Celebrate Christmas with 12 holiday events in Seattle and beyond

Downtown Seattle

Nov. 22 – Jan. 1, 2016

The 24th Annual Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton Hotel will tantalize your taste buds and dazzle your imagination. This year, the culinary team and top local architecture firms built scenes from your favorite wizarding world. Afterwards, make your way to the Fairmont Olympic Hotel to see the Festival of Trees. Each tree has a unique theme and tells a story about a child at Seattle Children’s. Then head upstairs to see the Teddy Bear Suite, a staple of the holiday season. The event raises money for the Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank. Top the night off with indoor snow at Pacific Place. Look up! twice nightly in the atrium as snow gently falls on shoppers below.

Sheraton Hotel
1400 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA, website
Fairmont Olympic Hotel
411 University St, Seattle, WA, website
Pacific Place
600 Pine St, Seattle, WA, website

Get your photo taken with Santa

Nov. 25 – Dec. 24, 2016

It’s a Seattle tradition to head downtown to Nordstrom to pose with Santa at Santa’s Lane. Expect a long line, but the elves will take your number and text you when it’s your turn. There are plenty of Santas on rotation, including African-American Santa, Asian-American Santa, and a Santa that knows American Sign Language.

Nordstrom’s Santa Lane
590 Pine Street, Seattle, WA, website

U-Cut Christmas Trees

Nov. 25 – Dec. 19, 2016

Grab the saw and tarp and cruise out to the farm for a crisp morning among the pines. Check out Farmer Brown’s Christmas Tree Farm for hot chocolate, kettle corn, a bonfire, and Christmas music.

Farmer Brown’s Christmas Tree Farm
12017 109th Ave. NE, Arlington, WA, website

Christmas Ships

Nov. 25 – Dec. 23, 2016

Big yachts, cruisers, and sailboats decked out in lights and holiday decor cutting through the water has been a Northwest tradition since 1949. Bundle up and take the family out to see how these sailors decorate their boats. There are several dates and times to choose from throughout the entire season.
Check the website for dates and times.

Nutcracker

Nov. 25 – Dec. 28, 2016

Inject a little beauty and culture in your holidays with George Balanchine’s Nutcracker at the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. Lose yourself in dance and music as Clara Stahlbaum dreams of the Nutcracker on Christmas Eve.

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall
321 Mercer Street, Seattle, WA, website

Wildlights at Woodland Park Zoo

Nov. 25 – Jan. 1, 2016

Animals love the holidays too, right? There’s something magical about being at the zoo at night, especially when thousands of twinkling lights warm the cool Seattle evening. It starts before you even get to the zoo with monkeys in nearly every window along Greenwood Ave. Play in a faux snowball fight, meet Santa and his reindeer, and stare in wonder at all those lights.

Woodland Park Zoo
5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA, website

Snowflake Lane

Nov. 25 – Dec. 24, 2016

Every night Bellevue Way transforms into a winter wonderland with toy soldier drummers, princesses, music, glittering lights, and of course, the snow. Make a night of the magic that happens between Bellevue and Lincoln Squares.

Snowflake Lane
Bellevue Way, Bellevue, WA, website

Green Lake Pathway of Lights

Dec. 10, 2016

Growing in popularity, the Green Lake Pathway of Lights is the perfect way to get outside and enjoy a beautiful night with your neighbors, sip on hot chocolate and listen to local schools and artists play the holiday classics.

Green Lake Park
7201 E Greenlake Dr. N, Seattle, WA, website

Holiday Pops at Benaroya Hall

Dec. 9 – Dec. 11, 2016

Start a new holiday tradition with the Seattle Symphony. Sit back and let your mind wander as singer and comedienne Nicole Parker takes you on a journey with all of the holiday favorites. Conductor Stuart Chafetz and the University of Washington Chorale return to the stage.

Benaroya Hall
200 University Street, Seattle, WA,website

Garden D’Lights

Nov. 26 – Dec. 31, 2016

Imagine over half a million twinkling lights that transform the Bellevue Botanical Gardens into a magical wonderland. Thousands of visitors flock to this holiday display and 2016 is promised to be even bigger and more magical than ever. Stop by the Trillium Store for a stocking stuffer.

Bellevue Botanical Garden
12001 Main St, Bellevue, WA, website

Seattle Center Winterfest

Nov. 25 – Dec. 31, 2016

Five weeks of fun-filled activities for the whole family in downtown Seattle. Check out the Winterfest Ice Rink, ice sculpting, Winter Train & Village, and the variety of live performance, including Hot Dog USA, the jump rope team that’ll inspire all ages.

Seattle Center
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA, website

Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting

Nov. 25, 2016

Kick off the season with Seattle’s annual Macy’s holiday parade. Starting at 9 a.m., the parade route winds down 5th and 4th Avenues so that kids and adults alike get a good view of the 25 inflatable floats, marching bands, and characters ushering in the holidays. Take a break, grab some lunch downtown, and do some holiday shopping before the annual Macy’s star lighting ceremony and lighting of the Westlake Center tree. Stick around for a fireworks display, weather permitting.

Holiday parade start
Seventh Avenue and Pine Street, Seattle, WA, website