Annual San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker Under the Dome Holiday Festivities Kick Off Today

Westfield San Francisco Centre, the city's premier destination for world-class fashion, entertainment, and dining, will kick off the holiday season on Thursday, Nov. 19 with Westfield San Francisco Centre's Family Fest Event from 3:30-6 p.m., featuring San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker Under the Dome, a spectacular light show every half hour starting at 5 p.m., created in collaboration with the San Francisco Ballet and sponsored by IBM. San Francisco Ballet is America's oldest professional ballet company and the first professional ballet company in the country to perform the full-length production of Nutcracker. Westfield's iconic Dome will come to life with this 3D light show that will showcase the beloved holiday tradition.

"We're thrilled to bring Nutcracker to life Under the Dome again this holiday season," said Leah Heil, senior general manager at Westfield San Francisco Centre. "As the city's premiere shopping destination, Under the Dome at Westfield San Francisco Centre is the perfect setting for this iconic holiday tradition that captivates shoppers of all ages, offering our guests an experience that's truly unique."

Westfield's iconic Dome will come to life each night with the San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker Under the Dome beginning Thursday, Nov. 19 through Thursday, Dec. 31, every half hour starting at 5 p.m. until closing. This free six-minute light spectacular will take place on Level 4 Under the Dome and is open to the public. As holiday hours vary, please visit www.westfield.com/sanfrancisco for extended holiday hours.

"We are delighted to once again partner with Westfield San Francisco Centre on SF Ballet's Nutcracker Under the Dome," said Glenn McCoy, executive director of SF Ballet. "This presentation is a wonderful introduction to the Nutcracker and supports our mission of sharing the joy of dance with the widest possible audience."

Throughout the holiday season, San Francisco Ballet will host special activities at Westfield San Francisco Centre where shoppers and aspiring ballerinas can meet the dancers, take photos, collect autographs, and of course, take photos with Santa.

San Francisco Ballet Meet and Greet Appearances

Join the San Francisco Ballet for special meet and greet appearances. Meet the characters from the Nutcracker, take photos and collect autographs. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the SF Ballet Nutcracker characters Under the Dome on Level 4 on Saturday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 5 from 5-6 p.m.

Story Time and Movement Workshop with Ms. Kristi

Experience Nutcracker in a whole new way with the San Francisco Ballet Center for Dance Education. Together, experience the story of Nutcracker through its Interactive Nutcracker Storybook App, and then participate in a short movement experience based on characters in the app. Activities take place on Level 4 Under the Dome on Saturday, Nov. 28 and Saturday, Dec. 12 from 4:15-4:45 p.m.

Sugar Plum Fairy Breakfast with Santa

On Saturday, Dec. 19 from 8-9 a.m., Westfield San Francisco Centre and San Francisco Ballet will host a special Sugar Plum Fairy Breakfast with Santa. Open to the general public, the ticketed event will include: special movement workshop by "Miss Kristi" from the San Francisco Ballet School Faculty; a private VIP showing of the San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker Under the Dome; a meet and greet with Santa including one commemorative photo per child; and an exclusive Nutcracker gift. Tickets will be $25 per person and will be available at sfballet.org/sugarplum.

About San Francisco Ballet and Nutcracker Under the Dome

Nutcracker Under the Dome is inspired by the San Francisco Ballet's production with choreography by Artistic Director and Principal Choreographer Helgi Tomasson. Inspired by the real-life ballet performance, the San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker Under the Dome provides a magical holiday experience for shoppers and visitors of all ages, integrating performance footage of San Francisco Ballet dancers, as part of the light spectacular.

On Christmas Eve, 1944, San Francisco Ballet first presented the American premiere of the Nutcracker at the War Memorial Opera House. The ballet was an instant sensation and launched a worldwide holiday tradition. The company's current production of Nutcracker, set in San Francisco during the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition, introduces audiences of all ages to the magnificent world of ballet.

Tickets for Nutcracker performances which run Dec. 16 - 31 are available for sale online at www.sfballet.org.

St. Jude Partnership

This holiday season, Westfield San Francisco Centre is partnering with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to raise funds and give thanks. Throughout the holiday season, Westfield shoppers waiting to see Santa will have the opportunity to Unwrap Hope and place a gift on the St. Jude Gift Tree. Westfield will donate the gift amount on their behalf to St. Jude to fund care for children with cancer. St. Jude bears and ornaments will also be available for purchase at Westfield Gift Services located on Level 1 between Michael Kors and REDValentino from Thursday, Nov. 19 through Thursday, Dec. 31.

Additional Westfield San Francisco Holiday Activities

Digital Gift Finder

This year, Westfield is featuring a digital gift finder, showcasing over 500 products to help customers find the perfect gift for their loved ones. Visit www.westfield.com or download the Westfield App to access the digital gift finder.

The Big Shopping Week

The shopping frenzy of Thanksgiving and Black Friday will be extended to last the entire week from Monday, Nov. 23 through Cyber Monday, Nov. 30. Exclusive retailer discounts and extended holiday hours will be offered for the entire week and will be coupled with can't miss holiday entertainment. For information visit www.westfield.com.

Photos with Santa

Families are invited to have their photo taken with Santa this holiday season on Level 4. A brand new Santa experience will open on Sunday, Nov. 22 and continue through Thursday, Dec. 24. For the pet lovers, Westfield will be hosting an exclusive VIP Santa Paws event on Wednesday, Dec. 2 from 6-7 p.m. - furry friends welcome!

To celebrate the gift of giving, Westfield San Francisco Centre will donate a portion of all sales from the St. Jude Give Hope photo package to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. For Santa hours, please visit www.westfield.com/sanfrancisco.

Festival of Lights

As a part of the Bill Graham Menorah Project, the annual Festival of Lights celebration featuring Rabbi Moshe of San Francisco, families are invited to enjoy traditional Jewish treats, crafts, music and entertainment in celebration of Hanukkah Under the Dome on Sunday, Dec. 13 from 3-5 p.m.

Dining Under the Dome During the Holidays

At the Restaurant Collection Under the Dome, Westfield San Francisco Centre has assembled a first-class epicurean experience under one roof, offering full-service award-winning cuisine for lunch, brunch, dinner and everything in between. Located on Level 4 surrounding the Centre's iconic 102-foot wide glass dome, The Restaurant Collection Under the Dome revives a tradition of meeting "under the dome" for generations of San Franciscans. After a day of shopping, guests can enjoy hand-pulled noodles at the highly acclaimed M.Y China, dine within the handsome décor of Lark Creek Steak, celebrate the flavors of Italy at Cupola Pizzeria, and enjoy handcrafted American favorites at Tap (415).

Tickets for Nutcracker performances which run Dec. 16 - 31 are available for sale online at www.sfballet.org.

San Francisco Ballet

As America's oldest professional ballet company, San Francisco Ballet has enjoyed a long and rich tradition of artistic "firsts" since its founding in 1933, including performing the first American productions of Swan Lake and Nutcracker, as well as the first 20th-century American Coppélia. San Francisco Ballet is one of the three largest ballet companies in the United States. Guided in its early years by American dance pioneers and brothers Lew, Willam and Harold Christensen, San Francisco Ballet currently presents more than 100 performances annually, both locally and internationally. Under the direction of Helgi Tomasson, the Company has achieved an international reputation as one of the preeminent ballet companies in the world. In 2005, San Francisco Ballet won the prestigious Laurence Olivier Award in the category of "Outstanding Achievement in Dance" and in 2006, it was the first non-European company elected "Company of the Year" in Dance Europe magazine's annual readers' poll. In 2008, the Company marked its 75th anniversary with a host of initiatives including an ambitious New Works Festival. In October 2013, the Company performed at New York's David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, where The New York Times declared SF Ballet "a national treasure." 2015 marks the 30th anniversary of Helgi Tomasson's tenure as artistic director of San Francisco Ballet.

About Westfield San Francisco Centre

Located in the heart of San Francisco near Union Square, Westfield San Francisco Centre is a premiere destination for world-class fashion, entertainment and dining with more than 200 shops, restaurants, and cafes, as well as San Francisco's largest day spa, Burke Williams Day Spa, and a Century Theatres. The Restaurant Collection Under the Dome is the perfect setting for a dining experience that's truly one-of-a-kind, situated under the historic and iconic Emporium Dome originally built in 1896. The Centre is also home to Bespoke, a trifecta of coworking, technology demonstration (demo) and event spaces strategically located on Level 4 in the epicenter of downtown, where San Francisco's tech and retail marketplaces converge. Westfield San Francisco Centre is located just 20 minutes from San Francisco International Airport on the corner of 5th & Market across the street from San Francisco's largest parking garage, and is easily accessible by public transit including BART, Muni or Cable Car. Visit www.westfield.com/sanfrancisco for further details.

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