Extend the holiday season: Watch Nutcracker on ice in Bellevue on Dec. 31

Even after Christmas, the magic of the holiday season is not over yet. Young figure skaters from the local Cascade Valley Figure Skating Club will present a 15-minute performance of excerpts from the classic fairy-tale “The Nutcracker” at 10 a.m. Dec. 31 at the Group Health Ice Arena at Bellevue Park.

Costumed skaters will glide, twirl, spin and jump to the Nutcracker’s most beloved numbers featuring the original score by Tchaikovsky.

After the brief performance, the entire Group Health Ice Arena will be open for a free community skate until 11 a.m. with complimentary admission and skate rental.

Donations will be accepted on behalf of the Overlake Service League, a local charity serving the Eastside for 100 years.

“This year, there is a shift in focus with an emphasis on community participation at Bellevue’s Group Health Ice Arena,” said Lisa Viereck, producer and coordinator of this community event, who has coached skaters for 29 years. “In years past, "The Nutcracker" on ice performances were delivered more elaborately, but this year is about celebrating and embracing community participation on the ice.”

Composed in 1892 by Peter Tchaikovsky and later staged by Marius Petipa, "The Nutcracker" has become a popular ballet commonly performed during the holiday season throughout the U.S. and abroad.

For information on skate rental, directions and parking go to www.magicseason.com. Free parking is available off Northeast First Street, Northeast Second Street and 100th Avenue Northeast near Bellevue Downtown Park.

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