Free state park day
January 1, 2020
statewide
New Year’s Day is one of the State Parks Free Days, so you can spend it exploring any of the 140 Washington State Parks. Free.
Seattle events January 2020
Gingerbread houses
January 1, 2020
0.2 miles SE
See five elaborate houses made mostly of food at the Gingerbread Village at Sheraton Seattle Hotel. Lines can be long at times. Open until 9 p.m., except 11 p.m. on Fridays & Saturdays. Free.
New Year’s Day run/walk
January 1, 2020
7 miles NE
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.
Polar Bear Plunge - Seattle
January 1, 2020
8 miles NE
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. Matthews Beach Park has limited parking. Free.
Model Train Festival
January 1, 2020
33 miles south
Watch model trains run through detailed scenes of the Pacific Northwest, and see railroad-history exhibits at the Model Train Festival at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma. See Santa some days. Closed December 24 & 25.
Polar Bear Plunge - Tacoma
January 1, 2020
41 miles south
Jump into the cold waters of Puget Sound at Polar Bear Plunge at Point Defiance boat launch, and then warm up at heating tents with hot drinks. Separate kids’ plunge (11:30 a.m.). Free.
Indoor Christmas lights
January 1 - 4, 2020
3.2 miles NW
Lumaze has half a million lights, interactive features, illuminated sculptures, an artisan marketplace, food trucks, breweries, and wineries at Smith Cove Cruise Terminal on Pier 91. Closed Dec. 25.
Christmas lights - Seattle zoo
January 1 - 5, 2020
5 miles north
WildLights has 800,000 lights in animal shapes, plus animal encounters, fire pits, snowball fights, a lighted carousel, hot chocolate, and adult beverages at Woodland Park Zoo from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Closed Dec. 24 & 25. Free parking.
Christmas lights - Tacoma zoo
January 1 - 5, 2020
40 miles south
Bundle up to admire 700,000 holiday lights and displays, plus the South Pacific Aquarium at Zoolights in Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo from 5 to 9 p.m.
Free museums
January 2, 2020
Seattle locations
Visit these free on the first Thursday of every month.
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at the U.W. You can reserve an entry time on the website.
- Museum of History & Industry at South Lake Union
- Seattle Art Museum downtown (and any special exhibition is discounted)
Puyallup Home and Garden Show
January 3 - 5, 2020
36 miles south
Get help for your home and garden at Puyallup Home & Garden Show at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup.
Winter run
January 4, 2020
16.4 miles NE
Worst Day of the Year Run is a 5K/10K winter run with a costume contest and an indoor finish line party with food and a beer garden at McMenamins Anderson School in Bothell.
Wedding show
January 4 - 5, 2020
0.5 mile east
Live and breathe weddings at the Seattle Wedding Show in the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle. Expect fashion shows, discount gowns, and 400 vendors.
Alcohol-free party
January 10, 2020
5.3 miles NW
Sans Bar + Dry Experience promise “an upscale evening of festive vibes and alcohol-free fun” with unlimited drinks and hors d’oeuvres for ticket holders at Cathedral in Ballard.
Monster trucks
January 10 - 12, 2020
33 miles south
Big trucks with big wheels make big noise and excitement at Monster Jam in the Tacoma Dome.
MLK celebration
January 17, 2020 (12 to 1:30 p.m.)
1.5 miles east
The annual Community Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. includes a keynote speaker and live gospel music at Mount Zion Baptist Church. Doors open at 11 a.m. Free.
Tacoma RV Show
January 17 - 19, 2020
33 miles south
Check out hundreds of recreational vehicles at the Tacoma RV Show in the Tacoma Dome. Children age 16 and younger are free. Repeats in Oct.
Chamber music
January 17 - 19 and 24 - 26, 2020
0.5 mile south
Seattle Chamber Music Society’s Winter Festival at Nordstrom Recital Hall in Benaroya Hall has a free recital before each performance. Repeats in July.
Festival at Lake Chelan
January 17 - 26, 2020
199 miles east
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 sunny side of the state. Closed Monday to Thursday.
Seattle attractions
January 17 - Feb. 1, 2020
multiple locations
These discount prices include all taxes and fees.
- Space Needle + aquarium + harbor cruise + more
- Kayak/paddleboard rental in Ballard (2 hours)
- Nordic Museum in Ballard
- Seattle Children’s Museum at Seattle Center
- SkyView Observatory atop Columbia Center
- Underground Seattle tour
Women’s march
January 18, 2020 (1 to 4 p.m.)
multiple locations
Womxn’s March on Seattle includes a rally at Cal Anderson Park and a march downtown. Free.
MLK run
January 18, 2020 (10 a.m.)
7.3 miles NE
Celebrate the holiday by running 5K, 10K, or 15K in the MLK Weekend Run at Magnuson Park.
Woman beats big pharma
January 18, 2020 (8 p.m.)
16.9 miles north
Promoted as a 1960s wonder drug, thalidomide caused 24,000 birth defects and 123,000 miscarriages around the world. The United States was spared because Dr. Frances Kelsey bravely fought the drug company that sought F.D.A. approval to sell it, as told in the drama Miss by Edmonds Driftwood Players.
Ellensburg beer festival
January 18, 2020 (SOLD OUT)
107 miles east
WinterHop BrewFest includes a souvenir glass, five tastings from 20 microbreweries, and music in downtown Ellensburg for age 21+. Usually sells out.
Classical music
January 18 - 19, 2020
0.5 mile south
Seattle Symphony performs works by Mozart plus a violin concerto by Beethoven at Benaroya Hall.
Vietnamese Lunar New Year
January 18 - 19, 2020
1 mile NW
Tết in Seattle offers live performances, hands-on activities, foods, crafts, games, fashion, martial arts, and a marketplace at Seattle Center Armory. Free.
Wine + films
January 18 - 19, 2020
2.8 miles south
The inaugural Seattle Wine & Film Festival promises unlimited wine tasting, cheese, chocolate, a world-class guitarist, a winemaker talk, and 15 films in the art gallery at The Old Rainier Brewery. Schedule.
Model trains - Puyallup
January 18 - 19, 2020
36 miles south
The Great Train Show features model train layouts and hundreds of vendors at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup.
Reptile show
January 18 - 19, 2020
36 miles south
See frogs, snakes, geckos, and other exotic creatures at the Pacific Northwest Reptile and Exotic Animal Show at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup. Bring no pets. Held in January & July.
Leavenworth ice festival
January 18 - 19, 2020
119 miles east
Enjoy invigorating outdoor events like snow sculpture, ice-cube scramble, snowball tossing, and the famous smooshing contest at Bavarian Icefest in Leavenworth.
Model trains - Seattle
January 18 - 20, 2020
1 mile NW
See dozens of model-train displays and layouts, join hands-on demonstrations and activities, and ride a mini train around the courtyard at the Model Railroad Show at the Pacific Science Center. The Imax movie about a Canadian steam-train ride is optional.
Musical comedy
January 18 - Feb. 2, 2020
29.3 miles north
Guys and Dolls is a Tony winning musical about 1930s gangsters, gamblers, showgirls, and missionaries in New York City at Everett Performing Arts Center.
Drama about sibling rivalry
January 18 - Feb. 16, 2020
1.4 miles NW
Sam Shepard’s classic play True West traces the volatile relationship of two estranged brothers holed up in their mother’s well-kept suburban house at Seattle Repertory Theatre.
Sentimental comedy
January 18 - Feb. 23, 2020
17 miles east
In the musical comedy She Loves Me, two feuding store clerks unknowingly write each other secret love notes through a “lonely hearts” service at the Village Theatre in Issaquah.
Tacoma brass concert
January 19, 2020 (2 p.m.)
39 miles south
The annual Sounds of Brass Concert is held at Tacoma Community College. Repeats in April. Donation.
Brunch cabaret
January 19 - March 22, 2020
0.3 miles SW
The Brunch Show is a one-hour show with upbeat dance numbers, plenty of glitz, and high kicks at small Can Can Theater in Pike Place Market for all ages. Food and drinks are optional. Age 5 and younger free.
Free state park day
January 20, 2020
statewide
Martin Luther King Day is one of the State Parks Free Days, which allows you to visit any of the 140 Washington State Parks. Free.
Free national park day
January 20, 2020
All national parks
Entry is free at Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks on Free Entrance Days in the National Parks. Expect more people and less parking than usual.
MLK Day rally & march
January 20, 2020
2 miles east
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day includes an 8:30 a.m. job fair and workshops at Garfield High School, a rally at 11 a.m., a march at 12:30 p.m. to city hall, and then a bus ride back to a community meal. Free.
MLK Day in Tacoma
January 20, 2020 (11 a.m.)
34 miles south
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration features a keynote speaker plus music, dance, and poetry at Greater Tacoma Convention Center. The community outreach fair is earlier (10 a.m. to 11 a.m.) Free.
Cabaret set in 1890s Hungary
January 21 - 26, 2020
0.3 miles south
Bohemia is a “macabre and mystical dream cabaret” combining classical music, art nouveau, green fairies, aerial numbers, dance, burlesque, classical piano battles, comedy, and original songs at The Triple Door.
Passionate opera
January 22, 2020 7:30 p.m.)
1.3 miles NW
Set in 1800s Russia, Eugene Onegin tells a tragic tale of unrequited love, with grand sets, elaborate period costumes, elegant ballroom dances, and dramatic music by Tchaikovsky, at McCaw Hall.
Fishing, hunting, camping show
January 22 - 26, 2020
36 miles south
Washington Sportsmen’s Show has seminars and exhibitors at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup.
Funny English farce
January 22 - 31, 2020
1 mile NW
A rich young woman insists on marrying a poor man for the sake of true love, and soon rich suitors feigning poverty appear at her doorstep in romantic comedy The Rivals at Center Theatre.
French cabaret
January 22 - April 30, 2020 (7 p.m.)
0.3 miles SW
Peacock is a famous Parisian nightclub of the 1920s recreated at intimate Can Can theater in Pike Place Market. Optional food and drink.
Free classical concert in Tukwila
January 23, 2020 (7 p.m.)
0.5 miles south
Watch the Seattle Symphony play a Community Concert at Foster Performing Arts Center in Tukwila. Free.
Tacoma Home and Garden Show
January 23 - 26, 2020
33 miles south
The Tacoma Home & Garden Show fills the Tacoma Dome with home-improvement vendors, seminars, and thousands of plants.
Dinner cirque show
January 23 - Feb. 16, 2020
14.6 miles NE
A Night Like This is an aerial and acrobatic show performed around you by Teatro ZinZanni as you eat a four-course meal at Marymoor Park in Redmond. Vegan options are available.
Artsy gala dinner
January 24 - 25, 2020 (6:30 p.m.)
1 mile south
A $100 ticket to Keep It Surreal gets you a multi-course creative dinner with wine pairings, followed by a small auction to support the arts, and a dessert dash at Cafe Nordo for age 21+.
Women rocking in Tacoma
January 24 - 25, 2020 (7:30 p.m.)
38 miles south
Beehive: The ‘60s Musical is filled with classic hits of empowerment from iconic singers like Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, The Shirelles, Diana Ross, Connie Francis, and The Supremes at Tacoma Musical Playhouse.
Strange beer festival
January 24 - 25, 2020
54 miles NW via Bainbridge ferry
Enjoy beer in odd flavors from dozens of breweries and watch live music and entertainment at Strange Brewfest at American Legion Hall in Port Townsend.
Leavenworth music concert
January 24 - 25, 2020
117 miles east
Hear 17 acts indoors over two days at Timbrrr! Winter Music Festival in Leavenworth, counterpart to the Timber! Outdoor Music Festival in July. Evening events are for age 21+. Schedule.
Remodeling expo
January 24 - 26, 2020
0.5 mile east
Get ideas for your dream home from speakers, vendors, and remodeling experts at the Northwest Remodeling Expo at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle.
Boat show
January 24 - Feb. 1, 2020
1.5 miles south
Seattle Boat Show, which promises 1000 boats and watercraft on display plus 250 boating seminars, is at CenturyLink Field, with a free shuttle to boats in the water at South Lake Union. Children age 17 and younger are free.
Pajama pub crawl
January 25, 2020 (12 p.m.)
Downtown Seattle
Dress for bedtime and join the Onesie Pub Crawl, following the posted route to visit 6 or more bars offering drink specials downtown, with live entertainment and a costume contest for age 21+.
Classical music for families
January 25, 2020 (11 a.m.)
0.5 mile south
Gerd must save her friend from the icy clutches of The Snow Queen in a narrated fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson, with music performed by the St. Helens String Quartet at Benaroya Hall. Arrive at 10 a.m. to see the musical instrument “petting zoo” in the lobby. Free for age 2 and younger.
Belgian beer festival
January 25, 2020
1.1 miles NW
Buy a ticket to Belgian Fest and you can choose 10 beers to taste from 100 available that are brewed in Washington using Belgian yeast, at Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center for age 21+.
Seattle citizen meeting
January 25, 2020 (10:30 a.m.)
3.3 miles SE
Connect with people who care about the community at Civic Saturday “to hear readings, sing together, share thoughts and ideas, and hear a civic sermon” about American liberty, equality, and self government at El Centro de la Raza. Free.
Medieval fair
January 25 - 26, 2020
32.5 miles NE
Watch tournaments and competitions, try your hand at archery and thrown weapons during open hours, play games, and shop from artisans at the quirky Ursulmas Medieval Faire at Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe.
Brunch cruise
January 26, 2020 (boarding 10:30 a.m.)
9.8 miles NE
Enjoy a brunch buffet with a glass of champagne or sparkling cider at your private table with two hours of views during a Weekend Brunch Cruise on Lake Union & Washington, departing from north Lake Union.
A play about privilege
January 30 - Feb. 23, 2020
5.4 miles north
Admissions is s bold comedy “of the left, by the left, for the left, for today” [NY Times] about a couple whose personal ambitions and progressive values collide when their son’s Ivy League application is at stake, in Seattle Public Theater at Green Lake.
Masquerade ball
January 31, 2020
1 mile east
Dress up and dance to swing, blues, Latin, foxtrots, and waltzes at Masquerade, with live music at the Century Ballroom for age 21+. Mask required. Video (4 minutes).
Cinderella ballet
January 31 - Feb. 9, 2020
1.3 miles NW
Cinderella is the magical and romantic fairy tale performed by Pacific Northwest Ballet at McCaw Hall.