Island Dance Academy and the Palace Theater present “The Nutcracker”, with performances on Friday December 13 and Saturday December 14 at 7 p.m., and 2 p.m. on Sunday December 15. Featuring whirling twirling ballerinas, tap dancing soldiers, sword fighting combatants and more, this is a long-time holiday tradition for Hilo, first started by Island Dance Academy’s director, Suen Hughes, in 1989.

And, as a special bonus, Rick Mazurowski will introduce the shows with Christmas music played on the Palace’s magnificent pipe organ.