Delaware Today 302 Culture: Arts and entertainment, Delaware Day in Hawaii, a Kwaanza event at Wilmington Public Library and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s Christmas concert at the Schwartz Center in Dover, and the Nutcracker

Maui Wowie

All you need to gain admission to Adele Rugg’s Delaware Day celebration on Maui is a local food (Casapulla’s subs are much appreciated, thank you) and an article of Delaware-themed clothing. Once there, you’ll soon discover that the two degrees of separation between all Delawareans spans entire continents. Just ask the vacationing couple from Hockessin who, riding the escalator at the Queen Ka’ahumanu Center, ended up smack dab in the middle of the party a couple years ago. “They walked over to me with their eyes wide open,” says Rugg, a Seaford native who moved to the island 31 years ago. “They could not believe they were seeing a Delaware flag on Maui.” The party goes down at Ruby’s Diner in Kahului on Dec. 8. Contact Rugg at (808) 879-9964 (mind the six-hour time lag), or adeleonmaui@yahoo.com.

A Kwaanza Story

Like Christmas, Kwaanza is meant to be lived all year long—a point storyteller Tahira plans to discuss during a special presentation at the Wilmington Public Library on Dec. 14 and the North Wilmington branch on Dec. 20. Blending story, song, other music and poetry, Tahira will explain the seven principles and symbols of Kwaanza in a way all children—and their parents—will understand. “Know your history,” she says, “and know that mutual respect improves all communities.” Registration is required. (Downtown 571-7412, North Wilmington 761-4290)

Hot, Hot, Hot for the Holidays

If you’d like a little Cajun spice with your holidays, be sure to see the Preservation Hall Jazz Band’s “Creole Christmas” concert at the Schwartz Center for the Arts in Dover on Dec. 17. The venerable band, 50 years young in 2011, will help the Schwartz celebrate its 10th anniversary by playing favorites like “Blue Christmas,” “Swinging in A Winter Wonderland,” “Bells Will Be Ringing” and “The Dreidel Song.” Before the show, hear an informal lecture about the history of jazz, blues and New Orleans music, followed by a short documentary on the story of Preservation Hall. The show is sure to start the season on the right note. (678-3583, schwartzcenter.com)

Nutcracker Alert

The state is rich with ballet and dance companies. That means lots of offerings of the holiday mainstay, “The Nutcracker.” Here’s this season’s lineup.

Ballet Theatre of Dover
Dec. 10-11 Schwartz Center for the Arts, Dover, dancebtd.com

Brandywine Ballet
Dec. 9-11, 15, 17-18 Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, West Chester University, West Chester, Pa., brandywineballet.com

Delaware Ballet
Dec. 2-3 Delaware State University Education and Humanities Theater, Dover, delawareballet.org

Delaware Dance Company
Dec. 10-11 John Dickinson High School, Wilmington, delawaredance.org

Diamond Dance Company
Dec. 2 Milford Senior High School Theater, Milford, southerndelawareballet.com

First State Ballet Theatre
Dec. 10 Delaware Technical & Community College, Georgetown
Dec. 16-18 The Grand Opera House, Wilmington, firststateballet.com

Mid-Atlantic Ballet
Dec. 16-17 Mitchell Hall at the University of Delaware, Newark, midatlanticballet.org

Wilmington Ballet Academy of the Dance
Dec. 17-18 DuPont Theatre, Wilmington, wilmingtonballet.org