Seattle’s best holiday shows, concerts to plan for and buy tickets to now

Last year, most holiday events and traditions were canceled or held virtually in Seattle because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While we still have a ways to go before this pandemic is in the rearview mirror, there is some good news: most of the city's beloved holiday shows are back this year along with some new additions.  

The Bellevue Baptist Church is currently reimagining its singing Christmas tree program, "Hip Hop Nutcracker," and no two performances of Unexpected Productions "An (Improvised) Christmas Carol" are going to be alike. This year also marks the 7th year of the Pacific Northwest Ballet using George Balanchine’s version of "The Nutcracker" and the 20th year of Christmas concerts for Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Keep reading for a list of the best holiday shows and concerts — from classics to reimagined versions — taking place around Seattle this year. 

Nutcracker performances

"The Hip Hop Nutcracker"
Nov. 13-14
Paramount Theatre, Seattle
$82-$319
A mashup of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker traditional music and hip hop dance. Instead of Christmas, the production is set during New Year’s Eve, the Land of the Sweets is a nightclub, and pirouettes are replaced with floor windmills.
Tickets: seattle-theatre.com

George Balanchine’s "The Nutcracker"
Nov. 26 - Dec. 28
McCaw Hall, Seattle
$27-$174
This is Seattle’s grand holiday event featuring 150 different roles, 154 costumes (not counting duplicates), 22 painted backdrops, and a 40-foot Christmas tree, plus lots of “snow” and set designs imagined by children’s book illustrator Ian Falconer.
Tickets: pnb.org

"Land of the Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker"
Dec. 8 - 29
The Triple Door, Seattle
$50-$90
This isn’t your grandma’s ballet show. This spectacle takes the traditional show and gives it a bawdy makeover. But make no mistake, this is a professional production with original choreography by Lily Verlaine and original jazz arrangements by Jasper, McCann, Kate Olson and Michael Owcharuk.
Tickets: thetripledoor.net

International Ballet’s "The Nutcracker"
Dec. 10 - 23
Meydenbauer Theatre, Bellevue
$26-$53
Celebrating the company’s 20th-anniversary performance of this classic show with a cast of 80 young people.
Tickets: brownpapertickets.com

Christmas concerts

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Nov. 21
Pantages Theatre, Tacoma
$29-$79
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy invites you to join their “Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party” featuring their unique take on Christmas tunes from their two Christmas albums.
Tickets: tickets.tacomaartslive.org

Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Nov. 27
Climate Pledge Arena
$80-$312
Celebrating 20 years of holiday rock music, the new production — “Christmas Eve and Other Stories” — will include new music as well as some of the group’s greatest tunes.
Tickets: seattle-theatre.com

Hope: A PLU Christmas Concert
Dec. 4-6 and 11-12
Lagerquist Concert Hall and Benaroya Concert Hall, Seattle
$10-$37
The PLU Choir of the West, University Chorale, and University Symphony Orchestra come together to present an uplifting concert featuring traditional carols and seasonal favorites.
Tickets: plu.edu

Mat and Savanna Shaw
Dec. 6
Neptune Theatre, Seattle
$25-$55
This daddy-daughter singing duo have been a YouTube sensation with their recording of “The Prayer.” Now, their “The Joy of Christmas Tour” hopes to spread joy and holiday cheer through their music.
Tickets: stgpresents.org

Christmas in Hawaii
Dec. 10
Pantages Theater, Tacoma
$29-$85
Ukulele master and an unofficial “jolly ambassador of aloha,” Jake Shimabukuro will debut his first holiday concert.
Tickets: tickets.tacomaartslive.org

Holiday Pops
Dec. 10-12
Benaroya Hall, Seattle
$41-$101
Conductor Stuart Chafetz and Broadway star, N’Kenge headline this program of holiday favorites, traditional carols and lots of yuletide cheer.
Tickets: seattlesymphony.org

"Singing Christmas Tree"
Dec. 8, 10, 11 & 12
Bellevue Baptist Church, Bellevue
Cost TBA
The church is being coy with its presentation of the "Singing Christmas Tree" stating that they are keeping the tradition alive, but reimagined.
Tickets: bellevue.org/singing-christmas-tree

"A Charlie Brown Christmas"
Dec. 12
Cornish Playhouse, Seattle
$18 - $75
The Jose Gonzales Trio returns for their tenth time presenting the music of Vince Guaraldi from the classic animated TV special.
Tickets: Brown Paper Tickets

James Garner’s "Johnny Cash Christmas"
Dec. 12
Historic Everett Theater, Everett
$25-$35
For 13 years now, Garner has recreated some of Johnny Cash’s biggest hits with amazing accuracy. Now the “man in black” will present a holiday show that will take you down memory lane.
Tickets: eventbrite.com

Mariachi Sol De Mexico
Dec. 14
Neptune Theater, Seattle
$57-$84
Jose Hernandez’s Grammy-nominated and world-renowned band will present the festive “A Merry-achi Christmas.”
Tickets: seattle-theatre.com

A Beach Boys Christmas with “Surfin’”
Dec. 17
Historic Everett Theatre, Everett
$40-$45
This Beach Boys tribute band will be playing all of the holiday classics with a “surfin’” twist.
More info: eventbrite.com

"Messiah"
Dec. 18 - 19
First Free Methodist Church (Seattle) and Bastyr Chapel (Kenmore)
$10-$25
The Harmonia Orchestra and Chorus will present Handel’s full and unabridged score of “Messiah” at two venues with soloists Ellaina Lewis, José Luis Muñoz, Brendan Tuohy and Ryan Bede.
Tickets: harmoniaseattle.org

Snow Globe Holiday Concert
Dec. 19
The Royal Room, Seattle
$15
With all proceeds benefiting Northwest Harvest, you will feel all warm inside this Christmas concert featuring Kristin Chambers and The Mack Grout Trio among others.
Tickets: strangertickets.com

Christmas theatrical productions

"An (Improvised) Christmas Carol"
Nov. 26-28, Dec. 2-5, 9-12 and 16-23
Unexpected Productions, Seattle
$15-$20
One of the city’s most inexpensive holiday programs is also one of the most creative. Using about 30 different suggestions from the audience, this team recreates the classic “A Christmas Carol” with their own bizarre twist.
Tickets: eventbrite.com

"Inspecting Carol"
Nov. 26-Dec. 19
The Phoenix Theatre, Edmonds
Cost TBD
Back by popular demand, Daniel Sullivan’s script follows a troubled production of “A Christmas Carol” where Tim is no longer Tiny, Scrooge wants to do the play in Spanish, and the show is put on hold until approved by inspection, hence the name.
Tickets: tptedmonds.org

"Christmastown: A Holiday Noir"
Nov. 26-Dec. 24
Seattle Public Theater, Seattle
$5-$50
This hard-boiled comedy features Detective Nick Holiday investigating shenanigans in Christmastown involving Big Red, a glamorous elf, a used Christmas tree salesman, and more.
Tickets: app.arts-people.com

"A Drag Queen Christmas"
Nov. 29
The Moore Theatre
$37-$80
The Seattle Theatre Group promises this show to be a “magical night of fun with holiday classics and naughty shenanigans." You’ve been warned.
Tickets: ticketmaster.com

"O Christmas Tea"
Nov. 29
Edmonds Centre for the Arts

Nov. 30
Neptune Theater
$19-$44
British comedy legends James and Jamesy share their all-ages holiday tradition with the Pacific Northwest. The story begins with a Christmas wish for tea, but as the world floods with tea, this duo must find innovative and hilarious solutions to keep them afloat as they try to make their way back home.
Tickets: stgpresents.org (Seattle) and ci.ovationtix.com (Edmonds)

"A John Waters Christmas"
Dec. 1
Neptune Theater, Seattle
$63-$199
Legendary cult filmmaker, John Waters offers a one-man monologue giving out tips for viewing the best Christmas films and music and asking the awkward questions about the holiday that you won’t.
Tickets: seattle-theatre.com

"A Very Die Hard Christmas"
Dec. 3-20
Seattle Public Theater, Seattle
$28-$36
It’s the return of a holiday favorite, and a musical comedy parody of the unofficial holiday movie, “Die Hard.” Yippie ki yay, Christmas revelers.
Tickets: app.arts-people.com

"A Christmas Carol"
Dec. 7-26
ACT Theatre, Seattle
$20-$82
A tradition in Seattle for 46 years, A Contemporary Theatre presents Charles Dicken’s holiday tale about Scrooge finally discovering the joy of charity, redemption, and Christmas.
Tickets: order.acttheatre.org

"The Dina Martina Christmas Show"
Dec. 10-11
The Moore Theatre, Seattle
$25-$60
This drag queen show promises to be “packed with ludicrous songs, horrifying stories and overburdened costumes” as Martina and her accompanist, Chris Jeffries present a show that you’ll never forget. ‘Tis the season.
Tickets: ticketmaster.com

"Christmas Revels"
Dec. 18-22
Rialto Theater, Seattle
$13-$36
Expect magical storytelling, toe-tapping tunes, high energy clogging, beautiful songs of Christmas Eve, boisterous songs of the new year, a flying canoe, and a hasty bargain with the devil. 
Tickets: pugetsoundrevels.org