10 Free Holiday Outings around Puget Sound
"The holidays can be a magical time, when children’s eyes light up at the displays and the pageants and performances. In these recessionary times, they can also get spendy. Here are my 10 favorite absolutely free ongoing events (for one-time events, such as tree lightings and free performances, please see the Seattle’s Child calendar).
- Christmas Ships: It’s a chilly night. Flames from a bonfire leap upward toward the stars. The sounds of familiar carols and songs waft toward us as the lights of the Christmas ship and its accompanying flotilla of yachts are reflected in the dark waters. If you’ve never done this quintessential Northwest outing, don’t miss another year. Bring a thermos of hot chocolate and don’t forget the gloves and warm coats. Stops at 45 waterfront locations from Tacoma to Edmonds; nightly Nov. 26-27, Dec. 1-23, varying hours; www.argosycruises.com for schedule – starred locations have bonfires.
- Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton Hotel: Each year, Seattle architectural companies build these fantastical buildings of sugar and imagination with intricate details to delight the child in all of us. This year’s theme is “Holiday Express” with historic train stations and the North Pole. Bring holiday books or videos to occupy children while they wait in line; afterwards, walk a couple of blocks south along Sixth Avenue and then back on Fifth Avenue to see all of the silver and golden lights in the trees. 1400 Sixth Ave., downtown Seattle; daily Nov. 22 - Jan 1, 24 hours a day; www.downtownholidays.com.
- Indoor Snowfalls at Pacific Place: You can come in from the cold and take a break from shopping by stepping into the flurry of thousands of “snowflakes” falling five stories inside the shopping center. Sixth Avenue and Pine Street, downtown Seattle; Nov. 25 - Dec. 31, nightly, 6 p.m. Free holiday entertainment, from traditional carols to jazz to world music, is offered in the atrium Friday through Sunday Nov. 25 - Dec. 18 and daily Dec. 19-24, noon to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.; www.pacificplaceseattle.com.
- Winterfest at Seattle Center: Who can resist the choo-choo trains puffing through those carefully crafted buildings and miniature hills and forests on the Center House floor? Dickens Carolers in full costume stroll around the Center grounds, and young performers from more than 100 local schools and youth groups perform on the stage. 305 Harrison St., Seattle; daily Nov. 25 - Dec. 31; Center House is open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Watch internationally-known ice sculptors carve outside the Fisher Pavilion Saturdays, noon to 2p.m. It’s also free to watch the ice skaters inside the pavilion ($2-$7 to skate, including rentals); www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest.
- Candy Cane Lane in the Ravenna Neighborhood: Neighbors on this quaint, looping street have been decorating for the holidays since 1950. Drive – or, for more fun, stroll – along the street, starting with the familiar mechanical carousel in the traffic circle. Santa may be there on weekends, handing out candy canes. See how many “peace” signs in various languages you can see on the front lawns of many of the houses. N.E. Park Road, off 20th Avenue N.E. and Ravenna Boulevard., Seattle; nightly mid-December through the end of month, 4 to 11.p.m.
- Snowflake Lane in downtown Bellevue: Sixty drummer boys and girls in red stand stock still on giant drum pedestals. Then the drummers dismount and march down the street playing, as throngs of us on the sidewalk join the carolers accompanying them. Lights move in dizzying snow patterns, confetti falls, and it feels like Mardi Gras with mittens. If kids need to work off some energy, visit the recently-remodeled huge enclosed play area on the top floor of Bellevue Square. Bellevue Way and N.E. 8th Street, Bellevue; nightly Nov. 25 - Dec. 24, 7 p.m.; Celebration Lane New Year’s show Dec. 26-31, 7 p.m.; www.magicseason.com.
- Garden d’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden: Every year this mind-boggling, walk-through display of lights includes more – critters as well as fantastical flowers. This year, the extended walk passes a river of lights and four waterfalls. Can your children find: a frog, a spider, a pulsing jellyfish, a huge slug, a peacock, an octopus and the new “Snap d’Dragon”? 124th Avenue N.E. and Main Street, east of downtown Bellevue; Nov. 26 - Dec. 31; free nights are Nov. 28, 29 and 30, Dec. 5, 6, 7, 12, 13 and 14 (other nights it’s $5, children 10 and younger free, 5 to 10 p.m.; www.gardendlights.org.
- Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides at Redmond Town Center: This is a great way to see all of the lights and decorations at this people-friendly shopping center. Loading at N.E. 74th Street and 116th Avenue N.E., downtown Redmond; Friday-Sunday, Nov. 25-27 and Dec. 9-18, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The central plaza (with the fountains and bear sculptures) hosts free performances by local groups Dec. 4-18 at various times. Santa reads Christmas classics at the plaza Tuesdays and Thursdays Nov. 15 - Dec. 15, 11 a.m. Not quite free: $3 Holiday Express train rides Friday through Sunday, Nov. 25 - Dec. 11, except Dec. 9, and daily Dec. 15-24, noon to 8 p.m.; www.redmondtowncenter.com/events.
- Ivar’s Clam Lights at Gene Coulon Park: Most of the other major light shows around the Sound cost something, but this one, with dancing clams and crazily- colored lighted trees, is free. Hot food is available on site at Ivar’s and Kidd Valley. 1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N., Renton; kickoff ceremony with entertainment, Santa’s covered wagon, Christmas ships and parade of boats is Dec. 2; display is open nightly Dec. 3 - Jan. 1, 5 to 9 p.m.; www.ivars.com.
- Nursery Displays: We make an annual holiday trip to Molbak’s Nursery in Woodinville to see the theme trees, thousands of poinsettias and the 14-foot poinsettia tree and eat Danish Kringle pastry. Other great decorated nurseries are Swanson’s in north Seattle (Reindeer Festival features two live reindeer, a camel and a miniature donkey; miniature train runs around the store); Watson’s in Puyallup (two reindeer on site, free piano music); and Wight’s in Lynnwood (31 themed trees, village and nativity set-ups)."
