Seattle Christmas Events
We have compiled the best Seattle Christmas events! If you are looking for awesome things to do in the Seattle area during the holidays, you have come to the right place. Go ice skating at the region's largest outdoor rink, take a ride on a train, go to the theatre, and more. There are plenty of things to do in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest during the holiday season. Get your shopping done in a winter wonderland while enjoying live entertainment, or have an indoor snowball fight at the zoo. There is so much to see and do right here in the PNW, you will never run out of things to do this Christmas.
Top Seattle Christmas Events
1. Seattle Christmas Market at Seattle Center
Mid-to-late November through Christmas Eve
https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/winterfest
Fisher Pavilion and the South Fountain Lawn transform into a European-inspired outdoor Christmas village. Browse gifts from dozens of local and international vendors, sip hot mulled wine (Glühwein) or hot chocolate, and take in daily live entertainment amid festive decor. It runs alongside Seattle Center's broader Winterfest celebration (see #6 below).
2. The Polar Express Train Ride
Late November through late December
https://mtrainierrailroad.com/
All aboard. Take the family on a scenic train ride this Christmas season on The Polar Express in Elbe, WA. Enjoy this 90-minute immersive theatrical experience. Sip hot chocolate and eat cookies while the chefs entertain you and the story is read aloud. When the train arrives at "the North Pole," Santa boards and gives each child a small gift to take home. Pajamas encouraged.
3. A Christmas Carol at Union Arts Center
Late November through late December
https://www.unionartscenter.org/a-christmas-carol-2025/
Celebrate holiday tradition with this annual staging of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, performed at the Allen Theatre. (Note: this production was long known as the ACT Theatre show; ACT merged with Seattle Shakespeare Company and the venue now operates as Union Arts Center.) Watch the long time favorite Scrooge as he's visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future. A yearly tradition for the entire family.
4. LUMAZE
Late November through early January
www.lumazelights.com
Fall in love with this indoor winter wonderland at LUMAZE, held at the Smith Cove Cruise Terminal on Pier 91. Enjoy illuminated light structures and interactive light gardens. Pick up gifts at the holiday market, catch live entertainment, and let the kids enjoy the playgrounds. Ride the mini train and take photos with Santa.
5. WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo
Mid-November through mid-to-late January
www.zoo.org/wildlanterns
Visiting the zoo isn't just a summer activity. This lantern festival (formerly known as WildLights) fills the zoo with large-scale illuminated lantern displays of animals and PNW scenery. Warm up by the fire pits while enjoying hot cocoa or mulled wine, explore an interactive zone, and check for occasional low-sensory nights. A unique way to experience the zoo during the holidays.
6. Winterfest at Seattle Center
Late November through New Year's Eve
https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/winterfest
Looking for free and affordable Seattle Christmas events? Seattle Center delivers, with seasonal decor, weekend live entertainment on the Armory Stage, a Winter Train & Village, and weekly ice sculpting demonstrations. Note: ice skating is no longer offered at Winterfest, as that space is now used for the Seattle Christmas Market. Winterfest wraps with a New Year's Eve celebration.
7. Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink
Late November through mid-to-late January
BellevueIceRink.com
Experience the region's largest open-air seasonal ice rink, now a decades-long tradition at Bellevue Downtown Park. Bring the whole family or impress your date. Free skate lessons are offered on select evenings courtesy of Microsoft. Check their site for current-season pricing and themed skate nights.
Bonus: Keep an eye out for Enchant Christmas
www.EnchantChristmas.com
Enchant, the touring holiday light maze billed as one of the world's largest, has a history in Seattle but not a guaranteed one. It debuted at T-Mobile Park in 2018, returned in 2019, went dark during the pandemic, and has popped up on and off since (it was back at T-Mobile Park in 2024, then skipped Seattle again for its 2025 season). If it's your kind of event, check EnchantChristmas.com each fall to see whether Seattle made the city list that year.