'Mean Girls,' live music, traveling LEGO exhibit, more things to do in Seattle this weekend

This weekend brings plenty of excitement to Seattle.

From new attractions to holiday concerts to a Broadway production, keep reading for a roundup of things to do in the coming days. 

Theatre: Mean girls are hanging out at the Paramount

Based on Tina Fey’s screenplay and produced by Lorne Michaels, Broadway's “Mean Girls” is currently parked at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre for the show’s first national tour. Getting rave reviews as “fresh, fun and infectious,” the musical comedy features Cady Heron, who is used to vicious animals having grown up on an African savanna. However, life in Africa was nothing compared to the mean girls who reside at her new Illinois high school. Tickets are still available for showings through Sunday.

Attractions: The new LEGO exhibit is awesome; Bellevue is cool as ice

You may think LEGOs are just for kids, but if TV’s “LEGO Masters” has taught us anything, it’s that you’re never too old to create. The Awesome Exhibition — which recently opened ahead of Seattle Center’s Winterfest — is a sight to see. First presented in Australia in 2016, this is the first time that the exhibit has come to the U.S.

Featuring 38 large-scale LEGO creations, the centerpiece is the giant Space Needle replica. Built especially for the tour’s Seattle stop, it uses one million bricks and it took 5,000 hours to build, give or take an hour. Setting up shop at the Fisher Pavilion through Jan. 16, this exhibit also features an eight-foot-tall, 660-pound Orca, a life-sized Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the Eiffel Tower, the time machine DeLorean from the movie “Back to the Future” and more. The rooms are also equipped with various building stations (so you can compare your works of art to the masters) and you can lend a hand in creating the world’s longest LEGO snake.

Downtown Bellevue is getting a jump on the holiday season with the opening of its holiday ice rink. Known as a signature event for the city’s Season of Cheer, 2021 marks the rink’s 24th year. Located at Bellevue Downtown Park, the 9,000-square-foot indoor rink features a viewing area, on-site concessions, free parking and even special events. The rink will be open for 52 consecutive days (including holidays) now through Jan. 9.

Film: Two local filmmakers celebrated this weekend

Two local fimmakers’ works will be celebrated this weekend. Tom Skerrit stars in SJ Chiro’s new film, “East of the Mountains” which is playing at the SIFF Cinema Egyptian this weekend. Based on David Guterson’s novel of the same name, Skerritt plays a terminally ill, retired heart surgeon who journeys back to Eastern Washington to end his life. It screens Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 3:15 and 6 p.m.

Warren Miller, an Orcas Island resident, produced hundreds of sports films in his life before he passed away in 2018, but he is probably best remembered for his ski and snowboard films which he directed and narrated until 2004. His legacy continues through Warren Miller Entertainment whose latest film, “Winter Starts Now,” is now on tour. The film takes audiences along on a road trip across the U.S. with a group of skiers and stops in Montana, Maine, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Alaska, California and Wyoming. The film will be showing at McCaw Hall on Friday and Saturday followed by two more showings at Kirkland Performance Center next week.

Concerts: Christmas with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and more

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is in town for a night of song and merry-making on Sunday at the Pantages Theater in Tacoma. Known for their unique takes on American swing and jazz music, the band will be playing selections from their two holiday albums including festive classics and originals including “Run, Run Rudolph,” “Merry Christmas Baby” and “Blue Christmas.” The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

Village Theatre isn’t quite ready to present a full musical just yet, but they are inviting you back to their theatres for “Welcome Home: A Holiday Concert.” Beginning this Friday in Everett before moving to Issaquah on Dec. 8, this show features some of Village Theatre’s favorite cast members presenting holiday-themed songs from “This Christmas” to “Santa Baby” and Frozen's “Let it Go” to “Ma’oz Tzur/Rock of Ages.” 

Other concerts to consider this weekend:

Luna Luna, Boyo, Motus: Friday at Ballard Homestead

The Video Game Metal Shredventure: Saturday at Chop Suey

Deb Never: Saturday at the Vera Project

Nick Waterhouse with McKinley James: Sunday at The Triple Door

Good eats: Lady Yum’s modern macarons open at the Square

Some have praised Lady Yum for elevating the French cookie since it opened its first location in Kirkland in 2014. Seven years later, the shop has opened its fifth location inside Bellevue Square, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Find seasonal flavors like pumpkin spice or pecan pie, but you’ll also find unusual flavors that no one else sells like the Harry Potter-inspired butterbeer, shindig (a fruity cereal flavor), Circus Animal, Reese's Pieces and unicorn (cotton candy). You’ll also find tempting flavors such as pear frangipane, honey lavender, s’mores, raspberry chardonnay and traditional vanilla bean. Paired with champagne or snacked on by themselves, Lady Yum will definitely be a conversation starter around the dining table.

Run: The Tacky Turkey Sweater Run

If you’re planning on devouring a big Thanksgiving meal next week, consider a holiday-themed fun run before the big meal. Held at Green Lake on Saturday, the Tacky Turkey Sweater Run is a mashup of holidays encouraging you to dress up like a turkey or wear an ugly Christmas sweater. Or both. Anything goes here. The 5K begins at 10 a.m.

Also on Saturday, the Ravenna Refresher will be taking place at Ravenna Park. This run will feature a 4K, 8K and a 12K. The course weaves in and out a forested area that is fairly flat with only a few steep areas. It begins at 9:30 a.m.

Holiday: O Christmas tree(s)

Need some Christmas tree inspo? This weekend, view over 20 decorated Christmas trees on display at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. The 44th Annual Seattle Festival of Trees — which each have a unique theme and style to honor a young patient at Seattle Children’s Hospital — will be on display through Dec. 1.

Tickets: Upcoming events to plan for now

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Nov. 27 at Climate Pledge Arena

Cirque du Soleil: Allegria: Jan. 18-Feb. 13 at Marymoor Park in Redmond

War 50th Anniversary Tour: Jan. 29 at the Pantages Theater