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2024 Holiday Happenings Around the Sound
OK, who is ready to beat the gloom? Below are some Seattle-area holiday favorites to help brighten your spirits. You can bundle up and bask in breathtaking outdoor light shows, or just relax and enjoy from the comfort of a cruise ship or theater seat…
Winterfest at Seattle Center
305 Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109
www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest
- Dates/Times: Nov. 29, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2024. Holiday lighting up Nov. 21 – Dec. 31; ice sculpting Nov. 29, 12-3 pm; Winterfest train & village open daily Nov. 29 – Dec. 31 | 10 am – 6 pm; Seattle Christmas Market open Nov. 21 – Dec. 23.
- Cost: General admission is free for all ages; Seattle Christmas Market is $16-$20 for adults (buy tickets)
- Parking: Paid parking available at the Mercer Garage, 5th Ave N Garage, and Theatre Commons ADA Lot. Click here for the campus map.
- Food: A multitude of dining options await you in the Armory.
- Special Events: Opening Day Celebration, live stage entertainment at the Armory, the Winter Train & Village, New Year’s Eve Celebration Dec. 31 from 8pm-12 Midnight, and more!
- Holiday Closure: Christmas day
Photo by Nitish Meena on Unsplash
Enchant at T-Mobile Park
1250 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134
https://enchantchristmas.com
click here to get tickets
- Dates/Times: 11/22/24 – 12/29/24 | See full schedule here
- Cost: $27 – $46 per adult (youth, senior & military discounts; ages 3 and under are free) | Packages, upgrades & suites available
- Promotions: 10% discount for groups of 10+
- Parking: Reserve parking in the Mariners Garage or check out the city’s Interactive Parking Map
- Food: Seasonal food and treat concessions throughout
- Activities: Ice skating trail, light maze, children’s play place, nightly caroling, visits with Santa, live entertainment, shopping village
- Closures: Most Mondays, 11/26, 11/28, & 12/6
The Nutcracker by Pacific Northwest Ballet
McCaw Hall | 321 Mercer St, Seattle
pnb.org/nutcracker/
click here to get tickets
- Dates: November 29 – December 28, 2024
- Cost: $29-$228 per seat
- Parking: Mercer Street Garage or Other Nearby Parking
- Food: Beverages and snacks are available for purchase
Garden d’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden
12001 Main Street, Bellevue WA 98005
http://gardendlights.org
click here to get tickets (must be purchased online)
- Dates/Times: Open nightly Nov. 30, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2024 | 4:30 – 9:00 pm
- Cost: $8 per person (ages 10 and under are free)
- Promotions: Discounted $5 ticket nights Dec. 2-5 and 9-12.
- Parking: Premium parking is $5 per car in the Garden’s lot as space allows OR park for free at Wilburton Hill Park
- Food: Hot drinks and snacks are available for purchase (outside food/beverages not allowed)
- Holiday Closures: Christmas day
Snowflake Lane at the Bellevue Collection
Bellevue Way & NE 8th Street, Bellevue WA 98004
http://snowflakelane.com/
- Dates/Times: Nightly Nov. 29, 2024 – Dec. 24, 2024 | 20 minute show starts at 7 pm
- Cost: Free for all ages
- Parking: Free parking at Bellevue Square, Bellevue Place and Lincoln Square
- Food: A variety of dining options (from happy hour, to kid fare, to gourmet) are all within walking distance
- Special Events & Activities: Ice Skating, Santa Photos
Photo by Adobe Stock
Christmas Ship Festival
Launch locations include Seattle Waterfront – Pier 55, Shilshole Bay Marina, Hyatt Regency Lake Washington, Lake Union Park (MOHAI), AGC Marina, Carillon Point Marina, and Kirkland City Dock.
www.argosycruises.com
click here to get tickets
- Dates/Times: Click here for the full schedule
- Cost: $49 – $76 per adult (discounts for youth & seniors, kids 3 and under are free)
- Parking: Varies by location – click here for details
- Food: Snacks and drinks available for purchase on the ship. Outside food/drinks are not allowed.
- Special Events: Opening Night, Parade of Boats, Grand Finale
Westlake Center Tree Lighting & Holiday Activities
401 Pine St., Seattle, WA 98101 (Westlake Park)
https://downtownseattle.org/events/holidays/
https://downtownseattle.org/events/holidays
- Tree Lighting Celebration: Nov. 29, 2024 from 12:00-5:30 pm in Westlake Park (tree lighting is at 5pm).
- Wintry Weekend with Ice Skating Rink: Dec. 13-15, 2024 from 12:00-6:00 pm in Occidental Square with a holiday trading post on Friday and Saturday, and visit from the Kraken’s Buoy the Troll on Sunday at noon.
- Cost: Free for all ages
- Parking: Access the Republic Parking garage from Olive Way between 4th & 5th Ave, or check out this interactive map of city parking
Photo by Lokesh Singh Masania on Unsplash
Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407
www.pdza.org/event/zoolights
click here to get tickets
- Dates/Times: Open nightly Nov. 29, 2024 – Jan. 5, 2025 | 4:30 – 10 pm
- Cost: $14-$20 (free for kids 2 & under)
- Promotions: Discounted tickets for zoo members
- Parking: Free parking in zoo lots (carpooling recommended)
- Food: Dinner, drinks & snacks are available at the Plaza Cafe & outside stands. Try the new fried apple cinnamon fries or a hot cocoa float.
- Activities: Carousel, Groovy Goats in Holiday Coats
- Holiday Closures: Christmas Eve & Christmas day
WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo
West Entrance: 5500 Phinney Ave. N, Seattle, WA 98103
South Entrance: 750 N 50th St, Seattle, WA 98103
www.zoo.org/wildlanterns
Click here to get tickets | Map
- Dates/Times: Open nightly Nov. 15, 2024 – Jan. 19, 2025 | 4:00 – 9:00 pm.
- Cost: $29.95 – $33.95 per person (ages 2 & under are free).
- Promotions: Zoo members get 20% off tickets; 40% off general zoo admission when you buy a WildLanterns ticket; Holiday Senior Stroll on Nov. 19 & Dec, 3 from 4-7 pm with 40% off for ages 65+
- Parking: $7 parking is available in all lots after 3:30 pm (here is a map). If you bought your tickets online, the South Gate (Hippo Lot) is reserved just for those who already have tickets. If you’re planning to purchase tickets in person, park by the West Entrance (Penguin, Otter, or Bear Lot).
- Food: Dining options available in the zoo, including The Frosted Glass 21+ space. You are also welcome to bring your own food & non-alcoholic beverages.
- Special Activities: Night Owls 21+ events; Private Snow Globes; Live performances in the PACCAR Auditorium; Zoomazium; ZooStore; Carousel; Sensory-Friendly Nights on 11/20, 12/11 & 1/9.
- Closures: Closed Mondays (except for Dec. 16, 23 & 30); Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas day and New Year’s eve.
Photo by Adobe Stock
But wait, there’s more…
Holiday theatrical & musical shows
“A Christmas Carol” at ACT Theatre
“Wonderland: A Carnival of Winter Wonder” at the Can Can
The Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition
The Polar Express train ride at Mt. Rainier Railroad
Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton Grand Seattle
Santa Limited Train in North Bend
Festival of Trees & Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont Olympic
Gingerbread Village at Sheraton Grand Seattle
We earn the trust and loyalty of our brokers and clients by doing real estate exceptionally well. The leader in our market, we deliver client-focused service in an authentic, collaborative, and transparent manner and with the unmatched knowledge and expertise that comes from decades of experience.
© Copyright 2024, Windermere Real Estate/Mercer Island.
Which Documents Should You Shred, and When?
As the spring cleaning bug hits, many of us will finally be tackling those stacks of paperwork that have been piling up throughout the year. It’s tempting to chuck it all in the recycle bin and be done with it. However, did you know that it’s actually legal for someone to dig through your trash/recycling once it hits the curb? What’s more, seemingly innocuous documents—like junk mail—can actually contain sensitive info to help someone steal your identity. Scroll down for our list of what you should shred and when (pssst…you can bring it all to our free shredding event happening on Saturday, April 20th, 2024 from 9am-2pm!).
Shred Immediately
- Expired IDs & records: passports, driver’s licenses, old insurance cards, identification cards/badges, etc.
- Utility and credit card bills that have been paid
- Receipts not needed for tax deductions or warranties
- ATM receipts
- Resumes that are no longer needed
- Junk mail credit card offers
- Address labels from junk mail and magazines
- Any unneeded documents containing your address, signature, social security number, PIN, passwords, account numbers, medical records, or other sensitive/private information you wouldn’t want publicly shared
Shred Within a Year
- Paycheck stubs, once you’ve confirmed the info matches your W-2
- Bank statements
- Monthly/quarterly retirement statements (keep annual summaries until you retire or close the account)
- Medical bills that have been paid
Shred After 6 Years
- Records from home or condo sales
Shred After 7 Years
- Tax returns
- W-2 and 1099 forms
- Mortgage interest statements
- Property tax records
- Statements, cancelled checks, and receipts used as documentation for tax deductions
Do NOT Shred – But Do Store Securely
Keep these items indefinitely in a locked filing cabinet/room, safe, or safe deposit box:
- Social Security cards
- Birth certificates
- Adoption papers
- Current passports or citizenship documentation
- Marriage and divorce records
- Death certificates of family members
- Deeds & titles for property/automobiles for as long as you own them
While these tips are helpful, they can’t replace the advice of a tax professional. Consult an expert if you have questions.
We earn the trust and loyalty of our brokers and clients by doing real estate exceptionally well. The leader in our market, we deliver client-focused service in an authentic, collaborative, and transparent manner and with the unmatched knowledge and expertise that comes from decades of experience.
© Copyright 2023-2024, Windermere Real Estate/Mercer Island.
