It’s a snowy Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum home and the family welcomes guests to their holiday party.  Clara and Fritz can hardly contain their excitement as they dance with their friends, play games and help pass out gifts.  Suddenly, Clara’s godfather, Herr Drosselmeier, arrives and introduces his handsome nephew to Clara.  Drosselmeier has brought magical, life-size dancing dolls as well as a special gift just for Clara–a beautiful, wooden Nutcracker.

After the guests leave, Clara returns to the living room looking for her beloved Nutcracker and falls asleep on the couch.  She suddenly awakes to the sound of scurrying mice.  The Christmas tree starts growing until it is towering over her and Fritz’s toy soldiers appear as large as she is.  The Nutcracker comes to life just in time to meet a Mouse King that resembles her brother Fritz. The Nutcracker leads the soldiers to battle against the mice. At the last moment, Clara throws her pointe shoe at the Mouse King and the Nutcracker defeats him. With that, the ancient spell is broken and the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome prince.  Clara gratefully thanks him and realizes that it is Herr Drosselmeier’s nephew. He takes her on a sleigh through a magical forest where the the snowflakes dance and the Snow Queen and King guide them along their way to the Land of Sweets.

Clara and her Prince arrive at the Land of Sweets, greeted by the enchanting Sugar Plum Fairy and her loyal subjects.  As the Prince tells of the battle against the mice, Clara recognizes the Sugar Plum Fairy as her Uncle’s lovely fiancé that she had met at the party. Everyone is thrilled to hear that the spell has been broken and they all dance for Clara and the Prince.  Hot Chocolate from Spain begin the festivities, followed by Chinese Tea and Arabian Coffee.  The Russian Trepak deliver a spectacular display, along with the sweet Marzipan and Mother Ginger who arrives with her dancing polichinelles. Then shimmering flowers appear, led by the glittering Dew Drop Fairy and her cavalier.  Finally, the Sugar Plum Fairy returns and Clara watches breathlessly as she soars through the air with her cavalier.  After they dance, the Sugar Plum Fairy bids Clara and the Prince farewell and they journey home in their sleigh.

Clara wakes on the familiar couch in her living room, her Nutcracker now standing beside her.  She sees the nephew’s hat on the mantle and her magical journey comes flooding back to her.  Was it all a dream, or did her wonderful godfather send her on a magical Christmas journey to the Land of Sweets?