Alpine Dance Academy's annual production of The Nutcracker: Kingdom of the Sweets fills the Breckenridge Riverwalk Center with three performances on Friday and Saturday, December 4–5, 2026.
Local Summit County dancers bring Tchaikovsky's holiday classic to life — Clara, the Nutcracker Prince, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Land of Sweets — in a production that has become a first-weekend-of-December tradition in Breckenridge.
The Saturday 3 p.m. matinee is ideal for families: let out of the theater and walk a few blocks to Main Street for the Holiday Dog Parade, the Race of the Santas and the 5 p.m. Lighting of Breckenridge, all happening the same day.
Evening shows on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. make for a festive night out. Tickets are $12–$39 and sold only through Breck Create.
Highlights
- Classic holiday ballet by Alpine Dance Academy
- Local Summit County dancers
- Clara, the Nutcracker Prince and the Sugar Plum Fairy
- Family-friendly Saturday matinee
- Same weekend as the Lighting of Breckenridge
Schedule
Times are from the official event listing and are subject to change — confirm on the official calendar before you go.
Friday, December 4 EVENING
| 6:30 p.m. | Doors open |
| 7:00 p.m. | Performance |
Saturday, December 5 MATINEE & EVENING
| 2:30 p.m. | Doors open |
| 3:00 p.m. | Matinee performance |
| 6:30 p.m. | Doors open |
| 7:00 p.m. | Evening performance |
Know Before You Go
- When: Fri, Dec 4, 2026 at 7 p.m.; Sat, Dec 5 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
- Where: Riverwalk Center, 150 W Adams Ave, Breckenridge
- Admission: $12–$39; buy only through breckcreate.org
- Pair the Saturday matinee with the Lighting of Breckenridge on Main Street that evening
- Use the free Breckenridge Free Ride bus — downtown parking fills on lighting weekend
Explore more Summit County & Vail Valley events
From festivals and concerts to seasonal celebrations, there is always something happening across the mountains.