Sugar Plum Fairy fans, mark your calendars: BalletMet and Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph are throwing a Nutcracker-themed tea party this December, complete with live dance, character appearances and a full tableside tea service for families.
The Nutcracker Tea with BalletMet is set for Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, running from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., according to The Columbus Dispatch. The event takes place at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph, with the newspaper reporting it will be held in the hotel's second-floor atrium gallery and Michael B. Coleman Ballroom at 620 N. High St.
Guests can expect both a buffet-style afternoon tea and tableside traditional tea service, the Dispatch's report notes. BalletMet Academy students will perform live during the party, and two of the ballet's most famous characters, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Nutcracker himself, are scheduled to make an appearance, per the same account.
What's Included and What It Costs
The Joseph Columbus describes the gathering as The Joseph Columbus puts it, “A magical afternoon tea with BalletMet, live dance, Nutcracker characters.” That framing lines up with the Dispatch's reporting on the dance performances and character visits planned for the afternoon.
Ticket prices are listed at $53.86 for children ages 3 to 10 and $105.71 for guests ages 11 and older, the Dispatch reports. Children ages 2 and under are admitted free. Tickets for the Nutcracker Tea with BalletMet are available through Eventbrite, which lists the same Dec. 6 date and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. window for the event.
A Holiday Tradition Gets a New Twist
The tea party gives young ballet fans a chance to meet Nutcracker characters up close in a more intimate, hands-on setting than a traditional theater performance, pairing BalletMet's dancers with the hospitality of one of downtown Columbus's landmark hotels. Families looking to attend should plan around the two-hour window and the High Street location.
Additional details on the full slate of performances or character appearances beyond what's been confirmed were not available at publication. Those interested in reserving a spot can check ticket availability through Eventbrite ahead of the December date.
