Holiday tradition: What better way to celebrate the season than by taking in a performance of “The Nutcracker” by a Russian dance company? The Moscow Classical Ballet and its 52-piece orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s classic at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Dec. 21-26.

Millennium artist: The Pasadena Historical Museum is exhibiting the paintings of Melanie Taylor, the official artist of the 2000 Tournament of Roses Parade. Along with Taylor’s official “Millennium Rose Parade” painting, other Taylor works featured in the exhibit will be those commissioned for Mickey Mouse’s 60th birthday, the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics and the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of the New World. Through Jan. 10.

Rock on: The world’s largest cut gemstone sculpture is now on display at the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park. It took two carvers seven years to sculpt the 602-pound, four-and-a-half-foot-tall quartz crystal, which was discovered in Bahia, Brazil, in 1987. The Bahia Sculpture is on display until the fall.

Photo tribute: Not as well known as Ansel Adams or Alfred Stieglitz, Frederick Sommer was considered one of the most original photographers of the 20th century until his death in January at age 93. The Norton Simon Museum hosts a tribute to Sommer, including his photographs and works of his contemporaries, from Dec. 22 until March 26.