10 Things to Do in Seattle in December
Seattle is an ideal destination for a very American winter. If you're visiting on your next holiday, be prepared for festivals, parades and shows.
Seattle in December | ©David French
Seattle is reminiscent of American Christmas stories: deep forests with snow, houses built of wood and a climate that will make you savour a cup of coffee even better. But at the same time, it's a very modern city that has inspired artistic movements and new technologies.
The combination of both modernity and history makes the list of things to see and do in Seattle a long one. In December, the weather is cold and rainy, which reduces the number of tourists, but that's no reason to miss out on the city's charms. Plan your visit to this city and experience a different kind of Christmas.
1. Attend the Winter Festival at Seattle Center
During the holiday season, Seattle dresses up and holds festivals such as Winterfest, a popular** celebration among locals and visitors to the city that takes place at the Seattle Center.
The Seattle Center is a huge cultural complex renowned for housing museums such as the Museum of Pop Culture, the Chihuly Garden and Glass and iconic attractions such as the Space Needle, all included in the Seattle City Pass, as well as hosting various sporting and artistic events.
In a perfectly decorated and illuminated setting, at the festival you can enjoy:
- Concerts with carolers and dance performances.
- Christmas traditions activities to do with children in Seattle.
- A miniature antique train display.
- A live ice carving demonstration.
Practical information
- Where: the festival takes place at the Seattle Center on Harrison Street.
- Price: depends on the activity, although many are free.
- When: usually throughout the month of December
2. Welcome the New Year in a great city
New Year's Eve is one of the most anticipated dates in virtually every culture, and Seattle is no exception. The party takes to the streets and other public spaces from the early hours of the last day of the year, with the outside of the Seattle Center being one of the most visited areas.
One of the most anticipated events at the Seattle Center is the Space Needle fireworks display. It's an illuminated, colourful explosion displayed around the iconic tower that has already becomethe most famous in the Pacific Northwest.
While you can watch the show from various locations around the city, a good plan might be to book tickets to the Space Needle, see the space, take in the panoramic view and then find a good spot to enjoy the fireworks.
Practical information
- Where: The fireworks are great to watch from the Seattle Center and other parts of the city such as Lake Union Park.
- Price: free
- When: December 31, New Year's Eve
3. Try something delicious at Pike Place Market
One of the places that most captures the cultural essence of Seattle is Pike Place Market. An iconic market opened in 1907 and is an important commercial and cultural exchange space in the city.
Pike Place Market welcomes thousands of shoppers daily but is also an attraction for tourists and at Christmas time it has even more charm with its beautiful decorations, carolers and a large number of artisans offering unique creations.
Discovering the best of the 600 food stalls at Pike Place Market can be a challenge, unless you book a food tour where a professional chef will guide you through the top 10 stalls to sample their exquisite products and give you a totally personalised experience. Great food!
Practical information
- Where: Pike Place Market, 85 Pike St, Seattle
- Price: Admission to the market is free. The tour, which includes a guide and tastings, costs 60 euros.
- When: All year round
4. Go to your favourite team's match
If you're a fan of American football or ice hockey, you're in luck, because in Seattle you'll be able to watch games of these sports, which are more of a minority sport in other countries.
Booking tickets for the Seattle Kraken if you're travelling to the city in winter is a great idea, because as well as enjoying an ice hockey match, you'll stay warm at the Climate Pledge Arena and you can even enjoy dinner (most games are at 19:00) with hamburgers, nachos or pizzas at one of their marketplaces.
If American football is more your thing, be sure to book tickets for the Seattle Seahawks. This team (which, by the way, is one of the few to have played official games in both the National Football Conference and the American Football Conference) plays its home games at Lumen Field, a multi-purpose venue with a capacity for almost 70,000 spectators.
Practical information
- Where: Climate Pledge Arena is located at 334 1st Ave N. Lumen Field is at 800 Occidental Ave S.
- Price: varies depending on the game, the seat you choose and how far in advance you book your tickets, as prices can increase as the date of the game gets closer.
- When: The Seattle Kraken play official games between October and April. The Seattle Seahawks play regular season games between September and January.
5. Visit the Chihuly Garden and Glass
The Chihuly Garden and Glass is a museum dedicated to the American sculptor Dale Chihuly, famous for his works in blown glass. The museum exhibits beautiful works of this artist where colour and light are the protagonists.
On your visit to Seattle, you can't miss out on booking tickets for the Chihuly Garden and Glass, as its eight galleries, beautiful garden and glass house will leave you speechless.
The museum also organises a celebration on 31 December to welcome in the new year. The programme varies, but usually includes live music, a tour of the facilities and a toast in the presence of a surprise celebrity.
Practical information
- Where: located on Harrison St
- Price: Combined ticket with access to the Space Needle costs 60 euros and saves money.
- Hours: Generally 9am-5pm, but may vary.
6. Tour Woodland Park Zoo by day and by night
Getting tickets to tour Woodland Park Zoo is a must any time of year, but you may be surprised to learn that it's even more special if you visit Seattle during the winter:
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Changes in the weather lead species to modify their behaviour or even their anatomy (fur, horns, colours, etc).
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WildLanterns, an exhibition of large sculptures of animals from different regions of the world that are illuminated at dusk, takes place during the night. It is an event that will fascinate especially the youngest visitors.
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In December, different parts of the zoo are illuminated at dusk, creating a warm, Christmas-like atmosphere. While many animals are sheltered, some special exhibits with nocturnal species are opened.
The zoo, which is world-renowned for its high standards of animal care, educational programmes and conservation programmes, is home to some 300 species, including penguins, lemurs and snow leopards.
Practical information
- Where: Woodland Park Zoo. 5500 Phinney Ave N
- Price: Zoo admission from 18 euros (children up to 12 years) and 28 euros (adults). For the WildLanterns: from €25.95 (children, up to 12 years) and €29.95 (adults).
- When: the WildLanterns event takes place between November and January.
7. Space Needle without the crowds? Now is the time
If you're visiting Seattle, one of the first images you'll probably have in mind is the Space Needle. Yes, Seattle's iconic, futuristic-looking observation tower is one of the city's most visited landmarks.
In December there aren't as many tourists in Seattle, so it's more than likely that you'll be able to visit the Space Needle without too many crowds.
I recommend you book a ticket to the Space Needle, take the lift to the top (no less than 158 metres) and enjoy the 360-degree panoramic view from the observation deck. At this time of year, the Christmas lights and decorations will make the views even more special. And afterwards, if you feel like it, you can enjoy a nice dinner in the restaurant located in the tower. It's nice, isn't it?
Practical information
- Where: 400 Broad St
- Price: Combined ticket costs 60 euros
- When: 10:00 to 20:30 weekdays and 09:00 to 21:30 weekends
8. Learn about the history of the city from the depths
One of the most significant events in Seattle's history was a major fire in 1889 that almost completely destroyed the city's original neighbourhood but had beneficial consequences.
The city was built at sea level and suffered from continuous flooding. Reconstruction after the fire was carried out several metres above the ancient remains, thus forming a system of passages under the refurbished neighbourhood.
Today, it has become a tourist attraction that you can experience by booking a historic underground tour of Seattle in December.
Practical information
- Where: Departure is at 102 Cherry St.
- Price: 28 euros
- When: The tour lasts one hour and the tour starts at 10:30am and ends at 4:30pm.
9. Tour the city on a guided bus tour
A very convenient way to get around Seattle, especially when the weather is cold or the rain doesn't let up, is to take advantage of the city's tour buses.
You can hop on and off as many times as you like, so you can also use this means of transport to get around the city comfortably between attractions.
You can choose from different types of tours aboard comfortable buses to take you on a tour of the city, which will take you to the monuments, neighbourhoods and parks that make up the soul of the city. A good way to rest your legs and keep out the cold in December!
Practical information
- Where: you can get on and off at any of the bus stops.
- Price: from 59 euros
- When: you can choose a one-day or two-day ticket.
10. Come to the Snowflake Lane Festival
Snowflake Lane is an annual festival where you can enjoy a traditional American Christmas parade : festive music, characters from Christmas stories waving from spectacular floats, thousands of lights framing the scene and, of course, snow drifting in the fresh seasonal wind.
The circuit runs along Bellevue Way, in the area between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square in the centre of downtown, and is usually very busy. In fact, the closer you get to December 24th, the bigger the crowds get, so if you have the opportunity, I recommend you make your visit during the first two weeks of December and, in any case, try to arrive well in advance to secure a space with good visibility.
This celebration is organised by The Bellevue Collection, a famous shopping centre in this region of Washington, which usually offers many promotions during the festival.
Practical information
- Where: The festival takes place at 227 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue, WA 98004.
- Price: Free
- When: Every day from the last week of November through Christmas Eve
Visiting Seattle in December: weather and tourism information to consider
With an average high temperature of 6.5°C and about half the days raining, December is Seattle's coldest, but also rainiest month of the year. So from the start you should know that you'll need room in your suitcase for plenty of warm clothes and a mackintosh.
But don't worry! Despite the weather, the city is still awake and with plenty to offer in the run-up to Christmas and New Year and, better still, without the crowds of the previous months.