Argosy's Christmas Ship takes one final lap around Lake Union.
Image: Courtesy Argosy Cruises
Jump to Your Genre:Food and Drink / Visual Arts / Live Music Performance / Film / Special Events / Readings and Lectures / On Sale Now
Seattleites are spoiled for choice when it comes to spending our leisure time. Just take a look at the sheer variety of options: We he an exceptional array of museums, independent bookstores, restaurants, bars (and bar trivia), record stores, nightlife options, local shops, and a rich music landscape.
And the actual landscape? Outdoor recreation opportunities abound, especially if you subscribe to the “no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing” mindset (if you don’t, are you really from Seattle?). From abundant hikes, swimming holes, state parks, and campgrounds just beyond city limits to a voluminous urban trail system, there’s something for the outdoorsperson of every skill and stoke level. Those with little ones (human or furred) can rejoice at a bevy of great playgrounds, spray parks, and zoos.
But if you just want a guide already, we've got plenty for food, outdoors, shopping, and entertainment. Plus, a shortlist of what to do in Washington this month. Or find below the best things to do in Seattle, updated weekly.
Food and Drink
Capitol Hill's Christmas Dive Bar pop up gives Clark Griswold a run for his money.
Image: Courtesy Christmas Dive Bar
Christmas Dive Barthrough january 1, 4pm–late | 1518 11th Ave, menu
Over-the-top Christmas decor and themed drinks are back for another run in Capitol Hill. This year, the pop-up takes over Queer/Bar, and weekends combine a How the Queens Stole Christmas drag brunch with the floor-to-ceiling holiday wonderland.
Pass the regal scone platter, please.
Image: Courtesy Belathee Photography
Holiday Afternoon Teathrough december 19, 10:30am–6pm | cafe flora, $62
The highly-anticipated tradition at Madison Valley's vegetarian cafe returns at long last. Diners sip curated teas and munch on a magical three-tiered platter of goodies: gingerbread scones, english cucumber canapé, and chestnut and wild mushroom gougeres make every Bridgerton dream come true.
Bò and Béodecember 17 and 18, various | Ramie, menu
Capitol Hill's Ramie teams up with local purveyors of free-roaming proteins, Preservation Meat Collectives. The duo collabs to turn one cow into two nights of sought-after foods, each cut accompanied by five Southeast Asian–inspired sauces.
Chef's Choice: A Culinary Adventuredecember 18 and 19, 7:30pm | beast and cleer, $250
Ballard's whole-animal butcher shop sets up the communal table for a two-night run in December—and co-founder Kevin Smith is at the helm. The five-course meal is paired with wines selected and served by in-house sommelier Nelson Daquip for a bespoke, seasonal meal.
Tremonte's Italian American Popupdecember 20, 11am–1pm | various, menu
Christmas cookies get a rainbow Italian flair thanks with the small-batch boxes of Tremonte's. Central District European grocer Big John's PFI and Capitol Hill's Broadcast Coffee act as home bases for pistachio pinwheels, lemon ricotta treats, and black and white cookies. Enchanted Winter's Evedecember 20, 6:30–9:30pm | chateau ste. michelle, $60–72
Woodinville's winery gets into the wintertime spirit with an ethereal masquerade ball fit for a snowy fairytale. The dress code calls for all-white outfits and glamorous masks straight from the Jazz Age; pours of Chateau Ste. Michelle's bounty, a dessert bar, and a la carte small bites fuel a dance floor.
Visual Arts
With dozens of artists comes dozens of unique mediums.
Image: Courtesy Henry Art Gallery
Spirit Housethrough january 11, various | henry art gallery, free
The Henry Art Gallery's Spirit House, on view until early next year, showcases 34 Asian American and Asian diasporic artists' take on ghosts, reincarnation, and the supernatural. It's a meaningful journey through time, ancestral memory, and dimensions beyond our own.
Farm to Table Tourthrough january 18, 1:15–2:15pm | seattle art museum, $29.99
More history lecture than tasting menu, the Seattle Art Museum's Farm to Table exhibition showcases the obsession of 19th-century French artists: food. Paintings and sculpture—from Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, and more—feature a nation rebuilding its identity on culinary excellence. Guided tours run on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
The MiG-21 Projectthrough january 26, 10am–5pm | the museum of flight, $29
The Museum of Flight houses more than history this season: South African artist Ralph Ziman transformed a Cold War-era MiG-21 fighter jet from a relic of violence into a work of art. The entire aircraft now wears a mosaic-like cloak made from thousands of glass beads. Alongside the seminal work, colorfully beaded Afrofuturistic flight suits spark curiosity about how creative and design-forward space trel could be, and interactive stations allow visitors to create their own digital flying works of art.
Light bends at Anila Quayyum Agha's new exhibit.
Image: Courtesy Steve Watson/Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Anila Quayyum Agha: Geometry of Lightthrough april 19, various | seattle asian art museum
Go ahead, interact with the art in Anila Quayyum Agha's new exhibition at the Volunteer Park museum, the first solo show from a Pakistani American artist in SAM’s 90-years. Laser-cut steel cubes suspend from the ceiling, lit by a halogen bulb that paints the room—and visitors—with intricate shadows that illuminate the light and dark of life.
Priscilla Dobler Dzul: Water Carries the Stories of Our Starsthrough april 19, various | frye art museum, free
Blending her heritage and experiences living in Tacoma and Yucatán, Mexico, artist Priscilla Dobler Dzul's museum debut features sculpture, textile, and video work that center climate injustice. Water—from Mexican cenotes to Washington wetlands—takes center stage in her work.
Live Music Holly Jolly Jinglethrough december 23, various | benaroya hall, $30–90
Self-described as the gayest sing-along in the city, the Seattle Men's Chorus brings back a holiday forite with caroling tunes broken up with comedic interludes. Candlelight Concert: Tribute to Taylor Swiftdecember 19, 6–7pm | pacific place, free
Downtown shopping center Pacific Place transforms into a candlelit concert venue each Friday this month, culminating in a string quartet's tribute to the one and only Taylor Swift. Madison Cunninghamjanuary 10, 7:30pm | st mark's cathedral, $32–40
Singer-songwriter Madison Cunningham's music rides the line between West Coast folk-rock and Americana; she has collaborated on guitar and vocals with a litany of celebrated artists—Lucy Dacus, Remi Wolf, Mumford and Sons—and released her third studio album, Ace, this past fall.
Performance A Christmas Carolthrough december 28, various | allen theater at act, $69–81
In the classic, Ebenezer Scrooge and his ghosts take to the Union Arts Center stage for the 50th time this year. The enduring tale of redemption kicks off opening night (December 4) with a pre-show party of music, photo ops, and theater fun.
Elf the Musicalthrough december 28, various | 5th enue theater, $55–200
The beloved Will Ferrell film gets an onstage adaptation filled with holiday cheer. From Buddy's attempts to fit into the elf-sized North Pole workshop to the his sugary spaghetti and social faux pas in New York City, the musical version augments the story with heart, adventure, and comedy.
No snow in the mountains? Pacific Northwest Ballet has plenty.
Image: Courtesy Angela Sterling/PNB
George Balanchine's The Nutcrackerthrough december 28, various | Mccaw hall, $39–215
It's a classic, and it's back at McCaw Hall. The Pacific Northwest Ballet brings The Nutcracker story to life in a dazzling display of elaborate costumes and enchanting choreography. Special pre-show themes add novelty to tradition with a pajama day, Sugar Plum Fairy meet-and-greet, beer and ballet night, and more.
Come From Awaythrough january 4, various | bagley wright theater, $38–160
A decade ago, Seattle Rep premiered a show that would become a beacon of hope, joy, and connection. With skies shut down after September 11, 2001, trelers from all over the world shelter in a small Newfoundland town where they find resilience and unlikely friendship. Come From Away returns to its Seattle roots this winter; new staging from hometown director Brandon Ivie infuses new life to the beloved storyline.
Fortune Feimsterdecember 31, 7pm | mccaw hall, $40–63.95
Effortlessly charismatic stand-up comedian Fortune Feimster closes out the year at McCaw Hall with her Takin' Care of Biscuits tour. She brings Southern charm, real-life tales of love and loss; get a preview of her style with her three Netflix specials or weekly Handsome podcast.
FILM Wicked: For Goodthrough december 17, various | siff cinema downtown, $20
The second half of last Thanksgiving's decorated Wicked film joins its sibling at long last. Elphaba and Glinda must find a way to reunite Oz in the face of demonization and division; they'll do it with classic songs, stunning costumes, and impressive production design along the way. Holiday Foritesthrough december 31, various | siff cinema uptown, $15–30
SIFF closes out the year and rings in the next with a trio of seasonal classics. Two are a rare diversion from typical movie-going etiquette: viewers are asked to silence cell phones but not their voices for sing-along viewings of Moulin Rouge! and Fiddler on the Roof.
SAM Filmsdecember 19 and 27, 2–4pm | seattle art museum, free with rsvp
Curated by local film aficionados at Scarecrow Video, the Seattle Art Museum's matinee series builds a bridge between visual artists and cinephiles. This month, two culinary documentaries reel in conjunction with the museum's French Farm to Table exhibition: King Georges on December 19 and Kings of Pastry on December 27.
Five Minutes to Livedecember 31, 7pm | the beacon cinema, $15
If ritzy parties and elaborate dinners aren't your NYE cup of tea, head to Columbia City's cozy independent film house to bid adieu to the year with a new tradition. The cinephiles at The Beacon will show the first five minutes of five different films, then lee it up to audience votes to decide which will continue to reel. It's an exercise in trusting the process, being open to something new, and embracing surprise.
SPECIAL EVENTS
The Seattle Center goes European this winter.
Image: Courtesy Seattle Christmas Market
Seattle Christmas Marketthrough December 24, various | seattle center, $7–70.80
Taking cues from traditional European Christmas markets, Seattle's version brings daily snow showers, a festive carousel, a magical wishing forest, and dozens upon dozens of requisite vendors. Plus, special workshops teach skills in succulent planting, mocktail mixing, and crochet, just in time for holiday gifts with a handmade touch.
Astra Lumina's lights are galaxies beyond Santa's reach.
Image: Courtesy Astra Lumina
Astra Luminathrough december 31, various | seattle chinese garden, $30.90–35.90
It's the least "holiday" of all the light shows this month. The third year of Astra Lumina's residence at the Seattle Chinese Garden won't showcase reindeer or stockings but artful displays of light and sound inspired by the galaxies beyond.
Of all the mystical characters visiting this time of year, Sasquatch might be the most decidedly PNW.
Image: Courtesy Museum of Flight
Solstice with Sasquatchdecember 20, 10am–4pm | the museum of flight, $29
The sky may be its darkest, but the Museum of Flight celebrates the Winter Solstice with plenty of indoor fun: hot chocolate and coffee tastings, interactive crafting, live holiday tunes from the Boeing Orchestra of Flight, a planetarium show, and a visit from a friendly Sasquatch.
Holiday spirits are high aboard the Christmas Ship follow boats.
Image: Courtesy Argosy Cruises
Christmas Ship Grand Finaledecember 23, 2, 5, and 8pm | various, $76
In one of Seattle's most unique holiday traditions, ships adorned with festive lights illuminate Lake Union on special events throughout December; your final chance to catch the spectacle comes on the 23rd. Argosy's Christmas Ship totes carolers around the lake, and ticket holders earn a front-row seat to the action. An all-ages follow boat will he Santa aboard, and onshore viewing at Gas Works Park features a bonfire. READINGS AND LECTUREs Insider Tours: Come From Awaythrough December 20, 6:30pm | bagley wright theater, $45
An add-on to Seattle Rep's Come From Away musical, insider tours peel back the curtain for a backstage peek right before house lights go down. Ticketholders score deep cut insights and cocktails on stage before settling into their seats.
Breaking Barriers: Women in Motorcyclingjanuary 13, 7pm | mohai, free
In conjunction with MOHAI's PNW motorcycling exhibit—think vintage racing machines, technological innovations, and tales from the trail—a panel of speakers visits the museum. They will share firsthand adventure stories, chat about personal fights for inclusion in a male-dominated field, and maybe do some well-deserved bragging about racing achievements.
On sale now Follow the Yellow Brick Road: An Oz Film Festivaljanuary 17–18, 10am–5pm | mopop, $37.50–85
Can't get enough of the Oz universe? MoPop hosts a two-day spree of film screenings, immersive museum activations like tabletop games, and a panel discussion with filmmaker Alexandre Philippe. Classics—The Wizard of Oz, Wicked—pair with adjacent films like Mulholland Drive and The Wiz for a weekend-long movie marathon.
Conan Graymarch 16, 8pm | climate pledge arena, $62.25–350.45
Singer-songwriter Conan Gray is, above all else, an artist with impeccable taste. From penning each of his songs to creative directing his entire musical project, his deeply raw ethos seeps through all. Hits like "Heather," "Bourgeoisieses," and "Vodka Cranberry" he led him to sell out stadiums nationwide; a tour in support of his fourth album makes a Climate Pledge stop in March.