We found three Nutcrackers in and around Dayton with 2026 dates posted: three ballet company productions. One has a sensory-friendly or relaxed performance. The closest, The Nutcracker by Dayton Ballet in Dayton, is about 1 miles out. Each card has the run time, the youngest age the company allows and the ticket price as posted.
By date
Tap a show for run time, ages, prices and any sensory-friendly performance.
Ballet company · to Dec 20 · Schuster Center, 1 W. 2nd St.11DecFriThe Nutcracker by Ohio Performing Arts InstituteBallet company · to Dec 12 · Springfield, OH (venue on OPAI's page when tickets open)18DecFriThe Nutcracker: Sensory FriendlyBallet company · Friday, Dec 18 at 2:30 p.m. · Schuster Center, 1 W. 2nd St.Nothing matches that filter yet.
Shows
Dates, run times, ages and prices come from each ballet company’s or theater’s own page.
Schuster Center, 1 W. 2nd St. · Dayton, OH · about 1 mile away
Good to know: This version is set in Dayton, with Clara on a time-traveling trip.
Springfield, OH (venue on OPAI's page when tickets open) · Springfield, OH · about 25 miles from Dayton
Good to know: OPAI's 37th yearly Nutcracker, a Springfield holiday tradition.
Schuster Center, 1 W. 2nd St. · Dayton, OH · about 1 mile away
Know one we missed?Send us the company’s or theater’s page and we’ll check the dates and add it.Suggest a showBefore you go
TimingPick a matineeAfternoon shows fit around naps, and most full Nutcrackers run about two hours with an intermission.SeatsSit on an aisleAn aisle seat makes a quick break in the lobby easy. Check the company’s age rule before you buy, since many ask that every child have a ticket.
SoundBring ear protection if they need itThe battle scene can be loud. Sensory-friendly shows keep the house lights up and the sound lower.Keep planning
November: things to do in DaytonEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in DaytonEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in DaytonFree days, free events and places that never charge
Indoor play in DaytonIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in DaytonStorytimes for ages 0–6, by day and branch
Ice skating in DaytonHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Sledding in DaytonSledding hills and snow tubing, with height rules
Thanksgiving weekend in DaytonParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in DaytonKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in DaytonParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in DaytonPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with dates
Christmas markets in DaytonChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
Christmas tree farms in DaytonChoose-and-cut farms, wagon rides and kid notesTree lighting in DaytonDates, times and what the organizer posts for kidsChristmas break in DaytonWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1
More things to do with kids in Dayton this weekDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every ThursdayGood questions
The Nutcracker by Dayton Ballet at Schuster Center, 1 W. 2nd St.: Dec 11 – Dec 20. The Nutcracker by Ohio Performing Arts Institute at Springfield, OH (venue on OPAI's page when tickets open): Fri Dec 11 and Sat Dec 12. Price: Tickets go on sale soon, per OPAI. The Nutcracker: Sensory Friendly at Schuster Center, 1 W. 2nd St.: Fri, Dec 18, 2026.
The Nutcracker: Sensory Friendly: Sensory-friendly performance.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them every week through December. How we choose and check.
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