Seattle Living
Our Favorite Seattle Holiday Events
Fun, festive events for the family
By Seattle Mag December 3, 2022
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2022 issue of Seattle Magazine.
There are no shortage of holiday events in the Seattle area, and, well, everywhere. Here are a handful of our favorite events that run through most of the holiday season (rather than one-day or weekend events).
The heart of Bellevue once again becomes a majestic holiday destination during the 18th annual Snowflake Lane holiday extravaganza. Enjoy falling (faux) snow, a resplendent, professionally produced light show, nightly choreographed parades and festive dancers. The fun begins on Black Friday and runs through Christmas Eve.
The production is held on the sidewalks between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square from Northeast Fourth through Eighth streets starting at 7 p.m. every night. Parking is free.
Snowflake Lane is sponsored by The Bellevue Collection, comprising the connecting Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square shopping malls. https://bellevuecollection.com/snowflakelane/
The best time to hit the dazzling Leavenworth Village of Lights is midweek to avoid the weekend rush. The annual event begins on Thanksgiving Day and, in true holiday spirit, runs all the way through Valentine’s Day. The entire Alps-like village comes alive with half-a-million lights. Christmas tree lighting ceremonies are held the first three weekends in December. leavenworthchristmaslighting.com
The annual Issaquah Reindeer Festival returns Dec. 1. Billed as “the most unique” annual holiday celebration in the Northwest, the event includes admission to the Cougar Mountain Zoo and photo opportunities with Santa and his sleigh. Note: Santa takes a nap between 1 and 1:30. https://www.cougarmountainzoo.org/issaquah-reindeer-festival/
The holidays wouldn’t be complete without a visit to perhaps Seattle’s best-known landmark, the Pike Place Market. The 27th annual Magic in the Market begins with the lighting ceremony on Nov. 26 and showcases the city’s holiday spirit throughout all nine acres. Meet Santa, enjoy caroling, sip eggnog and visit some of the Market’s 200-plus independently owned shops and restaurants. https://www.pikeplacemarket.org/event/27th-annual-magic-in-the-market/
Enjoy a world of sparkling lights at Seattle Center Winterfest from Nov. 26 to Dec. 31. Get into the season spirit with the Winter Train & Village, ice sculpting and the annual lighting display. https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/winterfest
Follow Us
How to Trim the Tree and the Waste
Ridwell CEO: Sustainability doesn’t have to be perfect. It just requires intention.
As we kick off the holiday season, it may not surprise you to learn that the most wonderful time of the year is also the most wasteful. People in the United States create 25% more garbage between Nov. 1 and New Year’s Day, which adds a staggering 4 million to 5 million tons to the…
18 Days of Seattle Terror
It all starts on Friday the 13th
As the leaves turn red and orange and the fog creeps in, Seattle takes on a new, unsettling charm. Celebrate Halloween with a thrilling and spooky journey through our vibrant city. Friday, Oct. 13, 7 p.m. Friday the 13th: Horny teen counselors ignore every horror movie lesson ever as they’re stalked by a killer…
Live, Laugh, Bomb
A ROOKIE TRIES STAND-UP COMEDY, WITH MIXED RESULTS
As with many Tinder dates, things didn’t go quite as I expected. For example, I didn’t intend to have multiple guys I’d matched with in the same place, at the same time. Especially when that place was a comedy open mic that was going to be my first and possibly only attempt at stand-up. After…
The Twisted Tales of Seattle
New ‘tourism’ book highlights bizarre, infamous, and obscure historical sites
You’ll never hear Seattle tourism officials bring this up, but, like it or not, Ted Bundy is part of the fabric of this region. So is the Green River Killer, the suicides of musicians Kurt Cobain and Layne Staley, the murder of Gits singer Mia Zapata, and the ship pilot who crashed into a West…