Free state park day
January 1, 2019
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 2019
Gingerbread art
January 1, 2019
0.2 miles SE
See elaborate displays made mostly of food at the Gingerbread Village at Sheraton Seattle Hotel. The lines can be long on peak days. Free.
New Year’s Day run/walk
January 1, 2019
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, 2019
(11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.)
8 miles NE
Join 1000 people running into Lake Washington at noon 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, 2019
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, 2019
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.
Christmas lights - Seattle zoo
January 1 - 5, 2019
5 miles north
WildLights has 600,000 lights in animal shapes, real reindeer, night animals, carolers, and Santa some nights at Woodland Park Zoo from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.. Closed Dec. 24 & 25. Free parking.
Christmas lights - Tacoma zoo
January 1 - 6, 2019
40 miles south
Bundle up to admire half a million holiday lights and displays at Zoolights in Tacoma’s Point Defiance Zoo from 5 to 9 p.m. Closed Dec. 24.
Art walk
January 3, 2019
1 mile south
Head to historic Pioneer Square for the January First Thursday Art Walk, when art galleries open their doors to introduce new exhibitions and artists. Free.
Free museums
January 3, 2019
Seattle locations
Visit these free on the first Thursday of every month.
- Museum of History & Industry at South Lake Union
- Seattle Art Museum downtown (and any special exhibition is half price)
Puyallup Home and Garden Show
January 4 - 6, 2019
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 5, 2019
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.
Monster trucks
January 11 - 13, 2019
33 miles south
Big trucks with big wheels make big noise and excitement at Monster Jam in the Tacoma Dome.
Wedding show
January 12 - 13, 2019
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.
Tacoma RV Show
January 17 - 20, 2019
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.
MLK celebration
January 18, 2019
(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. Free.
Remodeling expo
January 18 - 20, 2019
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.
Dance festival
January 18, 25, 26, 2019
0.8 miles NE
Seattle International Dance Festival (SIDF) Winter Mini-Fest features works by “four celebrated choreographers from around the world” performed by Khambatta Dance Company and other artists at Erickson Theatre.
Chamber music
January 18 - 27, 2019
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 18 - 27, 2019
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.
Ellensburg beer festival
January 19, 2019
107 miles east
WinterHop BrewFest includes a souvenir glass, five tastings from 20 microbreweries, and music in downtown Ellensburg for age 21+. Buy tickets Dec. 1.
Model train show
January 19 - 20, 2019
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 19 - 20, 2019
36 miles south
See frogs, snakes, geckos, and other exotic creatures at the Seattle Reptile Expo at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup. Held in January & July.
Leavenworth ice festival
January 19 - 20, 2019
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 19 - 21, 2019
1 mile NW
See dozens of model-train displays and layouts, and join hands-on demonstrations and activities at the Model Railroad Show, which also covers “the history and future of transportation” at the Pacific Science Center.
Tacoma brass concert
January 20, 2019
39 miles south
The annual Sounds of Brass Concert is held at Tacoma Community College. Repeats in April. Donation.
Free state park day
January 21, 2019
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 21, 2019
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 21, 2019
2 miles east
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Commemoration includes a job fair and workshops at Garfield High School, a rally at 11 a.m., and a march at 12:30 p.m. that goes two miles to a rally at 1:30 p.m. in Westlake Park. Free.
MLK Day in Tacoma
January 21, 2019
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.
Fishing, hunting, camping show
January 23 - 27, 2019
36 miles south
Washington Sportsmen’s Show has seminars and exhibitors at the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup.
Tacoma Home and Garden Show
January 24 - 27, 2019
33 miles south
The Tacoma Home & Garden Show fills the Tacoma Dome with home-improvement vendors, seminars, and thousands of plants.
Children’s Film Festival
January 24 - Feb. 9, 2019
1 mile east
See the best and brightest in international cinema for children ages 2 to 12 at the Children’s Film Festival Seattle at Northwest Film Forum.
Free classical concert
January 25, 2019
(7:30 p.m.)
0.5 miles south
The Seattle Symphony plays side by side with the University of Washington Orchestra in a Community Concert at Benaroya Hall. Free.
Masquerade ball
January 25, 2019
(8:30 p.m.)
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).
Artsy gala dinner
January 25 - 26, 2019
(6:30 p.m.)
1 mile south
A $100 ticket to Keep It Surreal gets you a four-course creative dinner with wine pairings, followed by a small auction to support the arts, in a decadent “feathered world” at Cafe Nordo for age 21+.
Strange beer festival
January 25 - 26, 2019
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 25 - 26, 2019
117 miles east
Hear 17 acts indoors over two days at Timbrrr! Winter Festival in Leavenworth, counterpart to the Timber! Outdoor Music Festival in July. Evening events are for age 21+. Schedule.
Boat show
January 25 - Feb. 2, 2019
1.5 miles south
Seattle Boat Show, which promises 1000 boats and watercraft on display plus 200 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.
Classical music for families
January 26, 2019
(11 a.m.)
0.5 mile south
Stories like “Goodnight Moon,” “Tales from the Arabian Nights,” and “Ferdinand the Bull” are paired with classical music performed by a string quartet during Musical Tales performed by the Agermos Chamber Music Project at Benaroya Hall for ages 5 to 10. Arrive an hour early to visit the instrument “petting zoo.”
Underground art show
January 26, 2019
(8 p.m.)
0.8 miles NE
The Seattle Pancakes & Booze Art Show is a traveling exhibition by 70 artists, with free pancakes, DJ music, live body painting, and a bar at El Corazon for age 21+. Pay cash at the door or buy a line-jumper ticket online.
Vietnamese Lunar New Year
January 26 - 27, 2019
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.
Medieval fair
January 26 - 27, 2019
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.
Music of Asia
January 27, 2019
(4 p.m.)
0.5 mile south
Celebrate Asia focuses on music and musicians of South Korea, with Asian entertainment from China, Japan, India, and Korea in the lobby before and after the concert at Benaroya Hall.