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Seattle Winter & Holiday Guide
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items A local's guide to the 2026 holiday season in Seattle and the Eastside: the best lights, markets and traditions (with this year's dates), plus the cozy gear that makes a cold, drizzly night out actually fun. Dates were checked in early November; conf...
Sections
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Holiday Lights & Markets
Festive Seattle Traditions
Cozy Winter Gear
Holiday Lights & Markets
Nov 20 – Dec 27, 2026 at Seattle Center: about 80 European and local vendors, a carousel, mulled wine and nightly lights. Go on a weeknight for smaller crowds, and kids 6 and under get in free.
Seattle Christmas Market
Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027, 4–9 PM: giant glowing lanterns of animals and coral replace the old WildLights. Closed some nights (incl. Dec 24–25), so check the calendar and buy tickets ahead.
WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo
Nov 28, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (closed Dec 25): half a million lights shaped into flowers and plants. Timed tickets are online only; early-December Mon–Thu nights are $5, and kids 10 and under are always free.
Garden d'Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden
Free nightly parade at 7 PM, Nov 27 – Dec 24, 2026, with music, lights and falling "snow" along the streets around Bellevue Square. Arrive a little early for a good curbside spot.
Snowflake Lane at Bellevue Square
Saturday, Dec 12, 2026: the lake path is lined with luminarias for a free evening walk, one of the coziest old-school Seattle traditions. Bundle up and bring a thermos of cocoa.
Pathway of Lights at Green Lake
Festive Seattle Traditions
Nov 27 – Dec 23, 2026: a lit-up boat with a choir sails to waterfront parks around Puget Sound and Lake Washington. Ride along from Pier 55 or Lake Union, or watch free from shore at one of the shoreline stops.
Argosy Christmas Ship Festival
Nov 20 – Dec 27, 2026: the 32nd annual village of over-the-top gingerbread builds in the downtown hotel. An easy stop between holiday shopping and dinner, and a hit with kids.
Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton Grand
Nov 27 – Dec 23, 2026: Pacific Northwest Ballet's Balanchine Nutcracker, with a live orchestra and those famous snow scenes. Weekend and late-December shows sell out first, so book early.
PNB's The Nutcracker at McCaw Hall
Dec 21–24, 2026: a grown-up holiday night out downtown, Hallelujah chorus and all. Grab dinner nearby first and make an evening of it.
Handel's Messiah at Benaroya Hall
Cozy Winter Gear
The thermos for light walks and Christmas Ship watching. It keeps cocoa hot for hours, locks so it won't leak in a bag, and fits in a coat pocket.
Zojirushi Stainless Travel Mug (16 oz)
Stash a pair in every coat pocket for the Christmas Ship, Snowflake Lane and late lantern walks. The bulk box covers the whole season and stocking stuffers too.
HotHands Hand Warmers Bulk Pack, 40 Pairs
The classic Carhartt watch cap: warm, cheap, comes in a dozen colors, and looks right on just about anyone. An easy grab for a winter night at the market or the zoo.
Carhartt Men's Iconic A18 Watch Cap Beanie
A packable, sleeping-bag-style blanket that shrugs off damp grass and drizzle. Perfect for waiting on the Christmas Ship at the beach or a cold seat at a holiday parade.
Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket
For the nights you stay in: simmer a spoonful with apple cider (or red wine) and the whole house smells like the holidays. Great for hosting after a lights walk.
Frontier Co-op Organic Cider Mate Mulling Spice