Last updated: November 11, 2024
Plan your holiday fun in Redmond with our comprehensive guide. Whether you're a Redmond insider or an outsider looking in, this guide reveals the city's holiday heart.
One standout attraction during this festive season is the enchanting Village of Lights, where dazzling displays transform the park into a winter wonderland. Another highlight is the Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker, which captivates audiences with its timeless story and breathtaking choreography. And the Holiday Pops is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring a lively celebration filled with festive music from your favorite seasonal songs. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Redmond Holiday Light Displays
Enchant Christmas Lights Experience
- What to Expect
- Interactive holiday light maze with a captivating original story.
- Description
- Enchant Christmas in Seattle features a world's largest Christmas light maze, ice skating trail, Santa and Mrs. Claus visits, nightly caroling, mainstage entertainment, shopping village, seasonal food and drink, and a children's play place.
- Where
- Seattle | More Info : Enchant Christmas Lights Experience
WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo
- What to Expect
- Immersive holiday light display with interactive zones.
- Description
- Woodland Park Zoo's WildLanterns features over 300 large-scale animal and nature scape lanterns, including interactive zones and themed areas like "Bugs and Blooms" and "Fantastic Folklore Realm."
- Where
- Seattle | More Info : WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo
Zoolights
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
- Description
- Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium transforms into a colorful winter spectacle with over 800,000 LED lights, featuring giant octopuses, sea turtles, and sharks, as well as festive goats in holiday coats. Enjoy hot chocolate, seasonal treats, and a private animal encounter with playful goats.
- Where
- Tacoma | More Info : Zoolights
Redmond Lights
- What to Expect
- Live entertainment and art installations without amplification.
- Description
- Redmond Lights is a month-long celebration of light and art in Downtown Park, featuring art and light installations every night from December 7, 2024, through January 6, 2025.
- Where
- Redmond | More Info : Redmond Lights
Redmond Holiday Markets and Shopping
Giving Marketplace
- What to Expect
- Unique gifts supporting various causes with family-friendly activities.
- Description
- The Giving Marketplace at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center offers unique gifts from dozens of vendors, with proceeds supporting immigrants and refugees, women and girls, global health, education, and the environment. Enjoy family-friendly holiday activities and performances while discovering ways to take action on issues you care about.
- Where
- Seattle | More Info : Giving Marketplace
Winter Festival & Crafts Fair
- What to Expect
- Diverse selection of artisan crafts and community-driven activities.
- Description
- The Winter Festival & Crafts Fair at Phinney Center in Seattle features over 140 local artisans showcasing a diverse selection of specialty goods, including stunning jewelry, unique pottery, and home goods. This event is more than just shopping; it’s about building connections and fostering community while supporting local nonprofit initiatives.
- Where
- Seattle | More Info : Winter Festival & Crafts Fair
Redmond Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker
- What to Expect
- World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
- Description
- Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker is a classic ballet featuring Tchaikovsky's iconic score, stunning costumes, and impressive performances. The production includes a picture-perfect lobby and intricate scenery, making it a standout holiday event.
- Where
- Seattle | More Info : Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker
Holiday Pops
- What to Expect
- Powerhouse pianist Chloe Flower joins the Seattle Symphony for a holiday concert.
- Description
- Join the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall for a dazzling holiday concert featuring pianist Chloe Flower. This special program promises an unforgettable musical experience with the orchestra.
- Where
- Seattle | More Info : Holiday Pops
Snowflake Lane
- What to Expect
- Free nightly holiday parade with toy drummers, dancers, and falling snow.
- Description
- Snowflake Lane is a complimentary nightly holiday parade featuring toy drummers, dancers, and festive music, accompanied by dazzling lights and falling snow. The event takes place on the sidewalks between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square, along Bellevue Way from NE 4th to NE 8th Streets.
- Where
- Bellevue | More Info : Snowflake Lane
Festival of the Nativity
- What to Expect
- Immersive Christ-centered experience with over 500 crèches and daily live musical performances.
- Description
- The Bellevue Festival of the Nativity is a free, Christ-centered celebration featuring hundreds of crèches, live musical performances, children’s activities, and a life-size replica of the inn at Bethlehem.
- Where
- Bellevue | More Info : Festival of the Nativity
Black Nativity
- What to Expect
- Soulful retelling of the Christmas story with a city-wide gospel choir.
- Description
- Langston Hughes' Gospel Song-Play returns to Intiman Theatre in an all-new, reimagined production. The Christmas story gets a soulful retelling with actors, dancers, soaring vocalists, and a rousing city-wide gospel choir. The poetry and vision of Langston Hughes combine with gospel renditions of your favorite carols, allowing audiences to raise their voices and sing along.
- Where
- Seattle | More Info : Black Nativity
Eastside Symphony Holiday Concert
- What to Expect
- Classical music performance of holiday favorites.
- Description
- The Eastside Symphony Holiday Concert features classical favorites, including Christmas music, performed by talented musicians.
- Where
- Redmond | More Info : Eastside Symphony Holiday Concert
Celtic Yuletide
- What to Expect
- Traditional Celtic music and dance performance by the Boulding Family.
- Description
- The Boulding Family's musical celebration of the holiday season features Celtic harps, hammered dulcimers, whistles, strings, percussion, and harp-like instruments from around the world. Guests add Irish step dancing, drumming, and storytelling for a memorable performance.
- Where
- Kent | More Info : Celtic Yuletide
New Year’s at the Needle
- What to Expect
- Largest firework show in North America with drone performances.
- Description
- The T-Mobile New Year’s at the Needle is a spectacular event featuring hundreds of lighted drones and the largest structurally launched firework show in North America, choreographed to a soundtrack celebrating the biggest moments of 2023.
- Where
- Seattle | More Info : New Year’s at the Needle
Redmond Other Holiday Activities
JuleFest
- What to Expect
- Traditional Norwegian celebration with Viking boat procession and bonfire.
- Description
- JuleFest at Poulsbo Sons of Norway features Norwegian street food, Scandinavian vendors, and a Lucia Bride escorted to shore in a Viking boat. The evening culminates with an annual bonfire and the Viking Kings' Winter Solstice Proclamation.
- Where
- Poulsbo | More Info : JuleFest
Jingle Bell Run
- What to Expect
- Unique holiday-themed charity run supporting arthritis research.
- Description
- The Jingle Bell Run is a charity event where participants wear holiday gear to raise funds and awareness for arthritis research. It includes various race distances and encourages fundraising efforts to support life-changing resources and programs.
- Where
- Seattle | More Info : Jingle Bell Run
K9 Candy Cane 5K Fun Run and Walk
- What to Expect
- Annual pet food drive and scenic Cedar River Trail route.
- Description
- The K9 Candy Cane 5K Fun Run and Walk is an annual event held at the Renton Community Center Campus, where runners and walkers travel along the beautiful Cedar River Trail before looping back to the Community Center. Competitive and fun runners, walkers, and families with or without dogs are invited. Participants who register before 12 p.m. November 22 will receive a hooded sweatshirt. The event also includes an Annual Pet Food Drive to support local animals in need.
- Where
- Renton | More Info : K9 Candy Cane 5K Fun Run and Walk