Weekend Preview: 'Tis the Season

A fest is in the works, with turkey cooking and mash potatoes on the stove. Store up the energy for the weekend, because there are some fun things in store.

Black Friday will certainly bring long lines at the Tacoma Mall as shoppers battle for the “must have” gifts and deals of the season. Thank goodness there are other ways to get gifts in Tacoma that are much more relaxing as well as rewarding.

The Breast Cancer Resource Center will hold a holiday gift fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday that will offer a selection of local vendors selling everything from homemade soaps and candles to jewelry and cosmetics. Proceeds benefit breast cancer programs.

Other small-business shopping options can be found at the SpeakeasyArts Co-op, which will be offering its own holiday gift bazaar Friday and Saturday. The venue will have all three floors filled with hand-crafted wares that will largely be eco-friendly.

With the shopping over, some entertainment will likely be in order. That means holiday shows. The area has two such shows that open this week. Tacoma Musical Playhouse is offering “White Christmas” now through Dec. 19. This regional premiere is a new staging of Irving Berlin’s classic. The show follows the story of two World War II veterans who put on a show to save the Vermont Inn of their former Army commander. The show includes the songs “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” “Sisters,” “Blue Skies,” and of course ,“White Christmas.”  The cast list has Mark Rake-Marona as “Bob Wallace,” Vince Wingerter as “Phil Davis,” Kim Lavoie and Jennifer Weingarten as the Haynes Sisters, and Doug Phillip as “General Waverly” with South Sound acting legend Sharry O’Hare as “Martha Watson.”

Another holiday theater option can be found at the Lakewood Playhouse, which is staging “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” now through Dec. 23. Anyone who has seen or participated in a church holiday pageant will love this show, which has the worst kids ever taking key roles in the production.

With shopping done and shows viewed, go back home and sleep through the weekend.