7 festive things to do for Christmas in Seattle

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Seattle sparkles during the holiday season. Whether you’re up for an action-packed day trip or a long weekend in the Emerald City, there are so many things to do for Christmas in Seattle, Washington, with kids or without. Seattle is just a 2+ hour drive from Vancouver, British Columbia, and a 3+ hour drive from Portland, Oregon, and has great hotels, restaurants, spas, and holiday attractions. And let’s not forget those shopping opportunities (Hello Nordstrom! HELLO Nordstrom Rack!). These 7 Seattle Christmas events are a great way to get out during the holidays to enjoy this lively west coast city or find some quality family time, before the seasonal madness begins.

things to do for christmas in seattle

7 festive things to do for Christmas in Seattle

Marvel at the WildLights at Woodland Zoo

The popular WildLights at the Woodland Park Zoo is north of downtown Seattle. The Zoo is hosting the WildLanterns, an event filled with large and beautiful glowing animal lanterns along paths throughout the zoo.

There will be Living Northwest, Jungle Lights, African Savanna, and SeaMazium- themed sections of the experience. Check out the more than 600,000 twinkly LED lights in this impressive zoo lights Seattle display, recreating wild animals and wilder places in two and three dimensions.

WildLanterns will take place November 11, 2022 – January 22, 2023 from 4-9:00pm. It is closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas. WildLanterns is a ticketed event and tickets can be purchase online.

Date: November 29 through January 5

The Emerald City sparkles during the holiday season. Tips on celebrating the holidays in Seattle with taste, style and fun for all ages. | thetravellingmom.ca

Visit Pike Place Market

A day trip or three day visit to Seattle wouldn’t be complete without a stroll through Pike Place Market. The local artisan stalls are perfect places to purchase unique, handmade gifts and unique food items to bring home.

The flying salmon boys delight the crowds, or when we visited, cause local kids to squirm and drop the fish when it was thrown to them. Makes for some great videos.

Near the Market, just down some stairs to an exit alley, is the highly Instagrammable Seattle Gum Wall. City authorities do periodically steam-clean the wall of its 2,350 lbs of gum, but wads of newly masticated sticky goo quickly re-appear as if by some gum-chewing fairy magic. Let’s just say it’s a unique attraction.

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Who doesn’t love a carousel? One of the loveliest Seattle Christmas events that even adults can enjoy is a spin on downtown Seattle’s Holiday Carousel at Westlake Park.

The Carousel is well-located at the entrance to the Seattle Monorail, which takes you conveniently to Seattle Center in under 5 minutes, where you can enjoy Winterfest. 

If the weather turns a bit too nippy you can always pop into any number of Starbucks in the area or indulge in a little high end window shopping at Pacific Place.

Dates: November 23 through January 1

Winterfest at Seattle Center

Seattle Center hosts a bevy of holiday activities with its annual Winterfest event. The tiny turn of the century Winter Train and Village at Seattle Center complete with snow and holiday homes will light up your children’s eyes and make your inner train conductor pop out.

Several times a day visitors are able to take control of the rails and take the train for a whirls around the track. Once you have had your fill you can wander through Seattle Center to enjoy ice-skating, ice sculpting, carolers and more.

The Ice Rink at the Fisher Pavilion sponsors free indoor skating. When you’re done, head up to the Space Needle for the best view of the city, even if it’s windy and raining! The Chiluly Glass Museum and the popular EMP Museum are also located in the Seattle Center complex.

Dates: November 29 through December 31

Garden D’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden

Pack the sunglasses; your eyes may need a break from the explosion of LED lights at Garden D’Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.

Over half a million lights take over this eastside botanical garden, creating a sea of flowers, swans, trees and more. Watch the kids giggle with glee as Snap d’Dragon puffs a little smoke from his nose.

Be sure not to miss the aquarium in the visitor’s center. You may just want to give these larger than life jellyfish a squeeze.

Dates: November 26 through December 31

Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel

The Fairmont Olympic Hotel celebrates the holidays with its Festival of Trees, a fabulous display of 23+ festively decorated Christmas trees in its lobby. Trees are on display November 18- December 30, 2022.

The Hotel is also home to the Teddy Bear Suite, from November 25, 2022 – January 3, 2023. This suite of plush teddy bears in every shape and size will have your kids in teddy heaven. There are plenty of photo opportunities and be sure to grab a candy cane on your way out.

Fairmont’s Teddy Bear Suite raises money for Seattle Children’s Hospital, so please consider making a donation to this worthy cause. The Teddy Bear Suite is open daily (including Christmas) during the holiday season. This is one of the must see Christmas activities in Seattle.

Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton Seattle

While you can’t eat these gingerbread houses, you will marvel at how architects and artists manage to create such amazing displays with baked cookie dough.

The village scenes are based on holiday carols, such as Santa Claus is Coming to Town and O Little Town of Bethlehem. This is the 23rd Annual Gingerbread Village, with donations benefitting the JDRF Northwest Chapter.

Looking for more family fun? Check out the Seattle Museum of Flight

The Emerald City sparkles during the holiday season. Tips on celebrating the holidays in Seattle with taste, style and fun for all ages. | thetravellingmom.ca

Where to Stay in Seattle

There is no shortage of great boutique hotels in Seattle. We stayed at the historic Fairmont Olympic Hotel, which is perfectly situated in the heart of downtown Seattle.

This grand hotel is fully decked out in holiday glory. Staff are welcoming and friendly despite the busyness of the season. Our hotel suite was spacious and cosy, with lots of room for our packages parcels after our visit to Nordstrom Rack!

We walked everywhere throughout downtown from the hotel, which is in easy distance to Pike Place Market and the shopping district. The Hotel employs a driver if you book fast enough (he’s in demand during the holidays). This is an excellent service if you want to eat anywhere in the Pioneer Square neighborhood.

The Emerald City sparkles during the holiday season. Tips on celebrating the holidays in Seattle with taste, style and fun for all ages. | thetravellingmom.ca

While you’re in the Fairmont Olympic, take time to admire the 17 trees of all sizes found throughout the hotel.

The tree in the main Lobby is a massive fir that has been treated and fire-proofed to preserve it all season long. It’s the largest tree found in a Seattle hotel, and has been decorated with 3,000+ lights by Camden Gardens.

Where to eat in Seattle

Break your fast at Le Panier

Just next to Pike Place Market, a few doors down from the original Starbucks, Le Panier is a Very French Bakery (their words). Having been to France, I would concur that Le Panier is indeed Very French. It offers genuine cafe au lait and sweet and savory baked goodies. Grab a few bags of special holiday cookies as gifts to take home to friends.

The Emerald City sparkles during the holiday season. Tips on celebrating the holidays in Seattle with taste, style and fun for all ages. | thetravellingmom.ca

Enjoy holiday tea at the Georgian, Fairmont Olympic

Fortify yourself for a day of holiday sightseeing with a traditional high tea service at the Holiday Tea at the Fairmont Olympic. The Holiday Tea services is at lunch daily in the gorgeous and historic Georgian room. Choose from a selection of delicious loose leafed teas (tip: try the 1907 custom blend). Enjoy nibbling on exquisite tea sandwiches, sweets, and warm scones with jam and clotted cream.

Get fancy at The Carlile Room

Dress up and get festive to dine out at The Carlile Room, part of the restaurant dominion of Tom Douglas, one of America’s premier chefs. The Room features a menu heavy on American favorites, including grilled caesar salad, grilled steak, schnitzel, and swish cocktails perfect for celebrating the season. Save room for the triple coconut cream pie.

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gingerbread model of seattle at christmas

Disclosure: Thank you to Fairmont Olympic Seattle and Seattle CityPass for hosting our holiday in the Emerald City. This post contains affiliate links. Thanks to Keryn Means, founder of Walking on Travels, for her local insights.

Photo Credits: Keryn Means; Claudia Laroye

Have you been to Seattle during the holidays? Share your comments below.

Claudia Laroye
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