A wide variety of events across the North Olympic Peninsula will celebrate the holidays this weekend.
Today’s Peninsula Spotlight, the Peninsula Daily News’ weekly entertainment guide, highlights arts on the Peninsula.
For information on other activities, see “Things To Do” on Page C2.
Here is a sample of events to be enjoyed this holiday weekend.
Madrigal Dinner
PORT ANGELES — The third annual Madrigal Dinner will be today and Saturday.
A full play — involving the mystery of what happened to Prince Charming — will be enacted during the 7 p.m. dinner with the King and Queen of Thermopolis at the North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center, 905 W. Ninth St., Port Angeles.
The dinner theater is set in the 16th or 17th century. The Port Angeles Vocal Unlimited Choir will perform during the dinner, along with a juggler and others.
The meal will be prepared by the Skills Center’s culinary arts students.
Tickets are $25 per person.
To purchase tickets or for more information, phone Jolene Gailey at 360-565-1535 or Denise Dahll at 360-565-1964.
Holiday plays
CHIMACUM — Two short and unusual holiday plays, “Hung by the Chimney” and “A Very Lesbian Nutcracker,” will be performed at the Paradise Theatre School today and Saturday.
The plays, which will be by Jefferson County actors, will be at 8 p.m. each day at the school at 161 Center Road in Chimacum.
Both plays are directed by Pattie Miles Van Beuzekom.
Tickets are $12 and are available from Brown Paper Tickets, at 800-838-3006 or brownpapertickets.com.
These plays are for mature audiences.
Winter celebration
SEQUIM — First Teacher will hold a Winter Celebration in the commons at the Sequim Community School today.
The celebration will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the school at 220 W. Alder St.
Each child will receive a free book and a free photo with Santa Claus or Frosty the Snowman.
There will be crafts and activities for children, clowns making balloon animals, refreshments and holiday music performed by local musicians.
For more information, phone Patsene Dashiell at 360-582-3428.
Winter Faire set
SEKIU — Santa Claus will visit the 21st annual Children’s Winter Faire at the Sekiu Community Center on Sunday.
The faire will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the center at 42 Rice St.
Children accompanied by parents can participate in traditional gift making, with multiple tables offering different gift project ideas.
The free event will offer treats, coffee and holiday punch.
Volunteers from West End Senior Citizens, West End Youth & Community Club, Clallam County United Way and Clallam Bay High School will present this event.
For more information, phone Jamye Wisecup at 360-460-5355.
Carriage rides set
SEQUIM — Native Horsemanship Riding Center will host a carriage ride event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and again on Saturday, Dec. 19.
The center is located at 396 Taylor Cutoff Road.
A carriage ride and photo is $10.
Hold Your Horses Tack group will have an equestrian gift table for holiday presents or stocking stuffers.
The event will have a petting zoo with rabbits, chickens and a mini-horse. A local 4-H group will have hot dogs and hot chocolate available, and there will be a bake sale.
For more information, phone Yvette TwoRabbits Ludwar at the center at 360-582-0907.
Toys for Tots benefit
SEQUIM — Sequim Valley Funeral Chapel, 108 W. Alder St., will host its third annual Photos with Santa benefit for the Toys for Tots Foundation on Saturday.
It will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the chapel at 108 W. Alder St.
Attendees will receive a free photo with Santa Claus for every toy or cash donation to Toys for Tots.
Refreshments will be provided. There also will be a cookie decoration station. Pets are welcome.
For more information, phone 360-683-5242.
Holiday music
SEQUIM — More than 150 performers will celebrate the season with music at the Sequim Community Church this weekend.
Performances are scheduled at 7 p.m. today and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the church at 1000 N. Fifth Ave., Sequim.
Tickets are $2 each, and are available at the door.
Wonderful film
PORT ANGELES — “It’s a Wonderful Life” will be shown at the Port Angeles Playhouse on Sunday.
The film will be screened at 7:30 p.m. at the playhouse at 1203 E. Lauridsen Blvd.
The suggested donation is $10.
Proceeds go to Sew Much Comfort.
Santa by the pond
SEQUIM — Santa Claus will make time for free photographs at Vision Landscape Nursery, 131 Kitchen-Dick Road, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday until Christmas.
The public can bring special gifts ahead of time for Santa to hand-deliver to children.
Hot cocoa, candy canes and a warming fire will be provided.
For more information, phone the nursery at 360-683-2855 or e-mail claire@visionlandscapenursery.com.
Free photos at store
SEQUIM — Tiny’z Toy Chest invites children and their grown-ups to a Christmas open house from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today.
Santa Claus will be on hand for free photographs at the toy and game store at 149 W. Washington St.
For more information, phone 360-683-5200.
Christmas potluck
PORT ANGELES — Dry Creek Community Grange, 3130 W. Edgewood Drive, will hold a Christmas potluck and gathering at 5 p.m. Sunday.
The Dry Creek School Chorus will perform and Santa’s helpers will visit.
For more information, phone 360-452-2279.
Storytime
FORKS — Snowy songs and icy tales will be featured at a children’s Storytime at the Forks Public Library today.
The free program, for children from 3 to 5 years old, will be at noon at the library at 171 S. Forks Ave.
Holiday Hoops
PORT ANGELES — Nineteen youth basketball teams will compete at the Holiday Hoops Tournament this weekend.
Participating will be teams from Port Angeles, Sequim, Neah Bay, Bainbridge Island, Bremerton, Elma, Gig Harbor, Hoquiam, Lake Stevens, Mukilteo, Port Orchard, Renton, Seattle and Tacoma.
There are divisions for fifth- and eighth- grade boys teams, and sixth- and eighth- grade girls teams.
Tournament play will begin at noon Saturday at Roosevelt Elementary School and Port Angeles High School.
Sunday’s play will start at 9 a.m. at the same locations, with championship games scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
Spectator admission is $2 per day for adults, $1 per child or $5 per family.
The event is sponsored by the city of Port Angeles.
For more information, contact Dan Estes, special events coordinator at 360-417-4557 or destes@cityofpa.us.
12 days of Christmas
PORT LUDLOW — The Resort at Port Ludlow is hosting a series of winemaker dinners to celebrate the 12 days of Christmas until Dec. 23.
On Wednesday, Port Ludlow Resort will host its Annual Holiday on the Docks event, where boats showcase their holiday spirit with twinkling lights and Christmas decorations.
Revelers can enjoy live music and hot apple cider around an open fire.
For more information, visit www.portludlowresort.com or phone 877-805-0868.