Here's where to find the best holiday events and attractions around Seattle

Along with the return of in-person events, comes a host of holiday-themed activities to the Seattle area.

From tree lighting ceremonies, to Santa encounters, to holiday parades, keep reading to find out where to catch all the excitement this season. 

Celebrations

Seattle Center’s Winterfest

Beginning on Nov. 26, Seattle Center is bringing back its popular Winterfest event. Inside the Armory you’ll find a turn-of-the-century village and train display with a scavenger hunt along with live performances on Saturdays and Sundays on the main stage, including choral music, jazz, rock, dance, acrobatics, comedy and more. On Saturdays from 12 to 2 p.m., watch ice carvers create incredible holiday-themed sculptures on Fisher Green or head over to Fisher Plaza to see the LEGO Awesome Exhibition featuring 38 large-scale creations made from nearly one million bricks.

Downtown Seattle’s Holiday Lights and Delights

Downtown Seattle will be aglow beginning on Nov. 26 with the great Westlake Center Tree Lighting ceremony. Shortly after 5 p.m., the Holiday Star will shine down on downtown once again. Then, every weekend through Dec. 19, Westlake Park and Occidental Square will be offering free games, live performances and larger-than-life light sculptures with over 135,000 lights. You’ll also find free cookies and cocoa in Westlake Park on Saturdays and Occidental Square on Sundays. And this year, the Downtown Seattle Association has brought in a holiday augmented reality experience in designated locations. Learn more here. 

Magic at the Market

Nov. 27 will be a magical day at the Pike Place Market with seasonal activities, live busker music and holiday spirit. Beginning at 11 a.m., take selfies with Santa or Crafty the Market mascot under the market clock and listen to buskers performing holiday tunes from the Market Farm Truck. In the MarketFront Plaza, watch glass blowing and sculpting demonstration; the first 200 kids will receive gift bags from Crafty’s Crafts. Then stick around for the market's lighting ceremony at 5 p.m.

Bellevue’s Season of Cheer

Formerly known as "Bellevue Magic Season," Bellevue's Season of Cheer will include holiday performances at Meydenbauer Centre Theatre, a seasonal Downtown Ice Rink and Garden d’Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden. But the crown jewel of this celebration is the beloved Snowflake Lane. Presented by The Bellevue Collection, this nightly spectacle has been entertaining guests for 17 years. Beginning at 7 p.m., the streets between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square will be taken over by a holiday-themed parade featuring dazzling lights, festive music, toy drummers, dancers and huggable characters all under a blizzard of "snow." If you’ve never been, it's worth the drive for the free event. Bellevue's Season of Cheer runs from Nov. 27 to Dec. 31.

A Victorian Country Christmas

Celebrating its 33rd year, A Victorian Country Christmas is a huge marketplace and entertainment center that takes over the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup Dec. 1-5. Gates open at 10 a.m. each day and admission provides access to shopping areas, live entertainment shows — like the impressive Singing Nativity Scene with over 100 cast members and dancers — access to gourmet food and the Winter Wine Garden. On Dec. 2, admission is $2 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a new toy donation to the Salvation Army. Then at 5:45 p.m., enjoy the "extreme tree lighting ceremony," free cider, cookies, holiday music and live reindeer display. Parking is free, too.

Holiday lights

Garden d’Lights

One of the best deals of the season, the Bellevue Botanical Garden is transformed into a sparkling wonderland of electric plants, flowers, birds, animals and waterfalls. The electric flowers bloom from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 27 to Dec. 31. Tickets must be purchased online ahead of time and are date specific.

Zoolights

Boasting of being the longest-running light show in the region, Zoolights at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma features displays of 800,000 LED lights from Nov. 26 to Jan. 2 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas). Find a 100-foot-long octopus, a giant crab, a Seahawks tree, Sasquatch, a 23-foot-tall Mt. Rainier, a tribute to the Kraken, two tunnels of light and more.

Holiday Magic

The Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup will be lit from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dec. 10-12, 17-23 and 26-31. In addition to a large display of Christmas lights, enjoy interactive displays, laser lights, special effects, festive food and an ice skating rink, plus Santa’s express train, a nativity scene with live animals and the All-I-Want-for-Christmas market. Parking is free.

The Lights of Christmas

For the second year in a row, The Lights of Christmas display in Stanwood is operating as a drive-thru event. Listen to Christmas music as you travel past dazzling displays, wave to Santa and Mrs. Claus, pick up some snacks (like their famous, hot-and-ready mini doughnuts) and stop off at the selfie station before you head home. Ticket pricing is by car and must be purchased ahead of time. The event will take place on select dates from Nov. 26 to Jan. 8.

WildLanterns

This year’s WildLanterns presentation at Woodland Park Zoo is bigger than the last year's and offers a unique alternative to traditional Christmas lights.

After walking through the mouth of a giant, color-changing shark, see playing penguins, larger-than-life snails, butterflies and honeybees. Then continue your journey through Creatures of the Past to witness dinosaurs and mammoths before heading to the Mysterious Forest to find lit-up tigers, jaguars and a proud peacock. Be sure to walk through the traditional Chinese lanterns section to witness an impressive 200-foot long dragon, an army of terracotta warriors and more. The whole experience, highlighted by tranquil holiday music, is open from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. now through Jan. 30; closed most Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship Festival

You’ll see many ships during the Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship Festival which has been a Seattle tradition since 1949. Each year, the Spirit of Seattle, decked out with hundreds of lights, travels to 40 different Puget Sound waterfront communities. A choir of carolers onboard will sing out for all to hear. Whether you are on the ship or on the shore, it is a sight to see. Sailings take place on Saturday nights beginning on Nov. 26 through Dec. 19. There will be sailings on Dec. 23 and 24 as well. 

Theatre

Two of Seattle’s biggest holiday productions are back for another season.

George Balanchine’s "The Nutcracker"

The Pacific Northwest Ballet has presented The Nutcracker since 1983. This year’s version continues the tradition with set designs imagined by children’s book illustrator Ian Falconer and features 150 roles, 22 painted backdrops, a 40-foot-tall Christmas tree and lots of faux snow. The ballet will be performed from Nov. 26 to Dec. 28 at McCaw Hall.

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol has been playing in Seattle for 46 seasons. Performed at the ACT Theatre, this show about Scrooge discovering the joy of charity, redemption and Christmas will be presented from Dec. 7 to 26.

Click here to find more holiday shows.

Santa appearances

Seattle SantaCon 2021

On Dec. 11, thousands of locals will be donning their best red and white duds and taking to the streets of Seattle to celebrate SantaCon. This is part of a global movement where Santas dress up and visit local bars. However, they get offended if you call this a pub crawl. Beginning at noon, this event will get you into more than 15 venues, drink specials, live entertainment, a costume contest and access to professional photographers.

Underwater Santa

You’ll find Santa underwater in the Northwest Waters habitat at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma from 5:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Nov. 26 to Dec. 22. Meant for groups of six-10 people, each visit includes 10 minutes of private time with Santa and plenty of time to explore the Tidal Touch Zone before heading out to enjoy Zoolights.

Santa lands at the Space Needle

Up on top of the Space Needle, jolly ole Saint Nick has arrived in his all-glass sleigh perched on the Loupe. A professional photographer will be on hand for free digital photos. Santa visits are included in ticket prices. Santa will be out from noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 26-28 and on select days in December. To make the deal even sweeter, Top Pot Doughnuts is handing out special buy-one-get-one-free ticket coupons.