Cheers to another week of December! Let’s make these last few days of the year count! As you’re about to see, there’s no better time than now to jump head-first into the holiday spirit. Here are all the best things to do in and around Seattle this week.

Bundle up, and enjoy your city!

Christmas Boat Parade

This timeless Seattle tradition will take to the water for another year! Watch brightly decorated boats convene in Lake Union and promenade west through the Fremont Cut. The parade is also completely free, so get a good spot along the route and settle in for some magical lights.

When: Friday, December 13th, 2024
Where: South Lake Union to the Fremont Bridge
Cost: Free to attend

Astra Lumina

Come visit the Seattle Chinese Garden and see it transformed by celestial light. Follow the illuminated pathway and discover dazzling displays, astral song, and cosmic-inspired visions. It’s a mesmerizing dance of lighting, projection, and sound – it truly feels like “a visit from the stars!”

When: Thursdays to Sundays until Dec. 15, 2024
Where: Seattle Chinese Garden, 16th Ave SW
Cost: Time entry tickets start at $29

Land of Sweets

It’s the Nutcracker but with a burlesque twist. Experience the tale in a new light with live jazz, stunning choreography, and dancers in opulent (if sometimes scant) costumes.

When: Dec. 11, 2024 to Dec. 29, 2024
Where: The Triple Door, 216 Union St.
Cost: $65+

Holiday High Tea

Enjoy black, green, or herbal tea along with sandwiches and sweets during the cozy Holiday High Tea for all ages at Seattle’s Hotel Sorrento.

When: Saturdays until Dec. 21, 2024
Where: Hotel Sorrento, 900 Madison St.
Cost: $55

Santa Con

Pub crawl, but make it Christmas! Dress up in your holiday best and join hundreds of fellow Santas as you parade between bars in downtown Seattle. Drink, eat, dance, and be merry!

When: Until Dec. 21, 2024
Where: Various bars in Downtown Seattle
Cost: $7.50+

Seattle Christmas Market

The Seattle Christmas Market is a magical Christmas experience with seasonal décor, tasty food, and drinks like beer and mulled wine, alongside a sprawling market featuring artisan vendors. And that’s just scratching the surface!

When: Until Dec. 24, 2024
Where: 305 Harrison St.
Cost: $15+

Snowflake Lane

Experience the wonder of Snowflake Lane through an array of dazzling lights, and festive music in Bellevue’s complimentary nightly parade of holiday floats. You’re invited to line the sidewalks between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square from NE 4th to NE 8th Streets every night at 7 PM.

When: Until Dec. 24 2024
Where: 227 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA
Cost: Free

The Nutcracker

Pacific Northwest Ballet will be performing The Nutcracker by George Balanchine this festive season. Enjoy this iconic ballet with music from a live orchestra, magnificent sets and costumes, and a hugely talented cast!

When: Until Dec. 28, 2024
Where: 321 Mercer St.
Cost: $29+

Winterfest

Enjoy five weeks of festive programming at Seattle Center Winterfest, presented by Symetra. Throughout Winterfest, you’ll find seasonal decor, our Winter Train & Village, weekend entertainment on the Armory Stage, and a New Year’s Eve Celebration.

When: Until Dec. 31, 2024
Where: 305 Harrison St
Cost: Free to attend

Wonderland Cabaret

Wonderland is a whimsical winter cabaret and burlesque show that promises “a glittering parade of nostalgia, exploding with dance, laughter, and all the cheer of yesteryear” at Can Can Culinary Cabaret. It’s definitely not your grandma’s Christmas theatre experience!

When: Until Jan. 5 2025
Where: 95 Pine St.
Cost: $69+

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