Food & Drink
38 Seattle-Area Holiday Events to Add to the Calendar
We need a little Christmas, right this very minute. Your neighborhood guide to all things holiday
By Jennifer Meyers, Jim Demetre and Lauren Mang November 18, 2015
Cool yule havers take note: It’s time to ooh and ahh at the glorious exterior illumination, halls decked to the brim and other jingle bells and whistles Seattle has to offer. Below, we’ve listed 38 joyful, jolly and downright merry events happening around town at which you can get your holiday on.
Good tidings, indeed.
DOWNTOWN
20th Annual Magic in the Market
11/28 Don’t let the recent Gum Wall #Scrubgate get you down. It’s time for our favorite public market to light up like…well, a Christmas tree. On Saturday, November 28, from 1 to 5 p.m., Pike Place Market will celebrate the impending holiday season with its annual tree lighting and general spreading of good cheer. Expect gratis hot chocolate from Indi Chocolate, MarketSpice tea and Tiny’s Organic hot apple cider, souvenier pins and stickers for kids, festive tunes, free photos with Santa and his elves and gingerbread cookie decorating. Santa will lead the countown to the lighting of a 20-foot tree (5 p.m) and twinkling lights throughout the market. pikeplacemarket.org/events/magic-in-the-market-holiday-celebration
Westlake Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration
Photo: JC Winkler via flickr
11/27, 4 p.m. Gather ’round in ye olde Westlake Park for one of the biggest sparkling spectacles in Seattle, when the Westlake holiday tree and shining holiday star above Macy’s will gleam in all their glory. Go for live music from the likes of the Seattle Community Church and Friends Choir, the cast of The Sound of Music (at the 5th Avenue Theatre starting 11/24) and electric violin from Geoffrey Castle’s Celtic Christmas. A fireworks display (weather permitting) closes the festive evening in grand style. holidaysinseattle.com
Argosy Christmas Ship Festival
11/27–12/22 Cruise into Christmas on a sparkling boat, while enjoying choral performances, seasonal cocktails and a special reading of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas by Santa himself. Landlubbers can enjoy the spectacle, warmed by a bonfire, at one of the cruise’s many stops along Puget Sound, where the choir’s 20-minute performances will be broadcast via speaker to the shore. Dates and locations vary; argosycruises.com
Home for the Holidays
11/28–12/21 The Seattle Men’s Chorus performs carols and holiday classics with a pinch of its well-known cheeky humor. Dates and times vary. Benaroya Hall, downtown; flyinghouse.org
Santa’s Lights Tour
12/12 One tour to conquer all of Seattle’s best Christmas-lighted neighborhoods starts on a vintage Metro bus. Tour departs at 7 p.m. from Second Avenue and S Main Street. mehva.org
29th Annual Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition
12/4 Nothing lights up the evening like dozens of caroling teams facing off on the Figgy Main Stage. Westlake Center, downtown; pikemarketseniorcenter.org
A Christmas Carol
11/27–12/30 The traditional family Christmas play based on Charles Dickens’ tale always recaptures what the holidays are really about. ACT—A ContemporaryTheatre, downtown; acttheatre.org
The Brian Setzer Orchestra’s 12th Annual Christmas Rocks!
12/27 The three-time Grammy Award-winning musician will rock his new album, Rockin’ Rudolph, with his 18-piece orchestra. Benaroya Hall, downtown; seattlesymphony.org
Handel’s Messiah
12/18–12/20 A centuries-old December tradition, this venerated masterpiece is performed by the Seattle Symphony. Benaroya Hall, downtown; seattlesymphony.org
A John Waters Christmas: Holier And Dirtier
12/2 A wacky dysfunctional family meets good old-fashioned social satire and musical parodies. ACT—A Contemporary Theatre, downtown; acttheatre.org
New Year’s Eve: Concert, Countdown & Celebration
12/31 Lift your glass of New Year’s bubbly to toast the musical splendor of Beethoven’s Ninth performed by the Seattle Symphony, and then dance into 2016. Benaroya Hall, downtown; seattlesymphony.org
Teddy Bear Suite
11/22–12/24 What could be better than a room full of huggable, squeezable teddy bears? The event is free, with donations benefiting the Seattle Children’s Hospital. Fairmont Olympic Hotel, downtown; seattlefestivaloftrees.com
CAPITOL HILL/FIRST HILL
Peace on Earth
12/11–12/12 Envelop yourself and find inner peace during the busy holiday season with the sounds of the Seattle Choral Company. Choirs, orchestra and soloists will make up this wonderful uplifting concert. Saint Mark’s Cathedral, Capitol Hill; seattlechoralcompany.org
Natus Est Rex!
12/19 This mesmerizing performance of hymns, dances and holiday music draws from Italy, France, Spain and England. Saint James Cathedral, First Hill; medievalwomenschoir.org
QUEEN ANNE
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker by Pacific Northwest Ballet
11/27–12/28 PNB’s refresh of Tchaikovsky’s holiday masterpiece is brought to life with fresh new sets by Ian Falconer and choreography by George Balanchine. McCaw Hall, Lower Queen Anne; pnb.org
Festivals of Light
11/27–12/30 Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Loi Krathong and other holidays are highlighted in this celebration of traditions from cultures around the world. Seattle Children’s Museum, Lower Queen Anne; thechildrensmuseum.org
Winter Train and Village
11/28–12/31 All aboard! The miniature turn-of-the-century village and model train are always a big holiday draw. Seattle Center, seattlecenter.com
SOUTH LAKE UNION
Dina Martina Christmas Show
11/27–12/31 The self-described “tragic singer, horrible dancer and surreal raconteur” is back for her annual performance of pure holiday comedy genius. It’s bound to be anything but a drag. Re-Bar, Denny Triangle; dinamartina.com
BELLEVUE
Snowflake Lane
11/27–12/24 Gaze upon a nightly showcase of twinkling lights, falling snow and dazzling choreographed performances of toy soldiers and other wintry characters high-stepping all along Bellevue Way. The Bellevue Collection, Bellevue; bellevuecollection.com
Garden D’lights
11/28–1/2/2016 Growing season may be over, but glowing season is in full bloom at this annual winter wonderland. Bellevue Botanical Garden, Bellevue; gardendlights.org
TACOMA
Zoolights
11/27–1/3/2016 Half a million lights create a luminous world of 3-D animals. Don’t worry, they don’t bite. Point Defiance Zoo, Tacoma; pdza.org
Wildlights
11/27–1/3/2016 See wild animals—including visiting reindeer—in a whole new light during this annual holiday festival. Woodland Park Zoo, Phinney Ridge; zoo.org
KIRKLAND
Campy Christmas
12/12 For one night only, the Seattle Men’s Chorus and Seattle Women’s Chorus will bring you their versions of campy holiday songs with theatrical performances. Kirkland Performance Center, Kirkland; kpcenter.org
REDMOND
Black Friday Holiday Fun at Redmond Town Center
Courtesy of Redmond Town Center
11/27 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. This Black Friday celebration marks the official start to the holiday season at Redmond Town Center, where the whole day will be filled with joyous and jolly activities such as a visits from Cougar Mountain Zoo reindeer, an outdoor synthetic skating rink, a holiday train that tours around the property and a carousel. redmondtowncenter.com
MERCER ISLAND
The Big Chanukah Show
12/7 The Shalom Klezmer Band headlines this free musical variety show. Seattle Rabbi James Mirel will lead the lighting of the candles. Stroum Jewish Community Center, Mercer Island; jewishsound.org
WOODINVILLE
Woodinville Wine Country’s St. Nick’s Holiday Weekend
12/4-12/6 If there’s one thing to love about the holidays, it’s that drinking copious amounts of wine is not frowned upon. Head to the nearby Woodinville Wine Country for three days worth of tastings from a slew of Washington wineries. The weekend begins with a holiday tasting at Molbak’s Garden + Home ($55, tickets here) and culimates with Saint Nick’s Holiday Open House where vino lovers will taste wines from exclusive boutique wineries and meet the winemakers ($65 to $55, tickets here). Salud!
BELLEVUE
Snowflake Lane
11/27–12/24 Gaze upon a nightly showcase of twinkling lights, falling snow and dazzling choreographed performances of toy soldiers and other wintry characters high-stepping all along Bellevue Way. The Bellevue Collection, Bellevue; bellevuecollection.com
Garden D’lights
11/28–1/2/2016 Growing season may be over, but glowing season is in full bloom at this annual winter wonderland. Bellevue Botanical Garden, Bellevue; gardendlights.org
TACOMA
Zoolights
11/27–1/3/2016 Half a million lights create a luminous world of 3-D animals. Don’t worry, they don’t bite. Point Defiance Zoo, Tacoma; pdza.org
Wildlights
11/27–1/3/2016 See wild animals—including visiting reindeer—in a whole new light during this annual holiday festival. Woodland Park Zoo, Phinney Ridge; zoo.org
We’re Nuts about The Nutcracker
It’s not just the PNB that’s putting on a show this season
Evergreen City Ballet
Coming to a theater near you: Evergreen’s full-length or hour-long versions of the holiday classic. 12/4–12/20; Various locations; evergreencityballet.org
Emerald Ballet
The Rainier Symphony Orchestra accompanies this classic production. 12/5–12/13; Northshore Performing Arts Center, Bothell; emeraldballet.org
Olympic Ballet
The Olympic Ballet Theatre brings the classic to two Snohomish venues. 12/12–12/13; Everett Performing Arts Center, Everett. 12/18–12/20; Edmonds Center for the Arts, Edmonds; olympicballet.com
International Ballet
A cast from around the world performs the beloved suite. 12/5–12/6; Kirkland Performance Center, Kirkland. 12/11–12/23; Meydenbauer Theatre, Bellevue; ibtproductions.com
Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker
A sexy makeover to the classic, with minimal clothing and naughty implications, makes for a provocative holiday performance. 12/10–12/27; The Triple Door, downtown; landofthesweets.com
Nutcracker Sweets
The fastest ballet in the West! Young ballet stars twirl through The Nutcracker in just one hour. 12/11–12/13; ARC Dance Space, Ballard; arcdance.org
The Nutcracker & The Tale of the Hard Nut
The Tacoma City Ballet presents the classic Christmas tale alongside its spinoff origin story. 12/12–12/13 and 12/19–12/20; The Pantages Theater, Tacoma; tacomacityballet.com
The Buttcracker
“Hair metal” songs ratchet up a bizarre holiday package very loosely based on the classic. Party on, Clara. 12/18–12/20; Erickson Theatre, Capitol Hill; strangertickets.com