See four displays made mostly of food with a “chocolate factory” theme at Gingerbread Village in Sheraton Grand Seattle, 1400 6th Ave. Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (except closes 11 p.m. on Fridays & Saturdays). FREE
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.
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. Closed Dec. 24 & 25.
Bundle up to admire 800,000 holiday lights and displays at Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo, 5400 N Pearl St. in Tacoma. The kids area has goats, and there are fire pits. Closed Dec. 24 & 25.
Buy a ticket online, then drive two miles past “300 elaborate displays” of holiday lights while you hear holiday music on radio station 1700 AM at Fantasy Lights in Spanaway Park, 14905 Bresemann Blvd. S in Spanaway. Open every night. At peak times, the line can take three hours.
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. Grounds map. (Closed most Mondays and Dec. 24 & 25.)
Enjoy eight delicious treats and meet artisan vendors on the highly rated $63 Market Tasting Tour led by a friendly guide at the Pike Place Market, 85 Pike St. in Seattle.
Watch 95 minutes of short films selected from the 2023 Sundance Film Festival program, including “fiction, documentary, and animation from around the world” during Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour at Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave. in Seattle.
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.
Watch the Washington Huskies play an exciting game in Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, 3870 Montlake Blvd. NE in Seattle. Tickets at StubHub.
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.
Enjoy dinner and views of Lake Union and Lake Washington from your private table aboard a $147 Seattle Dinner Cruise, departing from Waterways Cruises, 901 Fairview Ave. N in Seattle. Discount tickets $107.
Puyallup Flat Track features motorcycles and quads racing on an indoor track at Washington State Fair Events Center, 110 9th Ave. SW in Puyallup. Children age 6 and younger are free.
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical tells the story of the chart-topping legend and her beloved songs, including One Fine Day, Will You Love Me Tomorrow, and Natural Woman at Village Theatre.
Enjoy a brunch buffet and beautiful lake views from your private table aboard a $127 Weekend Brunch Cruise, departing from Waterways Cruises, 901 Fairview Ave. N in Seattle. Discount tickets $96.
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. FREE
The Book of Mormon is an outrageous comedy in the vein of South Park and winner of nine Tony Awards, at The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St. in Seattle. Tickets at StubHub.
A fast, funny, and wild play by William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors features slapstick comedy about mistaken identity at Center Theatre, 305 Harrison St. in Seattle. Discussions before or after some shows.
The annual Community Celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. includes a breakfast, a social hour, a keynote speaker, live music, and a community conversation at South Seattle College, 6000 16th Ave. SW in Seattle. FREE
Your $83 ticket to Taste of the Northwest includes six oysters plus 12 tasting tickets for wine, beer, and whiskey, with live music and food for sale at Campbell's Resort on Lake Chelan, 104 W Woodin Ave. in Chelan.
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.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day includes an 8:30 a.m. job fair at Garfield High School, morning workshops, a rally at 11 a.m., a march at 12:30 p.m. to city hall, and then a bus ride back. FREE
The schedule of events for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration last year included children’s activities, food trucks, music, art, a Civil Rights film, a keynote speech, Sounders players, and an evening party for adults at Northwest African American Museum, 2300 S Massachusetts St. in Seattle. FREE
Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with special theater performances (11 a.m. & 1 p.m.), and enjoy free admission today at the Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave. in Tacoma. FREE
Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration features a keynote speaker plus music, dance, and poetry at Greater Tacoma Convention Center. Doors open at 10 a.m. so you can meet community organizations. Admission and street parking are FREE.
Corteo features the amazing acrobats, musicians, singers, and actors of Cirque du Soleil at Climate Pledge Arena, 334 1st Ave. N in Seattle. Discount tickets at Goldstar and Groupon.
UW Dance Presents “showcases original choreography by internationally recognized faculty and visiting artists” to live music in Meany Hall for the Performing Arts at 4040 George Washington Lane NE in Seattle.
Check out hundreds of recreational vehicles at the Tacoma RV Show in the Tacoma Dome, 2727 E D Street in Tacoma. Children age 12 and younger are free. Repeats in Oct.
Up with a Twist is a $200 fundraiser for the School of Acrobatics and New Circus Arts (SANCA), which includes a dinner, a dessert buffet, two drink tickets, and a “flying trapeze, aerial, and circus show” at Emerald City Trapeze Arts, 2702 6th Ave. S in Seattle.
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 life in the Arctic. Discount tickets $24.
Walk between 15 restaurants serving a variety of soups (gumbo, ramen, posole, chowder, chili, Jamaican curry) during Fremont Soupocalypse, which requires no ticket and has a prize when you collect 8 soup stamps.
Dress up and dance to “swing, R & B, Latin, waltzes, ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll, foxtrots, quicksteps, and blues” played by a live orchestra at Masquerade in Century Ballroom, 915 E Pine St. in Seattle for age 21+. Singles welcome.
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.
Seattle Chamber Music Society’s Winter Festival at Nordstrom Recital Hall in Benaroya Hall has a free recital before each performance. Repeats in July.
Harlem Globetrotters perform ball handling wizardry, rim-rattling dunks, trick shots, and comedy bits in an entertaining show at Climate Pledge Arena, 334 1st Ave. N in Seattle.
Celebrate the year of the dragon at Microsoft Asian Spring Festival Celebration, which has a family-friendly afternoon festival (games, gifts, food court, afternoon performance, and photo booth with traditional Chinese outfits) and an evening gala performance at Overlake Christian Church, 9900 Willows Road NE in Redmond.
Instead of celebrating Groundhog’s Day, meet a frog named Snohomish Slew at the annual GroundFrog Day Celebration, with kids’ games, crafts, music, mascots, family entertainment, and photo opportunities at Snohomish Aquatic Center, 516 Maple Ave. in Snohomish.
Live and breathe weddings at the Seattle Wedding Show in the Washington State Convention Center, 705 Pike St. in Seattle. Expect fashion shows, discount gowns, and hundreds of vendors. Children age 12 and younger are free.
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, 14405 179th Ave. SE in Monroe. Public days are Sat. & Sun.
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.
Celebrate Asia “honors Seattle’s Asian American community through exploring the rich musical traditions of Asian countries” at Benaroya Hall. Watch international entertainment in the lobby before (3 p.m.) and after the concert. Discount tickets $33.
Lunar New Year celebration has craft making, displays, and live performances including a lion dance, martial arts, folk dancing, and music in the Center Court at Bellevue Square. FREE
Attend a FREE family event in the morning, or buy a ticket for the evening reception & show during the Tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Edmonds Waterfront Center, 220 Railroad Ave. in Edmonds.
Kids can meet the Snow Sisters, eat “fancy treats and candies,” make a snowflake magic wand, get crowned with a rhinestone tiara, dance, and watch “snow” falling at the Winter Royal Ball at Tea and Tiaras Party Parlor, 1809 99th St. E in Tacoma.
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January 2024
