Editor’s note: On Dec. 30, Gov. Jay Inslee extended restrictions in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. While most of the events listed below are outdoors or online, we advise you to call venues and check websites in advance to confirm all event details.
If you’re looking for some holiday fun this season, consult this list of in-person and virtual events happening in the Greater Seattle area. If you’d like to submit your event for consideration, please use the form at the bottom of this page. (In addition to the music and arts events listed below, ArtsFund also has a holiday-season arts-and-culture guide here.)
Lights
Campus Luminata at Seattle Center: Seattle Center has lit the trees on its campus; they will remain lit through the new year. Free. 305 Harrison St., Seattle; 206-684-7200; seattlecenter.com.
WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo: Nov. 13-Jan. 17, 2021, from 4-8:30 p.m. (Closed Mondays, and on Nov. 26 and Dec. 24-25). Purchase timed tickets online. $28.95/adults, $23.95/children ages 3-12, free for children 2 and under. Members receive 20% off. 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle; 206-548-2500; zoo.org.
Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park: Drive-thru display Nov. 21-Jan. 3, 2021, from 5:30-9 p.m. Purchase tickets online. $15/vehicle or minibus up to 24 passengers (Nov. 21-29, Dec. 6-10 and 13-17), $20/vehicle or minibus up to 24 passengers (Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-27), $10/vehicle (Nov. 30-Dec. 3 and Dec. 28-Jan. 3, 2021), $45/bus of 25 or more passengers. 14905 Bresemann Blvd. S., Spanaway; co.pierce.wa.us.
Winterfest Town Square Lighting: Light display and music at the Town Square Plaza in Kent from Thanksgiving Weekend-Dec. 31; free. 115 Second Ave. N., Kent; kentlionsclub.org.
Snowflake Lane: Nov. 27-Dec. 24 from 5-9 p.m. For safety, there will be no parade or performers this year, but guests can see lights, hear holiday music and maybe catch a “snow” shower. Free. Bellevue Way between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square; 425-454-8096; snowflakelane.com.
The Lights of Christmas: Drive-thru display 16-23 and 26-30, from 5-10 p.m. Purchase tickets online. $20/Sunday-Thursday, $25/Friday-Saturday, $25/Christmas week (Dec. 20-23). 20800 Marine Drive, Stanwood; 360-652-7575; thelightsofchristmas.com
Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium: Nov. 27- Jan. 3, 2021, closed Dec. 24-25, from 5-9 p.m. Purchase timed tickets online. $5.50-$7/zoo members, $11-$14/general admission, $10-$13/BECU members, free/children ages 2 and under. 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma; 253-404-3800; pdza.org.
Starlight Lane: Dec. 10-Jan. 3, 2021. Drive-through holiday experience for all ages with audio-visual lighting and laser display synchronized to music at the Lumen Field (formerly CenturyLink Field) Event Center Garage. Tickets on sale starting Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. Purchase tickets online. 800 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle. starlightlanesea.com.
Redmond Lights: Through Jan. 3, 2021. Redmond Lights celebrates light, art and culture. Follow the lights on foot or by car from Downtown Park to Redmond Town Center where Santa will be. There will also be commemorative blinker lights for guests, a coloring contest and business window decorating contest. Free. Downtown Park, 16101 N.E. Redmond Way, Redmond; Redmond Town Center, 7525 166th Ave., Redmond. redmond.gov/1139/Redmond-Lights
Holiday Magic Drive-Thru: Dec. 4-Jan. 3, 2021, from 5-10 p.m. Lights, displays, fair food and more. Purchase tickets online. Anytime ticket $35/vehicle (5-10 p.m.), $25/vehicle (5-7 p.m., 7-9 p.m. and 9-10 p.m.). Washington State Fair Events Center, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup; 253-845-1771; thefair.com/holiday-magic.
Downtown Bellevue’s Holiday Lights: Through Jan. 4, 2021. Walk or drive around downtown Bellevue to see thousands of lights at Bellevue Downtown Park (7 a.m.-11 p.m.), Old Bellevue (all hours) and Snowflake Lane on Bellevue Way (5-9 p.m.). bellevuedowntown.com.
Downtown Holiday Lights & Delights: Nov. 27-Jan. 9, 2021. See more than 80,000 lights on installations of presents, arches and trees at Seattle’s Westlake Park. There will also be holiday “augmented reality” surprises in designated spots throughout parks, sidewalks and plazas in downtown Seattle; bring your smartphone to discover a digital winter wonderland. All activities are designed to be socially distanced with public health in mind. Free. Most of the programming will be in and around Westlake Park, 401 Pine St., Seattle; 206-623-0340; downtownseattle.org
LUSIO Lights Pioneer Square: Dec. 1-Jan. 14, 2021. View light and art installation exhibits from local artists in storefront windows and outdoor public spaces throughout Pioneer Square. lusiolight.com.
The Kilroy Star (South Lake Union): Through Jan. 31. Oakland-based Burning Man artists have created star sculptures with more than 30,000 individually programmable LED lights — one sculpture each for Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. See it oscillate through different colors, rhythms and patterns in South Lake Union through Jan. 31. Free. 333 Dexter Ave., N., Seattle. thekilroystars.com.
Markets
Historic Shell Holiday Shop — noon-6 p.m. Fridays-Sundays from Nov. 27-Dec. 27: Shop for gifts made by local artists and makers. Historic Shell Station, 232 Front St. N., Issaquah; downtownissaquah.com.
Good Cheer Shop — through Dec. 24: Poindexter Coffee is hosting a holiday market at the Graduate Seattle from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through Dec. 24 with food pop-ups, wine and holiday spirits, local gifts, and a Santa phone for children to leave Santa a voicemail; free admission. 4507 Brooklyn Ave. N.E., Seattle; 206-634-2000; graduatehotels.com/seattle/restaurant/poindexter.
Historically Hip Artisan Market — noon-6 p.m. (Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays), noon-8 p.m. (Fridays and Saturdays) through Dec. 30: Shop from a rotating selection of handcrafted gifts including wood pieces, paintings, jewelry and more; free admission. Rogue Building (35 W. Sunset Way, Issaquah), Historic Shell Station (232 Front St. N., Issaquah), Issaquah Train Depot (78 First Ave. N.E., Issaquah); downtownissaquah.com.
Music
Christmas with The Gothard Sisters Online — Dec. 4-25: Hear a full-length Celtic Christmas performance from The Gothard Sisters online; donations accepted. gothardsisters.com.
“‘Twas the Night… Reimagined” — Dec. 12-27: Virtual opening night gala via Zoom at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12 for the musical “Twas the Night… Reimagined” from Studio East. The show will stream publicly starting Sunday, Dec. 13 on the Studio East website through Dec. 27; pay-what-you-can, $30/virtual gala, $150/virtual gala VIP. studio-east.org.
Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy’s Celtic Family Christmas At Home — 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12-31: Virtual performance from Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy. The performance premieres at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12 and will be available through Thursday, Dec. 31. Purchase tickets online; $20. washingtoncenter.org.
“A Homemade Holiday: Songs of the Season from Our Homes to Yours” — unlimited viewing Dec. 18-31: Virtual holiday concert from the Northwest Firelight Chorale performing a collection of carols, pop favorites, spirituals, festive tunes, its signature Firelighter choralography and some special effects surprises. Register for the concert online. The event link will be live on Northwest Firelight Chorale’s YouTube channel starting 7 p.m. Dec. 18; $20/individual, $35/household. 206-853-8255; nwfirelightchorale.org.
Seattle Men’s Chorus Holiday Special with Nina West — through Dec. 31: Virtual holiday show hosted by Nina West inspired by the Holiday Baking Championship through Dec. 31. The Seattle Men’s Chorus Holiday Special will feature new performances of carols, comedy and more. Purchase tickets online; $25. seattlechoruses.org.
Special events
“Scott Shoemaker’s War on Christmas” — Dec. 5-Jan. 3, 2021: Virtual LGBTQ holiday variety show with Seattle actors, singers and burlesque stars including Scott Shoemaker, Waxie Moon, Mandy Price and more. Purchase tickets online; $10-$50. bit.ly/2IRjiIh.
Sugar Plum Gary — Dec. 17-20, 23-24: Chat with and hear from Sugar Plum Gary, played by comedian Emmett Montgomery, via Zoom. Times vary. Purchase tickets online; $5-$45. 18thandunion.org.
Live Reading: “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” — 6:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 24: Trinity Episcopal Parish Seattle presents a virtual live reading of Dylan Thomas’ story, “A Child’s Christmas in Wales.” Suitable for all ages; free. trinityseattle.org.
Santa Photos at Snowflake Lane Factory — through Dec. 24: Get a contactless photo with a masked Santa through Dec. 24. Appointments and masks required. Bellevue Square Center Court (second level), 575 Bellevue Square, Bellevue. bellevuecollection.com.
Online Photos with Santa — through Dec. 26: The Landing in Renton is partnering with Picture Me Santa to provide digitally created pictures with Santa. Participants can take their photo against a white backdrop, upload the photo, choose a package and receive their picture with Santa by email a few days later. Order online; $29.99/one person in photo, $6/per additional person. picturemesanta.com.
Harry Potter Holiday-Themed Decorations at Zulu’s Board Game Cafe — noon-10 p.m., through Dec. 31: See the store decked out as Hogwarts for Christmas featuring a Harry Potter-themed tree, floating candles and more; free. 10234 Main St., Bothell; 425-818-8122; zulusgames.com.
Ikebana for The Holidays and Beyond — Nov. 21-Dec. 31: View the Sogetsu School Seattle Branch annual exhibition and demonstrations of ikebana (Japanese floral art) virtually; free. seattlesogetsu.wixsite.com/home.
Elfie Fest — daily from Nov. 23-Dec. 31: Take pictures with holiday-themed photo backdrops and props; free. DoubleTree Suites, 16500 Southcenter Parkway, Seattle; facebook.com/doubletreeseattle.
Space Needle New Year’s digital-effects show — 11:35 pm. Thursday, Dec. 31: This year, there will be no in-person events or fireworks at the Space Needle or Seattle Center. Instead, KING 5 will air and stream a show, starting at 11:35 p.m., that uses digital effects to create the illusion of a light show surrounding the Space Needle. Watch on KING 5, king5.com or at spaceneedle.com/newyears.
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