11 Things to Do in Seattle at Christmas

In the United States, the month of December welcomes the winter season, and in Seattle the temperatures can be really low. But the cold weather doesn't stop the city from becoming a veritable paradise of lights and amazing activities.

Christmas offers you miles of light trails and ice rinks all over the city, and it's definitely one of the best times to visit Seattle.

If there's one beautiful thing to see and appreciate at Christmas in any city, it's its lights. Seattle takes its decorations very seriously with spectacular and bright lights that are turned on since November to inaugurate the Christmas season. One of the places I recommend you to see the Christmas lights and take lots of photos to remember is, without a doubt, downtown.

The Christmas lights that you will see in downtown Seattle will not only decorate trees and large figures, but you will also see multiple LED screens throughout the city, which join the celebration to make you feel in a real magical and enchanting story.

Another place to appreciate the lights is the zoo. The decoration is very special because you will be able to see illuminated animal figures and, of course, you will have the opportunity to take the pictures you want with each one of them. Book tickets for Woodland Park Zoo and don't miss this spectacular place for Christmas.

Details of interest

• How to get there: You can get to the city center by bus or private car.
• Price: Free.
• Date and time: From November to January at night.

Enchant Christmas is an initiative that spreads across different states in the U.S. with the intention of decorating stadiums to welcome the most exciting time of the year.

T-Mobile Park is the place chosen every year to offer you the best views of a "magical Christmas". You will be able to see LED screens, different Christmas figures such as trees, candy canes, reindeer and soldiers, all of them symbols par excellence of the season.

If you go with children, you will be able to take pictures with Santa Claus and eat some typical seasonal sweets. In addition, the T-Mobile Park Home is home to the world's largest Christmas light maze. And if your trip coincides with the season, be sure to book a Seattle Mariners ticket.

Details of interest

• How to get there: You can get there on the 1 train.
• Cost: Tickets can be priced from 19 €, but may vary according to the age of the person. Children and seniors may pay less.
• Date and time: The exhibition is open throughout the month of December, although it usually ends in the last days of the month.

For Americans, the making of the famous gingerbread houses during the month of December is a deep-rooted tradition. They are usually made in homes with confectionery, lots of icing and candy, but there is a really special event that takes place every year in Seattle and it is one of my favorite recommendations.

The special thing about Gingerbread Village is the gingerbread houses and the architectural structure on which they are made. Different companies and important architectural firms participate in this fair and put all their creativity and knowledge in these works of art.

It's a free event, so it's a must-do, low-cost activity you can do in Seattle during the holiday season. Although all the figures you'll see in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel are completely edible, you'll only be able to admire and smell them. And, of course, you have to take lots of pictures in this dreamy place. And if you're still in the mood for a sweet experience, book a chocolate tour in Seattle.

Interesting details

• How to get there: The exhibit is at the Sheraton Hotel. To get there you need to stand at the Pine St. and 5th Ave. or 6th Ave. and Union St. bus station and walk to the Sheraton. You can also arrive by car and park near the hotel.
• Price: Free.
• Date and time: Usually takes place during the first two weeks of December, from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

This is one of the most beautiful attractions you will see in Seattle at Christmas time. The Christmas Ship Festival is a tour on a decorated ship that sails around the Puget Sound, bringing Christmas songs not only to the passengers aboard the ship, but also to the residents of the 40 waterfront communities.

It is one of the most popular Christmas traditions and has been performed since 1949. It is definitely an activity that I would not fail to include in the list of things to do in Seattle at night during the Christmas season.

You have two options to enjoy this spectacle of music, lights and fireworks:

• Board the ship and enjoy live music, great food, drinks, snacks and the amazing fireworks show. Book your cruise along the Seattle coast and enjoy the experience. Plus, you have the chance to secure your spot with the Seattle CityPass, which includes admission to the brightest Christmas ship in town.
• Stay on land and watch the show from afar.

Details of interest

• How to get there: Boats depart from Fisherman's Wharf, and to get there you'll have to
• Price: To get on board you will have to pay a fee starting at 50 € per person. If you go in a group of more than ten people you can find lower prices.
• Date and time: From the end of November to the end of December every night.

One of Seattle's must-do Christmas plans is to book a trip to Snoqualmie Falls and Woodinville from Seattle. These falls, no less than 80 meters high, are located in a dreamlike landscape.

In addition, you will visit Woodinville' s vineyards and three boutique wineries where you can taste the best wines of the area and learn all the details about the pairing of these wines.

This tour includes round-trip transportation, an expert guide and lunch with local wine. The best option to enjoy Washington's wildest nature.

During the holiday season, a local beer tasting extravaganza that has become a tradition among Seattle locals makes its way into the city. If you are a lover of this popular beverage and want to try the different flavors, this is the place to visit.

Beer in Seattle is also synonymous with Christmas and since the Winter Beer Fest takes place during the vacations of this season, at the festival you can recharge your Christmas spirit while strolling through the flavors that the different breweries have to offer.

The number of participating companies is usually announced in advance, so I recommend you visit the official website of this event to know first hand which breweries are invited and the other details of the event.

Details of interest

• How to get there: The fair takes place every year at Hangar 30 in Magnuson Park in Sand Point. To get there you'll need to take the bus route that drops you off at the Sand Point Way and 77th St. stop.
• Cost: Online tickets usually cost approximately €40, while tickets at the box office are usually priced at approximately €45.
• Date and time: This event takes place on the first Friday and Saturday of December from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

One of the most special Seattle shows that you definitely have to see sometime is the night parade on Snowflake Lane. Inspired by New York's Christmas parades, it takes place during the first week of December.

The parade takes place every night on Bellevue, and part of its attractions is the large load of snow that is dropped on the street, in addition to the great variety of Christmas musical performances. Hundreds of characters participate, representing the different symbols of Christmas, such as snowmen, reindeer, Santa Claus and other typical characters of the season.

It is a show that children really enjoy and is definitely a must see and do activity in Seattle in the winter. Most locals around Puget Sound consider it an unmissable Christmas tradition.

Details of Interest

• How to get there: The parade takes place in Bellevue.
• Price: Free.
• Date and time: First week of December, every night starting at 7 p.m.

From the end of November and the start of the holiday season, through January, Seattle Center hosts WinterFest, an event where you'll find all the winter and holiday traditions you've come to expect during the season. You'll find snow, spectacular ice sculptures, Christmas lights and fireworks. Events on site range from Dickensian Carolers to comedy shows and concerts.

The rest of the Christmas season you can visit Winterfest for ice skating on the ice rinks that are set up there. Other attractions are also available for the whole family to enjoy, such as the winter train and plays. On top of everything else, you can't miss the big Christmas tree that finishes decorating the whole place.

Winterfest is open all season long, closing only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve. But during New Year's Eve it is open until 11:30 p.m., so it will be a good plan to do on New Year's Eve.

Details of interest

• How to get there: To get to Winterfest you need to get on the Monorail and stay at the station closest to the exhibit which is Westlake Ave. and 7th Ave.
• Cost: Tickets can cost between 6 and 8 ¤, including skate rental, children under 5 years old pay around 2 ¤ approximately.
• Date and time: Every day from 7 am to 9 pm.

One of the most popular shows in the U.S. is the Thanksgiving Day parade organized by Macy's, the most representative of this style being the one held in New York and broadcast on television. The idea of the New York show was successfully transferred to Seattle, where the parade has become a tradition for children and adults alike.

The parade takes place one day after Thanksgiving at the end of November. I invite you to attend to get into the holiday spirit that pervades the city during the season. You will see floats decorated with symbols alluding to Christmas celebrations, Santa Claus, reindeer, snowmen, candy canes and everything you can imagine.

And once the parade is over, you can enter the store and take lots of pictures with Santa Claus. At night you won't want to miss the lighting of the star outside the Macy's store, a traditional event that locals love to attend.

Details of Interest

• How to get there: The parade starts at 7th Ave. and Pine and ends at Westlake Center. Depending on the distance from where you are staying, you can walk or take public transportation. To find out the route, I recommend you keep an eye on the store's official website.
• Cost: Attending the parade, Santaland and the star lighting is free, but if you want photos with Santa, you will have to pay a fee that is specified at the time of taking the photo.
• Date and time: One day after Thanksgiving, at the end of November, and usually starts between 9 and 10 a.m. until nightfall.

The attraction of Westlake Park at Pine Streetview is not just the big Christmas tree lighting.

Huge sculptures light up at night fall and form a light show not to be missed. It's a special place to get all the Christmas photos you want and take the kids to enjoy the decorations. Write it down as one of the things to see and do in Seattle with kids.

You can go to see the tree and the rest of the Christmas decorations any day of the season, but if you want to see a special show, you can go to the lighting that happens the day after Thanksgiving at night. Although it's a bit removed from Macy's, it's a good place to visit after you've been to Santaland.

Details of interest

• How to get there: You can take the bus and get off at the closest station to Westlake Park, which is located at 3rd Ave. and Pike St., Westlake Park.
• Price: The event is free to attend.
• Date and time: Day after Thanksgiving, starting at 4:30 pm.

Without a doubt, one of the most memorable shows reminiscent of Christmas is the Nutcracker ballet. In Seattle it is a tradition to go to the theater to see this show, although the creative people of this city often produce musicals that include avant-garde elements.

With this artistic current developing in Seattle each year, I recommend you attend the city's most traditional Nutcracker performance, which is presented by the Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Details of interest

• How to get there: Performances are at McCaw Hall on Mercer Street, which can be reached by cab or private car.
• Cost: Ticket prices are available each year from July 21 on the ballet's official website.
• Date and Time: November 25 through December 27 each season. Performance times and days may vary from year to year.

Traveller Tip

Although this is a show you can attend with children, I would recommend that you do not bring children under the age of four.

When it comes to weather and temperatures, Seattle is a city characterized by cold winters. You should not be surprised if you find temperatures between 8º and 9º, with the night being a little colder.

Despite this, you can be sure that in Seattle at Christmas you will not find temperatures dropping below 3º, let alone dropping below zero. On average, you can expect to feel a temperature of about 8 degrees each day, with December 23rd being the coldest day of the year.

Now that you know that winter in Seattle is quite cold, to enjoy all the things you can see and do in Seattle, you need to consider packing as much warm clothing as you can. You might want to include jackets and thermals, as well as sweaters to protect you from the cold temperatures.

As for shoes, I recommend that you opt for closed shoes that can keep your feet warm and dry at all times. You can't forget to bring a hat, scarf and gloves to protect yourself.