This is the year to brighten your holidays by starting a new tradition. My suggestion is to add a new One Day Vacation to your December agenda. Here are twelve suggestions:
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – This children’s classic features the Herdmans: a troop of unruly kids who take over the Christmas pageant because they heard there’d be snacks. You won’t want to miss this funny and touching twist on a traditional holiday story. Dec 12, 13, 3:00 and 7:00 pm Black Box Theater at South Puget Sound Community College. Tickets $8 – 15. http://www.washingtoncenter.org/ 360-753-8586
Argosy Christmas Ship™ Festival – A Northwest favorite for 60 years, this flotilla of ships decorated for the season can be seen each night between November 28 and December 23rd. You can choose to buy a seat on the Christmas Ship, decorate your own boat and join the procession, or join the spectators around the bonfires on designated beaches. Each night a different local choir will provide a 20-minute performance on the Christmas Ship. To make a reservation on the Christmas ship or to follow with your boat call 206-622-8687. http://www.argosycruises.com/themecruises/xmasSchedule.cfm#09schedule
Reindeer Festival – This annual event at the Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah offers daytime fun for the kids. They can visit with Santa, see his reindeer team, drop a letter to Santa in his personal mailbox, hear a story from an elf, watch candy cane makers, enjoy hot drinks and snacks, get their face painted and donate to Toys for Tots.
Festival runs December 1 – 23rd 10:00 am – 4:30 pm and December 26th – 30th 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Admission ranges from $9.50 – $11.50. http://www.cougarmountainzoo.org/
Candlelight Victorian Home Tour On Friday, December 11 from 5:00 – 10:00 pm, ten homes in Puyallup plus the Meeker Mansion will open their doors for a southern-style parlor tour. Cost: $10 per person.
Call the mansion for details (253) 848-1770 or http://www.meekermansion.org
Santa Train 2009 – For 45 years this authentic, open-air logging train has been taking riders into the forest at the Camp 6 Logging Museum in Point Defiance Park. The train stops at a platform in the woods and picks up a sparkly, jolly St. Nick who visits with each child and delivers candy canes and good wishes to everyone on board. Dress warm and come early for this one. December 5-6, 12-13, 19-20
Train runs every 30-minutes between 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Tickets are $1. Riders under 3 or over 99 ride for free. http://www.camp-6-museum.org/c6.html
Black Nativity – This Seattle holiday classic features the poetry of Langston Hughes, exquisite dancers, the voices of Pastor Patrinell Wright and her choir of gospel singers. and a foot-stompin’ live band. Come prepared to be on your feet singing, clapping and cheering. Dec 1 – 27. Tickets $15 - $45. http://www.intiman.org/
Teddy Bear Suite - The Fairmont Olympic Hotel’s Teddy Bear Suite features more than 130 stuffed bears, bear-themed children's books and photo opportunities. The hotel also features chestnut roasting Dec. 4, 11, and 18, and the 31st Annual Festival of Trees, Nov. 22 - Dec. 3. Teddy Bear Suite: Nov. 23 - Dec. 26, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
University St. between 4th Ave. and 5th Ave. http://www.downtownholidays.com/
Gingerbread Villages – There are at least three great places to see architectural and culinary collaboration rendered in gingerbread this season.
Sheraton Seattle Hotel
Seattle's top architectural firms partner with the Sheraton's culinary staff to design, bake and build gingerbread displays for the 17th annual Gingerbread Village.
Nov. 24 - Jan. 3; free admission.
6th Ave. between Pike St. and Union St.
http://www.downtownholidays.com/
Theo’s Chocolates
Logan's Hammer, a Fremont architecture company, has teamed with other Seattle architects to build, bake and create incredible gingerbread houses. This display is all for a good cause, as the house with the winning vote gives the creators $1,000 to give to the charity of their choice!
December 5 – 17; free admission.
3400 Phinney Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98103
http://www.theochocolate.com/
Tacoma Art Museum
Celebrating Tacoma Landmarks: Past and Present. The gingerbread village will feature six amazing displays created by local designers, students, and artists from Affairs Chocolate & Desserts, BCRA, Bellarmine Preparatory School, Jonz Catering, Korsmo Construction, and local ceramic artist Stephanie Reidener.
December 2 – 13, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm; free with museum admission.
http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org/
Snowflake Lane – Each night at 7:00 pm, snow falls on Bellevue Way while a parade of toy soldiers, musicians, and winter characters perform on the sidewalks. This is 15-minutes of Christmas as you’ve always imagined it.
November 27 – December 24
http://www.magicseason.com/
Confection Workshop - Spend the day with a Theo chocolatier participating in a hands-on confection making class. You will learn "behind the scenes" techniques for making ganache, tempering chocolate, and putting the finishing touches on confections. Best of all, you will walk away with your own chocolate creations for holiday gifts or just for fun. All materials are included. Space is limited.
Saturday, December 12th 2:00 – 5:00 pm
$125 per person (+tax), reservations are required.
Due to popular demand 7 days advance notice is required to cancel.
http://www.theochocolate.com/
3400 Phinney Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98103 | 206 632.5100 phone | Tours daily $6
Candy Cane Lane – Since 1949, this Seattle neighborhood has picked a theme each year and decorated elaborately with lights, music, and robotic figures. One of the rules of participation is that the decorations must be made, not found in a store. The homes look like gingerbread houses on their own, the added lights and features turn this historic block into a winter wonderland. Dress warm and come ready to walk. Free.
Northeast Park Road, off Ravenna Boulevard
Seattle, WA 98105
Saturday, December 12, 2009 - Saturday, January 2, 2010
A Cathedral Christmas – If you are looking for a sacred observance of the season, consider this collaboration between the Bells of the Sound handbell ensemble and the Seattle Choral Company.
Friday, December 11, 2009 at 8 PM
Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 8 PM
St. Mark's Cathedral
1245 Tenth Avenue E
Seattle, WA
Tickets: (206) 363-1100 or tickets@seattlechoralcompany.org or http://www.bellsofthesound.org/
