Snow Day Winter Light Display, Dec. 14-Jan. 20 (grand opening on Dec. 14); Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink, through Jan. 13; Winterfest Ice Rink at Seattle Center, through Jan. 6; Frozen Fountain Ice Rink in Tacoma, through Feb. 2; Winter Celebration at the Zoo in Seattle, Dec 15-17 and 20-22.
Weekend Highlight
Bundle up and head outside at winter activities including the Snow Day Winter Light Display in Denny Park, ice skating in Bellevue and Tacoma, and the Woodland Park Zoo’s Winter Celebration.
The new Snow Day Winter Light Display in Denny Park opens Friday, Dec. 14, inviting everyone to the Grand Opening Party with a DJ and other entertainment, holiday craft vendors, food trucks and a beer garden. The display of thousands of lights with a wintry snow-day theme continues daily through Jan. 20.
Take a spin at the outdoor Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink, open daily, including holidays, through Jan. 13 at Bellevue Downtown Park. The large rink includes a sheltered area for ice skating in any weather, concessions and skate lessons, included with admission 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 18 and 19, and also Jan. 8-9. The Ice Rink is a popular local tradition; arriving close to opening time is a good way to avoid crowds. Skates are available for rental or bring your own, and there’s free three-hour parking at Bellevue Downtown Park, adjacent to the ice rink.
Outdoor ice skating is also available in Tacoma at the holiday-themed Frozen Fountain at Point Ruston daily, including holidays, through Feb. 2. The rink is larger than in past years, with more elaborate seasonal decor, music and nearby food concessions.
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Seattle Center Winterfest offers ice skating indoors at Fisher Pavilion through Jan. 6.
The Woodland Park Zoo is always a great outdoor outing in winter, with the added attraction of the Winter Celebration Saturday through Monday, Dec. 15 to 17, and Dec. 20 to 22. Visitors can see lions, otters, penguins, wolves, rhinos, bears, meerkats, hippos and others get special treats such as fish- or fruit-trimmed wreaths, evergreen trees with ornamental fruit or gift-wrapped boxes with treats. One of the zoo’s newest residents, Kwame the gorilla, and his group are scheduled to get their treats at noon Dec. 21. Though Kwame and his new family have bonded well, they’re still getting acclimated to being in the exhibit together, so the times to see them might vary depending on the day.
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Snow Day Winter Light Display
Time: 4 to 9 p.m. daily, Dec. 14-Jan. 20; Grand Opening Party 4-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14
Location: Denny Park, 100 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle
More info: sluchamber.org/snow-day-slu
Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink
Time: 3 to 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16; 3 to 9:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, Dec. 17-18; 1 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 19-20; 3 to 11 p.m. Dec. 21, hours vary through Jan. 13
Cost: $15, $10/ages 8 and younger including skate rental; $11, $6/ages 8 and younger with own skates
Location: Bellevue Downtown Park, 100 100th Ave. N.E., Bellevue
Winterfest Ice Rink
Time: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays through Jan. 6; closed 4 p.m. Dec. 24 and all day Dec. 25; open until 11:30 p.m. Dec. 31
Cost: $8, $6/ages 6-12, $2/ages 5 and younger, includes skate rental
Location: Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center, Seattle
More info: 206-684-7200 or seattlecenter.com/winterfest
Frozen Fountain Ice Rink
Time: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16; 4 to 10 p.m. Dec. 17-20; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 21; hours vary through Feb. 2, including holidays
Cost: $12.50-$14, including skate rental
Location: Point Ruston Grand Plaza, 5005 Ruston Way, Tacoma
More info: pointruston.com
Winter Celebration at the Zoo
Time: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday-Monday, Dec. 15-17, and Dec. 20-22
Cost: $9.95-$14.95
Location: Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle
More info: 206-548-2500 or zoo.org/events