me right back to when my sister and I were little and my grandparents would take us to see the Ballet.  Our Day stared with  girls getting  dressed up in their holiday best for the occasion,  they were going to the ballet (fancy as my daughter would say).    My daughter planed for weeks for this day. I kept thinking “as vision of sugar plums danced in there head”.

We arrive early to pick our tickets,  so we stop across the street to get Shirley Temples (ginger ale w/ a cherry) for the girls.  Just like our grandparents use to do for my sister and I when we were kids.  The girls felt so grown us to have a drink with us in the fancy hotel prior to the show.   The hotel was filled with other little girls excited for the show,  the air was electric in anticipation.

We walked across the street and entered the PA Academy of Music.  The music hall is grand and elegant (fancy).  We stopped and took a picture with the Sugar Plum Fairy- the girls swooned.  The Pa Ballet is taking the photos  with your choice of he SugarPlum Fairy or the Mouse king for $20 for one of the ballet characters or $30 for both and of course you can use your own camera as well to get an extra photos once you paid. The proceeds of the photos benefit the Pa ballet,  you can pick up the photo during intermission or  after the performance.

We were fortunate  to sit on the lower level for this performance. My daughter and niece were so excited as we entered the performance hall.  The Academy of music is gorgeous and glittery gold. Once the ballet started the girl sat entranced.. loving every second. From the tree growing, and the ballerina dance on there toes. It was amazing the costumes where fabulous.  The children that preformed were enchanting.   The music enveloped you and made you want to dance with grace and posie.  Both my sister and I had tears in our eyes as the Sugerplum Fairy danced with her prince.  You could feel the love, she feels for ballet as she spun. Lovely and stunning.

Photos are not allowed during the performance, so you have to see it in person.

If you have not seen a Ballet this is a great one to start with.  The PA Ballet Nutcracker is lively and runs at a great pace to keep the children attention and you will love the music and costumes. The Pa Ballet does a spectacular job.  This was my second time seeing it I took my son when he was 9 –  he loved it too,  so lets not forget those boys.

We purchase ornament for the girls for $15 of a dancing Carla at the souvenir stand in the ballet.

PA Ballet Nutcracker Tickets are still on sale and some start at $20 (when I went with my son we sat in the upper seats he still loved it – also you can bring binoculars)

Here is the girls reviews after the performance;

I would make a day of going to see the PA Ballets Nutcracker.  Philadelphia is so alive with the holiday spirit.

After the performance we did go for dinner Olive Garden is around the corner on Chestnut Street off Broad street . Then a quick walk to  headed to Macys (one block in on chestnut, aka old Wanamaker building) to see/hear the Wanamaker organ and light show runs every hour on the hour. Girls loved it.. the store shoppers  stops and watches the lights for the 10 minute,  Free

The afterwards we headed up to Macys 3rd floor to see the Charles Dickens Village  “Twas the night be for Christmas” exhibit,   FREE  open till 7pm  (also you do walk through the holiday dept at Macys when heading to Dickens Village exhibit so you can always pick up a souvenir there as well).

End of the Dickens Village which can end with you meeting Santa.  if you want the picture  staring  5×7″ picture was $16.95- or use you own camera Free  Enjoy you holiday and explore all the culture and fun philly has to offer.

Disclosure:  I received the tickets from the PA ballet.  But the opinions in this post are my own.