It’s never a sure bet whether Seattle will be able to celebrate a white Christmas, but that doesn’t stop Pacific Northwesterners from putting on magnificent festivities every year.
Celebrating solo? With kids? Visiting from out of town on a weekend city getaway? Don’t worry, there’s plenty to do in the Seattle area for all ages and budgets.
Here are four West Coast Traveller favourites!
1. Gingerbread Village
A Seattle tradition since 1993, the Sheraton Grand Seattle Gingerbread Village is buzzing back after a two year hiatus! It’s free, it’s spectacular, and proceeds from the event support juvenile diabetes research through JDRF.
Open daily through Jan. 1 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Previous displays from the Sheraton Grand Seattle Gingerbread Village. Visit the free exhibit until Jan. 1!
2. WildLanterns light display
There are holiday lights, and then there are HOLIDAY LIGHTS. The Woodland Park Zoo has set up an immersive display of animal-shaped lanterns from ecosystems around the world, and it’s truly jaw-dropping. Check out WildLanterns through Jan. 22, with sensory-friendly nights on Dec. 13 and Jan. 12.
Of course the zoo isn’t the only place to enjoy festive lights. Other Seattle options include the Garden d’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden, Seattle Center Winterfest, and the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship Festival with a parade of lit-up boats on Dec. 9!
WildLanterns at the Woodland Park Zoo puts an animal twist on a traditional holiday light display. Woodland Park Zoo photo.
3. The Nutcracker
If your holiday season needs a little classing up, you can’t go wrong with the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Nutcracker, on at resplendent McCaw Hall from through Dec. 27.
Other fancy artistic events include the Bremerton Symphony Chorale’s Songs of the Season Dec. 18, or ACT’s A Christmas Carol, on stage through Dec. 24.
Check out the Green Tea Cricket, a new character in the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s classic retelling of the Nutcracker, on now until Dec. 27. PNB photo
You have two chances to catch a dazzling display of red and white, as hundreds (or thousands?) of holiday revellers dressed as Jolly Old Saint Nick take to the streets of downtown Seattle on consecutive Saturdays, Dec. 10 and Dec. 17.
To participate, buy a ticket at santacon2022.eventbrite.com, dress up as Santa, an elf or other Christmas character, and head downtown on the appropriate day. Your ticket earns you live entertainment all day, free admission to over 15 venues, drink specials and more — or you can just wander downtown to soak in some of that goofy holiday spirit.
Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!
CP Holiday Train returns to the rails for the first time in three years