My daughters birthday falls at or around Thanksgiving and just prior to the Nutcracker performance in town. For her 7th birthday she wanted to have a Nutcracker party.  We made invitations out of plain index cards with Nutcracker/soldiers and ballerina stickers on them. The house was decorated for Christmas. We added Nutcrackers that she has been collecting and also put out a recent gift of a dancing ballerina which turned and played the "Waltz of the Sugar Plum Fairy". We turned it on as guests arrived and then we watched a portion of Baryshinokovs Nutcracker in case anyone wasn't familiar with it.  Once everyone was there, we went outside and played Nutcracker Tag. We bought a Nutcracker mask at a party store. One person was chosen to be the Nutcracker and the rest were mice, like in Clara's dream.  The game was played like regular freeze tag with a twist, in that the Nutcracker chased the mice and tagged them with a play sword. We then went in and made "poopers", cut paper towel rolls filled with candy, wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper and tied on each end with curly ribbon. When you pull each end of the popper it will break apart and the candy will fly out!  They had a blast eating the candy and rolling up their presents/partyfavors to take home.  Also they were given nutcracker stickers, a nutcracker finger puppet and a nutcracker mini candle as party favors. Party plates, napkins and cups were plain in Christmas colors.  We ate cake decorated with gumdrops, mini candy canes and a miniature nutcracker and had ice-cream while watching more of the ballet. Everyone had a great time and it was a great way to avoid another "turkey" birthday for my "Thanksgiving baby"!! It was also a great way to usher in the holidays!