Seattle takes its winter holidays seriously. From an enormous decorated tree downtown to an impressive fireworks display at the Space Needle on New Year’s Eve, there’s plenty to keep the entire family entertained in the Emerald City even if the weather outside is frightful.
As always, check for travel guidelines and closures before planning your trip.
Traditional Tree Lighting
The annual tree-lighting celebration at the Westlake Center helps kick off the holiday season on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Families can look forward to kid-friendly activities, such as arts and crafts. Also keep an eye out for costumed characters and fun giveaways — both have made appearances in past years. The event culminates with a fireworks show.
Let It Snow
Snowflake Lane at The Westin Bellevue involves some serious holiday pageantry. Each night during the holiday season, there’s a parade of live toy-soldier drummers, music, animated snow characters, glittering lights, and “snow” falling on spectators just outside the hotel’s front doors.
Gingerbread Fun
For more than 30 years, the Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton Grand Seattle has been one of the most cherished holiday traditions in the city. Seattle’s top architecture firms, master builders, and Sheraton Grand Seattle culinary teams have come together to recreate the city’s historic past and imagine the future — with gingerbread as their medium.
Santa Time!
Photos with Santa at Nordstrom Downtown Seattle are a fixture in the childhoods of many locals. Nordstrom offers a magical — and inclusive — experience, with appearances by African American, Asian American, and ASL-fluent Santas.
Holiday Fun on the Water
Argosy Cruises’ signature holiday event, the Christmas Ship Festival, involves a two-hour cruise aboard decorated boats, a choir singing carols, kids’ activities, and a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus, who reads “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Pacific Northwest Ballet Nutcracker
The Pacific Northwest Ballet’s annual performance of “The Nutcracker” is celebrated across the region. The holiday classic features iconic choreography by George Balanchine and Tchaikovsky’s beloved score with unique costumes and sets by Ian Falconer.
A D’lightful Display
Each year, the Bellevue Botanical Garden unleashes its Garden d’Lights, with more than a half million holiday lights illuminated every night from the end of November to the end of December.
A Taste of the Wild
For a holiday light display in a non-traditional setting, head to the Woodland Park Zoo for WildLanterns, starting Thanksgiving weekend and running through mid January. You can visit the zoo animals at night, enjoy live, festive performances, and marvel at the large lantern displays that take the shapes of different animals and plants.
Holiday Magic
Organized by the Downtown Bellevue Association, Magic Season incorporates holiday events centered around downtown Bellevue, including ice skating at Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink, live music, and other holiday-related activities geared towards the whole family.
Ringing in the New Year
The fireworks show at the Space Needle is the ultimate way to cap off the holiday season. At midnight, fireworks explode from the base of the needle, illuminating Seattle’s iconic attraction. The display is visible from multiple points in the city, so you don’t need to be close by to view it.
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