Nutcrackers are a traditional holiday gift and decorative item to crack those hard-shelled nuts you’ll often find sold this time of year. Walnuts, almonds, pecans and hazelnuts are a few favorites that should be in any bowl offered up for tasty snacking.

And Nutcrackers, the colorful wooden carved soldier-shaped items, transform into living, dancing creatures this time of year, as well, when The Nutcracker Ballet is served up almost as freequently as the communtity tree lighting or Christmas Parade.

This weekend we’ll see a few “Nuts” hit the stage. Here are some to celebrate!

• AUBURN Placer Theatre Ballet Nutcracker (shown in photos above) December 3-4, 2011, Noon & 4 p.m. Takes place at Placer High School Theater in Auburn, CA. (916) 630-7820 placertheatreballet.org
• BRENTWOOD – LOS ANGELES Westside Ballet of Santa Monica’s The Nutcraker performances are on — Saturday, December 3, 2011, 1 & 5 p.m. Sunday, December 4, 2011, 1 & 5 p.m. Saturday, December 10, 2011 1 & 5 p.m. Sunday, December 11, 2011 1 & 5 p.m. Held at Wadsworth Theatre, Brentwood, CA. (800) 982-2787. ticketmaster.com
• GLENDALE Los Angeles Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Alex Theatre December 3, 2011, 7:30 p.m. & December 4, 2011, 2 p.m. 216 North Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA (818) 243-ALEX (2539) alextheatre.org $30-95, plus fee
• HUNTINGTON BEACH Ballet E’tudes The Nutcracker December 3, 2011 7 p.m.; December 4, 2011 2 p.m.; December 10, 2011 2 & 7 p.m.; December 11, 2011 2 p.m. Huntington Beach High School, 1905 Main St., Huntington Beach, CA. (714) 847-6657. balletetudes.com
• MONTCLAIR Inland Pacific Ballet at Bridges Auditorium: Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011 1 p.m. Bridges Auditorium at Pomona College, 450 N. College Way, Claremont, CA 91711. Tickets: (909) 607-1139, ipballet.org
• REDWOOD CITY Ballet America’s The Nutcracker Dec. 2, 2011 at Fox Theatre, 2223 Broadway Street Redwood City, CA. (650) FOX-7770 Cost: $20-40.
• SAN RAFAEL San Rafael Stapleton Ballet Nutcracker Dec. 3, 4, 2011. 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael, CA, ticketmaster.com