Photo:
Don't miss all the holiday sparkle lighting up dark nights. Photo: iStock
Santa’s gift bag is overflowing with so many enticing free things to do around Seattle this month! I am offering up festive activities aplenty for you and your family to enjoy, from lighted boat and tree displays to ice-skating and a way to celebrate the solstice. With so much going on, it won’t be hard to keep the kids active, engaged and immersed in all types of seasonal fun.
Note: Some activities require preregistration and can fill up quickly.
1. Winter Word Scramble
Date: Dec. 1–15
Embark on a self-guided outdoor scavenger hunt at Chambers Regional Park in University Place, locating scrambled winter-themed words along the trail. Unscramble them all for a special prize!
2. Holiday Light Displays
Date and time: All month, varying by location
Our region is lit up! Meander outside and take in all the free holiday light displays all month long. You can find twinkly delights lighting up the night sky in Renton, Bothell, Redmond, and Tulalip, to name a few.
3. Juanita Bay Park Bird Walk
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7:50–10:30 a.m.
Early birds, bring your binoculars to this 110-acre park for a guided bird walk and see what interesting and rare fliers turn up during this all-ages bird walk.
4. Caroling at the Depot
Date and time: Thursday, Dec. 4, 6–7:30 p.m.
Nothing brings on holiday cheer quite like caroling with friends and neighbors. Join an Issaquah tradition and sing along to a slew of holiday classics at the Depot Museum. Don your best Santa hat, bring a tambourine or ukulele (or just yourselves!), and get ready for a festive treat.
5. Winterfest Movie Night
Date and time: Fridays, Dec. 5, 12 and 26, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Cozy up with the fam and enjoy classic holiday flicks on select Friday evenings at the Seattle Center Armory. Food merchants will even throw in some free snacks and beverages to make the evening complete.
6. Tree Lighting Ceremonies
Date and time: Saturday, Dec. 6, times vary by location
Watch in wonder as trees are lit up with strands and strands of colorful lights, kicking off the holiday season at ceremonies across the region. Many are accompanied by a parade, an appearance by Santa and lots of cheer.
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7. Hands On Hanukkah at Redmond Lights
Date and time: Saturday, Dec. 6, 4–8 p.m.
Head to Redmond Downtown Park for the Redmond Lights kick-off event and enjoy Hands On Hanukkah activities as part of the festivities. Spin the dreidel and craft a toy menorah while you enjoy the enchanting lights, art installations and other exciting opening night happenings.
8. Cookie Walk in Downtown Marysville
Date and time: Sunday, Dec. 7, noon–4 p.m.
Turn up in downtown Marysville to snag a cookie bag and visit participating businesses to fill your bag with a cookie. What a sweet way to explore the town! Supplies are limited.
9. Swansons Nursery Model Train and Holiday Décor
Date: Daily through early January
The holiday model train at Seattle’s Swansons Nursery had arrived! This year’s display features favorite characters like Shrek and Yoshi making merry mischief in the magical setting. While you’re there, take in thousands of twinkling lights all around the nursery, enjoy live music and check out Santa’s yurt.
10. Teddy Bear Suite
Date and time: Daily through Dec. 25, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Get out of the house and admire cute and cuddly stuffies at the beloved annual Teddy Bear Suite at Seattle’s Fairmont Hotel. Guaranteed to give you the warm and fuzzies.
11. Hometown Holiday Carousel
Date: Daily, Dec. 5–14
Pick a horse and hop on for a spin on the holiday carousel set up in Arlington’s Legion Park as part of the City’s Hometown Holidays celebration. Sensory-friendly rides with no music are available from 11 a.m.–noon on Sundays.
12. Sounds of the Season at Pioneer Park
Date and time: Thursdays, Dec. 4–18, 2–4 p.m.
Stop by Pioneer Park in Seattle for a dose of holiday cheer provided by live holiday music performances from classic carols to smooth jazz.
13. Parade of Boats Onshore Viewing Party
Date and time: Friday, Dec. 12, 7:30–9:30 p.m.
If you look forward to spotting a twinkling, fully decked-out Christmas ship around the Sound at this time of year like I do, you and your family won’t want to miss the Parade of Boats official onshore viewing party at Evanston Plaza in the Fremont Lake Union Center, where you’ll get to watch the whole fleet go by.
14. La Posada at the Highline Heritage Museum
Date and time: Saturday, Dec. 13, 5–8 p.m.
Join the procession, sample sweet and savory treats, and play lotería at a free community fest celebrating La Posada at the Highline Heritage Museum in Burien. You can also expect craft-making and live performances so bring the whole fam!
15. Winterfest Armory Stage Entertainment
Date and time: Saturday–Sunday through Dec. 28, showtimes vary
Comedy, carols and circus acrobatics are just a few of the types of holiday entertainment you will find at Seattle Center’s Armory stage this season. And while you’re there, be sure to check out the Winterfest train and village.
16. Deck the Boughs
Date and time: Daily through Dec. 31, 6 a.m.–dusk
Visit Evergreen Arboretum in the daylight to see the debut of this holiday display replacing Wintertide Lights. As you stroll the gardens, you’ll see ornaments and other décor handcrafted by members of the community adorning trees and greenery.
17. Holiday Ice-Skating Rink in Occidental Square
Date and time: Daily, Dec. 13–21, noon–6 p.m.
Occidental Square Park’s seasonal pop-up ice-skating rink is back this year for sliding and gliding — skates are even available to borrow for free! Expect extra festivities on Friday, Dec. 19, when the Holiday Trading Post with more than 40 local makers will be open for business.
18. Gingerbread Village
Date: Daily through Jan. 1
Stop by the lobby of the Sheraton Grand Seattle to feast your eyes on elaborate (and sweet!) masterpieces of gingerbread and candy at the annual Gingerbread Village. Viewing is free, but donations collected benefit juvenile diabetes research.
19. Free Holiday Trolley in Downtown Edmonds
Date and time: Saturdays, Dec. 6–20, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Get around and explore Downtown Edmonds in style on the Holiday Trolley with your guide, Emily the Elf, who will not only spread cheer but share interesting tidbits about the historic seaside town.
20. Sunrise Solstice Walk
Date and time: Sunday, Dec. 21, 7:53–10 a.m.
Get out early on the longest night of the year to welcome the return of the light and longer days ahead. Bundle up for a self-guided solstice walk at dawn through Everett’s Evergreen Arboretum and then warm up with hot cocoa and treats.
21. Snowflake Lane
Date and time: Nightly, through Dec. 24, 7 p.m.
A holiday spectacle not to be missed, stake out your piece of sidewalk near Bellevue Square to watch “snow” falling, toy drummers, dazzling lights, decked-out dancers and a parade of festive floats.
22. Holiday Hooves
Date: Select dates through Dec. 23
It’s 12 days of reindeer at the Port of Everett’s Pacific Rim Plaza, so show up to snap some photos and cavort with Santa’s sleigh crew during their special appearances on select December dates.
23. Festival of Trees at the White River Valley Museum
Date and time: Wednesday–Sunday, through Jan. 4, excluding holidays
Visit Auburn’s White River Valley Museum to view beautifully decorated trees on display with adornments inspired by a holiday song, all designed by local artists. Can you “name that tune”?
24. Winterfest Ice Sculpting
Date and time: Saturdays, Dec. 6–27, noon
Head to the Mural Amphitheatre to witness blocks of ice being transformed into gorgeous sculptures by expert carvers during Seattle Center’s Winterfest.
25. New Year’s Eve at Depot Park
Date and time: Wednesday, Dec. 31, 7–9 p.m.
Bid a fond farewell to 2025 a little early, family-style, with s’mores by a fire, hot chocolate, music and a toast at 9 p.m. and get the kids to bed at a reasonable hour. The celebration takes place at Duvall’s Depot Park.
More free activities for Seattle-area families: |
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in February 2024, and was most recently updated on Nov. 25, 2025, to include 25 new, exciting free things to do in Seattle in December for families by ParentMap’s calendar editor, Julie Dodobara. Event dates, times and locations were cross-checked and verified by our editor.
