A new year, a new story for Mystic Seaport's Lantern Light Tour.

Indeed, every February, organizers start writing and planning the production that happens all around the seaport grounds on December nights.

The tale for 2012 takes off from the legend of St. Nicholas as the patron saint of sailors, thieves, and young women looking to marry. (Rather an odd assortment of people to all be gathered under the same patron-saint banner, but ...)

Since ol' Saint Nick does oversee thieves, you won't be too surprised to know that the tour story does feature a bank robbery - on Christmas Eve, yet - and a sailor thought lost at sea. It all happens in 1876 and promises tales of lost love, temptation and - could it be otherwise? - Christmas miracles.

The tours, which begin Saturday, run 70 minutes and boast a cast of nearly 70. They retain some of their traditional elements: a shipboard scene, a dance, a horse-and-carriage ride, and sweets for visitors.

Oh, and, of course, an appearance by St. Nicholas.

- KRISTINA DORSEY

Lantern Light Tours, Saturday through Dec. 27, Mystic Seaport, Greenmanville Avenue, Mystic; tours begin at 5 p.m. and leave every 15 minutes on Dec. 1, 7-8, 14-16, 21-23, and 26-27; tours for deaf and hearing impaired visitors at 6:45 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 8 - call (860) 572-5331; tickets $28 adults, $21 ages 4-17 ($26, $19 members) in advance; $2 more walk-ins; (860) 572-5331, mysticseaport.org.