See four displays made mostly of food at Gingerbread Village in Sheraton Grand Seattle, 1400 6th Ave. Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., extended to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Donation box. The theme changes each year. The 2025 theme is Toy Shop Time Machine.
Resolution Run 5K and Polar Bear Dive includes an optional dip in the cold waters of Lake Washington, awards, snacks, and a beer garden at Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way NE in Seattle.
Join 1000 people running into Lake Washington at noon to celebrate the new year at the Polar Bear Plunge, or just watch from shore. Costumes are encouraged. Parking is limited at Matthews Beach Park, 5100 NE 93rd St. The Polar Bear Cub for kids is 11:45 a.m.
Watch model trains run through detailed scenes of the Pacific Northwest, and see railroad-history exhibits at the Model Train Festival at Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave. in Tacoma. Free for children age 5 and younger.
Jump into the cold waters of Puget Sound at $10 Polar Bear Plunge at Point Defiance Marina, 5912 Waterfront Dr. in Tacoma. Afterward, warm up at heating tents with hot drinks. Separate kids’ plunge (11:30 a.m.).
See WildLanterns’ amazing luminary displays, have animal encounters, take carousel rides, and visit holiday-themed lounges with fireplaces selling specialty cocktails and food during Night Owls at Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave. N in Seattle for age 21+.
Enjoy furry costumes, art vendors, games, panel discussions, and a masquerade dance at Anthro Northwest at Hyatt Regency Seattle, 808 Howell St. in Seattle. See minors policy if younger than age 18.
Based on the animated film, The Lion King is a Tony Award winning musical telling a story of love and redemption, and featuring the music, animals, and people of Africa at The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St. in Seattle.
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, 95 Pine St. in Seattle for age 21+. Food and drinks for sale.
Based on the popular movie about a bad boss, 9 to 5 features music and lyrics by Dolly Parton at Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N in Issaquah. Repeats later in Everett.
ShoreLights is “a dazzling showcase of light” covering art installations and trees in the Park at Town Center, 17550 Aurora Ave. N in Shoreline. Calendar for live music & food trucks. Closes 9 p.m. Free parking.
Tulalip Lights & Ice has 9.7 million lights on plants surrounding the casino entrance ponds and the Tulalip Amphitheater at 10400 34th Ave. NE in Tulalip. Ice skating, food for sale, and a beer garden.
“Discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song” at Astra Lumina, a pricey walk with special-effects lighting and sound in Seattle Chinese Garden at South Seattle College, 6000 16th Ave. SW in Seattle. Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
Jan. 13+ A Beautiful Noise features the life & music of Neil Diamond at the Paramount.
Jan. 14+ Set in Mongolia, Li is a comedy about quirky characters at Green Lake.
Jan. 14+ A husband comes out transgender in SHe Said, with live music at Intiman.
Immersive experience
January 2 - March 30, 2026
Bellevue (11 miles E)
“Step into a planet beyond your imagination with virtual-reality technology, themed rooms, and fantastical landscapes” at Bubble Planet, 103 110th Ave. NE in Bellevue. Closed Tuesdays.
The Illuminated Ballroom is a family-friendly event with performers, music, hands-on art making, and beverages available in Courthouse Square, 1102 A Street in Tacoma. Check out illuminated art on the nearby Tacoma Light Trail.
WildLanterns features “large-scale animal and nature scape lanterns representing wild places from around the globe” including bugs, lions, pandas, parrots, and dragons, with snacks for sale and a performance in the entrance building at Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave. N in Seattle. Enter by 8:30 p.m.
Puyallup Flat Track features motorcycles and quads racing on an indoor track at Washington State Fair Events Center, 110 9th Ave. SW in Puyallup. Enter at the green gate. Children age 5 and younger are free. Schedule.
Saint Mark’s Evensong Choir performs its monthly Choral Evensong service in the cathedral nave at Saint Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, 1245 10th Ave. E in Seattle.
The Heart Sellers is a touching story about two women from Korea and the Philippines who bond cooking their first Thanksgiving dinner while their husbands work overtime, at Seattle Repertory Theatre, 155 Mercer St. in Seattle.
Enjoy a brunch buffet with an included mimosa or sparkling cider at your private table as you cruise two hours on Lake Union & Lake Washington on the $110 Weekend Brunch Cruise, departing from 901 Fairview Ave. N in Seattle.
Watch 100 minutes of short films selected from the 2025 Sundance Film Festival program, including “fiction, documentary, and animation from around the world” at Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour at Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave. in Seattle.
Play board games, card games, role playing games, and miniatures games during OrcaCon, which includes panel discussions, workshop, and vendors in Hilton Bellevue, 300 112th Ave. SE in Bellevue.
Dress for bedtime and join the OnesieCon (formerly Onesie Pub Crawl), following the posted route to visit seven or more bars offering drink specials, with live entertainment and a costume contest for age 21+.
La Galette des Rois features galettes accompanied by a French cider tasting and soft drinks in a room above the French bakery at Centennial Tower, 2515 4th Ave. in Seattle.
Hear talks by travel experts (including Rick Steves and Pauline Frommer) and shop from travel industry vendors at the Travel & Adventure Show at Seattle Convention Center Arch, 705 Pike St. in Seattle.
Watch the Washington Huskies play an exciting exhibition game with the UNLV Rebels in Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, 3870 Montlake Blvd. NE in Seattle.
Banff Mountain Film Festival promises “an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world” when it screens films that are award-winners and audience favorites at Benaroya Hall, 200 University St. in Seattle. Other screenings in a dozen Washington cities.
The Totally ‘80s Sing Along projects 30 music videos with subtitles on screen so you can sing along to Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, Billy Idol, George Michael, Depeche Mode, Whitney Houston, and David Bowie for $14 at Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave. in Seattle.
A ticket to Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy includes four “delicious themed cocktails” paired with four chilling stories retold and reimagined by Poe historians at Illume Church, 5751 33rd Ave. NE in Seattle for age 21+. The price varies from $61 to $72 depending on the date.
The annual Community Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. includes a breakfast, a keynote speaker, live music, and a community conversation at South Seattle College, 6000 16th Ave. SW in Seattle.
Taste of the Northwest includes six oysters plus 12 tastes of wine, beer, and whiskey, with live music and light appetizers at Campbell's Resort on Lake Chelan, 104 W Woodin Ave. in Chelan. Tickets are $98, or $130 with a dinner buffet.
Daphne “finds romance in the beauty and celebration of nature, not in the arms of men” with pastoral music by Strauss. Seattle Opera performs in German with English subtitles at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St. in Seattle.
Seven local dancers of Whim W’Him perform works created by “three acclaimed choreographers” in the show Winter ‘26 at Cornish Playhouse, 201 Mercer St. in Seattle. Also held on Vashon Island Jan. 22.
Dress warmly for Lake Chelan Winterfest, which features ice sculptures, live music, wine & ale tasting, kids’ activities, a polar bear splash, a giant beach bonfire, and fireworks on the sunnier side of the state.
Your sense of taste is enhanced when you eat a three-course meal blindfolded during Dining in the Dark at The Collective Seattle, 400 Dexter Ave. N in Seattle for age 12+. Choice of fish, meat, or vegan. Drinks and tip extra.
Monthly Columbia City Night Market has 8 food trucks, 20 makers and vendors, live music, and a beer garden on 37th Avenue S. (from S. Ferdinand to S. Edmunds). Walk 10 minutes from Columbia City rail station to 4850 37th Ave. S in Seattle.
Kidstock offers musical performances, arts & dance workshops, carnival games, face painting, a root beer garden, and a fire truck at Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4th Ave. N in Edmonds.
A $50 ticket to WinterHop BrewFest includes music, a souvenir glass, and five tastings from 13 microbreweries in shops near the event headquarters, which is in Ellensburg Unity Park, 417 N Pearl St. in Ellensburg. Bring age 21+ ID.
A ticket to The Sound of Music film starring Julie Andrews includes “a tote bag filled with interactive surprises,” attendees in costume, pre-movie trivia, and subtitles on screen so you can sing along at The 5th Avenue Theatre, 1308 5th Ave. in Seattle.
Watch eight films, play games, make crafts, “enjoy themed cocktails and snacks in the lounge,” and see a panel discussion (Sunday) during Follow the Yellow Brick Road at Museum of Pop Culture, 325 5th Ave. N in Seattle. Buy a one-day or two-day pass, with a discount for Washington residents.
The Great Train Show features model train layouts, a kids’ play area, and hundreds of vendors at Washington State Fair Events Center, 110 9th Ave. SW in Puyallup. Children age 11 and younger are free.
Enjoy an appetizer as you watch a professional chef prepare a meal, and then get “substantial tastes” at classes offered by Hot Stove Society in Hotel Andra, 2000 4th Ave. in Seattle.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day includes an indoor rally (11 a.m.), a march to city hall (12:30 p.m.), and then a bus ride back to Garfield High School, 400 23rd Ave. in Seattle. A march map will be posted on Jan. 19.
King Day “is a family friendly celebration designed to foster learning, connection, and dialogue across generations” with exhibitions, activities, and free admission to the Northwest African American Museum, 2300 S Massachusetts St. in Seattle.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration features a fair with local organizations (11 a.m.) and a program (1 p.m.). Free parking on the street and at Tacoma Convention Center, 1500 Commerce St. in Tacoma.
Baskerville is a “madcap sendup” of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic whodunit, a fast-paced adventure full of clues, silly accents, disguises, and deceit at Village Theatre, 303 Front St. N in Issaquah. Repeats later in Everett.
SAAS Summit is “an all-ages, multi-modal experience with thought-provoking discussions, interactive breakout sessions, and networking activities” featuring seven local speakers at Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1201 E Union St. in Seattle. Held in Jan. and Oct.
Pay what you will to hear six new plays written by Seattle playwrights being read aloud during New Works Northwest at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St. in Seattle. [Don’t confuse with Northwest New Works Festival held in June.]
Grad Lab Concert features original work and performances by UW MFA students and guest artists at Meany Center for the Performing Arts, 4040 George Washington Lane NE in Seattle.
Check out 350 recreational vehicles at the Tacoma RV Show in the Tacoma Dome, 2727 East D Street in Tacoma. Used vehicles are parked outside. Children age 16 and younger are free. Repeats in Oct.
Bohemia is a “macabre and mystical dream cabaret” that combines classical music, art nouveau, green fairies, aerial numbers, dance, burlesque, classical piano battles, comedy, and original songs at The Triple Door, 216 Union St. in Seattle. Must be age 17+, or age 21+ for the show at 8:45 p.m. Closed Monday.
Justin Willman is “a new breed of magician who’s making magic cool again for grown-ups,” says the L.A. Times. Watch his fun show at The Moore Theatre, 1932 2nd Ave. in Seattle.
Seattle Chamber Music Society’s Winter Festival has a free recital before each performance in Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall, 200 University St. in Seattle. Repeats in July.
See edible exhibits plus the books that inspired them, and then vote for your favorites to receive awards during the Edible Book Festival at Third Place Commons, 17171 Bothell Way NE in Lake Forest Park. Free.
Reptile show
January 24 - 25, 2026
Puyallup (37 miles S)
See frogs, snakes, geckos, and other exotic creatures at the Pacific Northwest Reptile and Exotic Animal Show at Washington State Fair Events Center, 110 9th Ave. SW in Puyallup. Bring no pets. Held in January & July.
A $180 ticket to Robert Burns Night includes a bagpipe band, the reading of poems by Robert Burns, Scottish dishes, a welcome sherry, and four tastes of whiskey at The Barrel Thief, 3417 Evanston Ave. N #102 in Seattle for age 21+. Similar event on Feb. 9.
National Geographic Live presents scientists, photographers, filmmakers, and adventurers live on stage with amazing photos and video at Benaroya Hall, 200 University St. in Seattle. January is about monarch butterflies.
The gymnasts, jugglers, cyclists, and tumblers of Peking Acrobats perform amazing feats accompanied by live musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments at Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center, 31510 Pete von Reichbauer Way S in Federal Way.
Washington Sportsmen’s Show has seminars and exhibitors at Washington State Fair Events Center, 110 9th Ave. SW in Puyallup. Children age 5 and younger are free.
Tacoma Home & Garden Show features home-improvement vendors, seminars, and thousands of plants in the Tacoma Dome, 2727 East D Street in Tacoma. Children age 12 and younger are free.
Buy a handmade ceramic bowl at Empty Bowls to fund charity, and you’ll also get a bowl of soup with bread, dessert, and a drink at Burien Community Center, 14700 6th Ave. SW in Burien.
Watch motorcycles go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds over a slippery ice surface at Xtreme International Ice Racing as drivers compete to earn points at Angel of the Winds Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave. in Everett.
Shop for food and bigfoot gear; take a bigfoot workshop; hear live music; taste local beer, wine, and cider; visit the children’s arts & crafts area; see the film Sasqualogist; and meet “renowned researchers and authors” at sQuatch Fest at Cowlitz County Fairgrounds, 1900 7th Ave. in Longview. Children younger than five years old are free.
Olympia Funk Festival promises “three days of electrifying funk music, non-stop dancing, and pure celebration” in the Olympia Ballroom and at Capitol Theater, 206 5th Ave. SE in Olympia.
Seattle Boat Show has 800 boats and watercraft on display plus 150 boating seminars at Lumen Field, 800 Occidental Ave. S in Seattle. A free shuttle goes to boats in the water at Bell Harbor Marina. Children age 17 and younger are free.
Cinderella is the magical and romantic fairy tale performed by Pacific Northwest Ballet, with choreography by Kent Stowell and music by Sergei Prokofiev at McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St. in Seattle.
A female heroine discovers that her choices can influence the world as she progresses through the stages of evolution in Echo, performed by Cirque du Soleil in a giant heated tent at Marymoor Park, 6046 West Lake Sammamish Pkwy NE in Redmond.
Each paying adult can bring two children for free (age 12 or younger) during Kids & Critters Weekends at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, 11610 Trek Drive E in Eatonville. Valid on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
A $75 ticket to Cork, Fork & Support includes “delicious heavy appetizers,” tastes from four local wineries, a speaker, and an auction to support charity at Maryhill Tasting Room & Bistro at Hollywood Schoolhouse, 14810 NE 145th St. in Woodinville.
Kids meet the Snow Sisters, eat “tea sandwiches and desserts,” make a snowflake magic wand, get crowned with a rhinestone tiara, sing, dance, and watch snow fall at the Royal Winter Ball at Party Magic, 29006 216th Ave. SE in Black Diamond. Costumes welcome.
Live and breathe weddings at the Seattle Wedding Show in the Seattle Convention Center, 705 Pike St. in Seattle. Expect fashion shows, discount gowns, and hundreds of vendors. Children age 12 and younger are free.
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January 2026
