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Published December 3, 2021
Top 10 Holiday Activities Between Arlington & Seattle
After a frustrating year of covid cancellations of the majority of holiday events last year, these exciting attractions have officially reopened for the holiday season to spark excitement into your life!
1. Leavenworth Christmas Tree Lighting
Hard to top a trip to a whimsical little German mountain-town adorned in Christmas decor in December! From sleigh rides, to sledding down the Front Street Park, to watching the nightly Christmas tree lighting festival, to enjoying live music performances in the gazebo downtown, to just simply strolling the streets and admiring the decor with the mountains towering over the city off yonder, this is your slam-dunk go-to for soul-warming holiday experiences in our area!
2. Snowflake Lane
Imagine a smaller-scale Bellevue version of the Macy's Parade. Located between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square from NE 4th to NE 8th Streets, experience the wonder of falling snow, dazzling lights, festive music, toy drummers, and dancers in this complimentary nightly parade of holiday floats!
3. SantaCon
SantaCon is an annual mass gathering of people dressed in Santa Claus costumes Saturday & Sunday, the 11th & 12th of December. The annual event starts in Westlake Center, and gradually works its way through downtown throughout the weekend beginning each day at noon. Expect live entertainment, drink specials, a costume contest, professional photographers, and all the Christmas cheer!
4. Zoolights & Wild Lanterns
After being a huge hit in its inaugural season last year, the life-size animals in the form of lanterns has returned for 2021. Come check out the zoo lights as well as the 3-dimensional illuminated animals from 4-8:30pm through January 30th!
5. Winterfest at the Seattle Center
Winterfest entails live performances, Christmas lights galore around and atop the Space Needle, water fountain, and surrounding buildings, cute Christmassy model railroad displays, and an ice sculpting workshop! The timing of the events vary from 10am-8pm daily until the new year!
6. Pacific Ice Skating
This newly opened 60X30 ft skating rink in downtown Everett makes its debut this holiday season. Skate around the brand new rink as you enjoy views of a Christmas-dressed Everett Marina and the Puget Sound. $15 gets you a two-hour session and skates ($12 for kids). Operation is 10am-8pm through the remainder of the year!
7. Christmas Ship Festival
See the ship sailing around the region adorned with hundreds of shimmery white lights. A choir of carolers will perform for passengers on board, and their performance will be broadcast tho those at select on-shore venues and those following in other Argosy Cruise Boats. Operating is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights leading up to Christmas, and tickets vary from $37-$57, depending on the age of the rider.
8. Arlington Lights of Christmas Holiday Festival
Enjoy a holiday market, Santa parade, visits with Santa, wagon rides, a carousel, cocoa and crafts, ponies, Christmas movies, a charm walk, songs & cider, a Christmas Show performed by Arlington High School, and of course all the Christmas lights. Events are spread out between the first two Saturdays in December throughout downtown Arlington and Legion Park.
9. Holiday Train Rides
The Victorian Santa Train offers an opportunity to ride from the decorated depot in North Bend to the Snoqualmie depot and back for a Santa visit, music, and refreshments in downtown Snohomish. Tickets are $27, except for children under 2 years old, which are free. The Polar Express is another option and is a 90-minute ride from the Mt. Rainier Railroad and Logging Museum in Elbe, where State Route 7 crosses the Nisqually River and goes to the North Pole to pick up Santa. Pricing can vary from $27-$75.
10. RESG Toy Drive
Get into the spirit of giving and allow families in need to have a little Christmas cheer in the Marysville area during what is a very difficult and trying time for those in need. We are collecting unwrapped toys for children of all ages at Kohl's on 116th in Marysville, Saturday & Sunday, December 11th-12th, from 11am-6pm.
