What to Do in Seattle During the Fall & Winter Holiday Season

The weather may be wet and the days may be shorter during the winter, but that won’t stop Seattleites from having fun. With a good rain jacket or an umbrella, you can enjoy activities inside and out. Skip the crowds and save some money by traveling in the off season. Here are our top recommendations on what to do in Seattle during the fall and winter holiday season.

 

Get outside! Some of the best spots in Seattle to see stunning fall color are right in the neighborhood. Green Lake Park, right across the street, is always considered to be a top pick. Stroll the 2.8-mile perimeter of the lake in late September until early December for an ever-changing show of color. Other great spots for walking through the foliage in north Seattle include the Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle Japanese Garden, Fremont Canal Park, and the University of Washington campus.

We are fortunate to have so many local options for good theater and music. Seattle is home to the Seattle Opera, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and the Seattle Symphony.  From neighborhood theaters like Taproot and Seattle Public Theater, to large downtown venues like ACT Theatre, the 5th Avenue, the Paramount, and McCaw Hall there is something for everyone. Some popular music venues include the Neptune, Moore Theater, the Triple Door, Jazz Alley, and Benaroya Hall. For the biggest names, check the schedule at Climate Pledge Arena.

During the holidays, Seattle Public Theater, located on the shores of Green Lake in the historic Bathhouse Theater, puts on a very popular, campy Christmas show each year: A Very Die-Hard Christmas. Other popular Seattle holiday cultural traditions include the Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Nutcracker and ACT Theatre’s A Christmas Carol. Returning for a second year after a 10-year hiatus: Langston Hughes' much loved Black Nativity, at the Intiman Theatre.

The Seattle Seahawks Football team plays at Lumen Field, just a few blocks south of downtown. Seattle fans (aka the 12’s) are enthusiastic and noisy. Seattle’s newest professional sports team is the Kraken men’s hockey team. The Kraken play at Climate Pledge Arena from October through early April. If you can’t get to a hockey game, consider attending a free practice session at their official training facility at nearby Northgate Station, just a few minutes from our B&B.

Seattle is home to dozens of museums of all sizes. It’s hard to choose just one or two!  Our very top recommendations include the vast and fascinating Museum of Flight, and the stunningly beautiful Chihuly Garden & Glass. Other great contenders include the National Nordic Museum and the Museum of History and Industry. The newly renovated Burke Museum, Washington State's museum for natural history, is also very conveniently located at the University of Washington. If you don't have a car, the Burke and the UW campus make for an interesting and easy outing on the #45 bus which stops right in front of the museum.

Seattle's days are short and the nights are long in December. In recent years, a number of Seattle restaurants and bars have offered special holiday-themed spaces between Thanksgiving and New Year's.  Here are a few we can suggest.

Every holiday season, this Green Lake neighborhood staple re-invents itself as a holiday wonderland. You will enjoy the festive, over-the-top decorations and special holiday-themed cocktails. It's an easy walk from us.

This kitschy pop-up bar, located at Belltown's Rob Roy, is one of the most famous in Seattle.  Try a Christmasapolitan, a cosmo-type cranberry cocktail.

Salty's on Alki goes all-out on the holiday decor, with giant Nutcrackers, twinkly lights, and greenery decorating the restaurant's interior. Salty's is the perfect spot for a holiday gathering of friends and family, with incredible views of Seattle's skyline over Elliot Bay from its large windows.

Seattle’s light festivals help brighten up the nights and many are low cost or free. Here are some of our favorites.

November 21-December 24, 2024

The Seattle Christmas Market is a European-style outdoor Christmas market in its second year at Seattle Center. This festive market has over 80 artisan vendors, Christmas lights, hot-spiced mulled wine and apple cider, live entertainment, and lots of traditional European holiday treats. Open evenings midweek, and 10AM-9PM on weekends and most days in December. Admission is $14.99-$21.99 per person.

November 23 and 24, 2024

Julefest takes place at the National Nordic Museum grounds in Ballard every year on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Shop for handcrafted gifts while enjoying live entertainment in a festive Christmas Market environment. Traditional Nordic treats are available for sale (if you want to purchase cookies, get there early because they sell out fast). Tickets include admission to the Nordic Museum.

 

 

December 14, 2024 4:30 – 7:30 PM

This annual event on the second Saturday in December lights up the 2.8-mile path around Green Lake with luminaries. Local musicians add to the ambiance with seasonal tunes at four points around the lake. Visitors can sip hot chocolate or cider as they take in the view. Greenlake Pathway of Lights is free, but non-perishable food donations are suggested.

November 15, 2024 – January 19, 2025 (Closed on Mondays and on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. Open New Year's Day)

The Woodland Park Zoo never fails to come up with creative events that locals and visitors alike come to enjoy. WildLanterns is an outdoor immersive experience with enormous animal lanterns and scenes from all around the globe. Every year, it gets bigger and better. Food and beverages are available for sale. Located just a few minutes' drive from Greenlake Guest House.

November 21, 2024 – January 1, 2025

In this special annual event, local architecture firms and the hotel’s culinary team join together to create gingerbread masterpieces that can be viewed in the lobby 24 hours a day. The designers get a new theme every year. Visitors get the chance to vote for their favorite display. The event is free, but suggested donations go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Northwest Chapter.

November 23-December 23, 2024

This unique ship to shore holiday celebration has been a Seattle tradition since 1949. The Christmas Ship is decorated with hundreds of lights and sails to 40 Puget Sound waterfront communities. Choirs perform to guests on board as well as to the boat parade and to communities gathered around bonfires on shore. See website to get tickets to ride on the ship and to see a schedule of stops.

 

Celebrate the arrival of the new year with fireworks show at the top of Seattle’s iconic Space Needle. Last year, guests were encouraged to avoid crowds and disburse to smaller viewing locations around the area or watch the event live on television.  It’s been the biggest New Year’s Eve celebration on the west coast for 9 years. Other Seattle New Year's Eve celebrations include a New Year's Eve Concert & Party with the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall, a 21+ Late Night Cruise or NYE Dinner Cruise, and more.

Last, guests are always welcome to relax and enjoy the cozy holiday ambiance here inside the inn. Pick a movie from our extensive collection or sit by the cozy fire with a good book. Sip our complimentary wine and hot beverages and eat the snacks and homemade cookies. During the month of December, we'll continue our annual tradition of baking 25 Days of Christmas Cookies for our guests.