NUTCRACKERS ON PARADE

Ballet Ouest de Montréal

offers a more modern version of The Nutcracker (as well as projected images from the original 1892 St. Petersburg production) as part of a Quebec tour. It plays Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Salle Pierre-Mercure of Centre Pierre-Péladeau, 300 de Maisonneuve Blvd. E. Tickets cost $24-$52.50. Call 514987-6919.

Ballet Eddy Toussaint

takes The Nutcracker out of this world. In this version, Clara is whisked off, not to the Kingdom of Sweets, but to another planet. It plays Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at Salle Pauline-Julien, 15615 Gouin Blvd. W. ($35-$45), then on Dec. 21-22 at 7 p.m. at Théâtre Marcellin-Champagnat, 1275 du Collège Ave. in Laval ($40.50-$50.50). Call 514-383-9204 for more information. While Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms plays at the cinema, there’s also the chance to catch a live screening of the Bolshoi’s Nutcracker on Dec. 23, with an encore screening on Dec. 24. Visit cineplex.com for times and ticket prices. And there’s still time to catch

the Nutcracker Market,

which ends Sunday. Situated in the ground-floor mall of the Palais des congrès, it features 100 exhibitors selling everything from toys, decorations and jewelry to gourmet treats. Admission is free and 10 per cent of sales go to the Nutcracker Fund that enables sick and disadvantaged children to attend Les Grands Ballets’ The Nutcracker.