Find your holiday spirit at these local events this weekend

A magical look at the Big Dark

This weekend, Olympia Family Theater is opening “Nyx & the Long Night,” a world premiere play that will run Dec. 9 through Jan. 8 and is a co-production with String & Shadow Puppet Theater. OFT and String & Shadow Puppet Theater started collaborating on this piece last December when they decided that String & Shadow would become OFT’s first Company-in-Residence. Over the past year, the troupes have shared space, skill sets, and resources. The play features two sisters, Sol and Luna, who play catch with the sun and moon each day until a mishap leaves the world in darkness and a magical being may be needed to save the world. Performances will be at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, with extra performances at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, and Thursday, Dec. 22. Tickets are reservable online on a sliding scale of $5-$35. Additionally. 25% of the house will be held for walk-ups. Walk-up tickets will be available free-of-cost.

A ghost story for the holidays

Theater Artists Olympia are producing “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol” this season at Broadway Olympia Productions’ theater inside the Capital Mall. The play written by Tom Mula, directed by Pug Bujeaud, and starring Drew Doyle and John Serembe is “a funny and moving adaptation of a holiday tradition,” according to the theater. Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol begins as does the classic tale and welcomes you into the familar story of redemption with an unfamilar twist. To save himself from eternal damnation, Jacob Marley must find a way to redeem the only man more miserable than himself, Ebenezer Scrooge. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9-10 plus Dec. 15-18 and Dec. 22-23, and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10-11 plus Dec. 17-18. Tickets are $22 general admission and $12 for students.

Peace and light

Join The Olympia Peace Choir as it celebrates the winter solstice and the returning light in story and song in the illuminated Huntamer Park in Lacey. The concert, Sure on this Shining Night, begins at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, and is a free, all-ages outdoor event, so dress for the weather and bring seating.

Local arts and crafts

Duck the Malls, downtown’s best-known holiday craftmakers event, is back, hosted by the Olympia Film Society from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. Admission is free for shoppers. The event benefits independent artists and crafters in the South Sound while supporting visual arts programming at the theater. It will offer items from over 40 vendors. Homemade desserts will be on sale at the concession stand, including gluten-free and vegan pastries.