Snowflake Lane in Bellevue is always a big draw. | Photo via the Bellevue Collective
Get your fuzzy socks and hot cocoa ready, Seattle. From light displays to holidayperformances and festive parties, winter is where the Emerald City thrives.
Gather the family and friends and celebrate what makes the holiday season special with this guide featuring 35 winter events happening between December and February.
Festivals 🎄
Snowflake Lane | Now-Saturday, Dec. 24 | 7 p.m. | Between Bellevue Square + Lincoln Square, Bellevue | Free | Every night through Christmas Eve, the sidewalks in downtown Bellevue turn into a winter wonderland parade.
Winter Beer Festival | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 3 | 5:30-9:30 p.m. with additional 12-4 p.m. session on Saturday | Magnuson Park 30, Seattle | $40-$45 | Pour your heart out over local stouts and seasonal spiced delights.
Issaquah Reindeer Festival | Thursday, Dec. 1-Friday, Dec. 30 | 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. | Cougar Mountain Zoo, 19525 SE 54th St., Issaquah | $13-$16 | Yes, Rudolph and the whole gang will be there.
Holiday parties and events 🎉
Seattle SantaCon | Saturday, Dec. 10 and Saturday, Dec. 17 | 12 p.m. | Begins in downtown Seattle | $7.50-$30 | Join the hordes of bar-hopping Kris Kringles and elves in revelry.
Holiday Night Barket | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 5-9 p.m. | Dog Yard Bar, 1546 NW Leary Way | Free | Pups can run amok, get a photo op with Santa, and even help you make pawprint ornaments.
Figgy Pudding Caroling | Friday, Dec. 2 | 6-9 p.m. | Pike Place Market, 85 Pike St., Seattle | Free | The 37th annual event is at the market this year, making music and raising money for the Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank.
Holiday performances 🎟️
George Balanchine’s: “The Nutcracker” | Friday, Dec. 2-Tuesday, Dec. 27 | Various times | McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle | $27-$191 | Winter magic comes alive with the Pacific Northwest Ballet.
“A Very Die Hard Christmas” | Thursday, Dec. 1-Tuesday, Dec. 20 | Various times | Seattle Public Theater, 7312 W. Green Lake Dr. N., Seattle | $29-$38 | Yippe-kiy-yay — everyone’s fave holiday-themed action movie gets a hilarious stage parody.
Community Day at MOHAI | Thursday, Dec. 1 | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. | MOHAI, 860 Terry Ave. N., Seattle | Free | MOHAI celebrates its 10th anniversary at the Lake Union Park building by offering free admission to all its permanent exhibits.
Friday, Dec. 2
Gingerbread House Party | Friday, Dec. 2-Friday, Dec. 9 | 4-6 p.m. | The Manor House at Pleasant Beach Village, 4611 Woodson Lane NE, Bainbridge Island | $35-$50 | Sip on some holiday cheer while you make your own gingerbread house with materials provided.
Saturday, Dec. 3
Scarecrow Academy: The Art in Sci-Fi Part 2 | Saturday, Dec. 3, Saturday, Dec. 10 | 2 p.m. | Virtual | Free | This online chat discusses the 2019 film “Little Joe” about plant care and weird pollen.
Sunday, Dec. 4
Brews ‘n’ Board Games | Sunday, Dec. 4, Sunday, Dec. 11, Sunday, Dec. 18 | 1-8 p.m. | Snapshot Brewing, 8005 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle | Grab a tabletop title like “Ticket to Ride” and sip while you play.
Friday, Dec. 9
Ice Skating Rink at Occidental Square | Friday, Dec. 9-Sunday, Dec. 11 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Occidental Square, 117 S Washington St., Seattle | Free | Strap on your skates and glide across a free ice rink — bring your own skates or enjoy rental options for the whole family.*
We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
If you’re one of the whopping 110 million Americans over age 50 — or a wise Millennial looking to get ahead — SmartAsset’s no-cost tool makes it easy to find vetted financial advisors serving our local area.
The Seattle City Councilpassed its 2023-2024 budget this week in a 6-3 vote. New additions include $4 million for mental health counselors in schools, increased funding for homelessness services, and half a billion for affordable housing. As part of the process, the plan now heads to Mayor Bruce Harrell’s desk for final sign-off or a veto. (Seattle Times)
Sports
Here’s a major score — the Sounders have made Craig Waibel their new general manager. Craig had served as the team’s senior vice president of soccer operations since last year and will take over the GM role vacated by Garth Lagerwey, who left for Atlanta United in November. ⚽
Coming Soon
That’s amore. New Italian restaurantAcqui Terme plans to make its debut in Ballardby the end of the year at 4741 Ballard Ave. N. It’ll serve food like soft cooked eggs in a Piemontese dipping sauce alongside espresso, cocktails and wine. 🍽️ (My Ballard)
Travel
Hitting the road soon? The Washington State Department of Transportation recently released some helpful winter safety driving reminders. Tips include carrying tire chains, water, flashlights, and warm clothes in your car in case you get unexpectedly stuck somewhere. 🚙 (MyNorthwest)
Community
Gear up, folks — the Seattle Department of Transportation wants to know what you think of biking in Beacon Hill. Fill out the department’s online survey to weigh in on the design for the neighborhood’s route that goes from the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge to Beacon Avenue S. 🚲 (Seattle Bike Blog)
List
It’s cuffing season. Seattle was named one of the country’s best cities for singles, according to WalletHub’s 2022’s Best & Worst Cities for Singles. The Emerald City ranked No. 1 based on three key dimensions — economics (the price of going out), fun and recreation, and dating opportunities (who is available to date). 💚
Shop
If you work from home like us, you’ve likely become accustomed to having stiff muscles at the end of a workday due to prolonged sitting. Combat this with a little office upgrade — an electric standing desk paired with a sleek under desk treadmill. Oh, and don’t forget to stay hydrated.*
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THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Alina and Gabe.
Editor’s pick: We can’t wait to check out many of the holiday events around town. If you need a gaudy sweater to get in the party spirit, be sure to swing by local vintage stores.
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