Your local community centers and parks are festive holiday hubs this time of year, with lots of fun events that get family out of the house and into the spirit of the season. These special events are lined up around Seattle just for you:
SOUTHEAST SEATTLE
Thursday, December 7
- Holiday in Volunteer Park! Walk pathways beautifully lit by hundreds of luminarias creating a magical wonderland! Listen to live joyful music from five choral ensembles; create a glow-in-the-dark headpiece at the kids activity booth; warm up in the Volunteer Park Conservatory; enjoy FREE cookies from Whole Foods and hot cocoa provided by Darigold! Volunteer Park, 6 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 9
- Rainier Community Center Holiday Event: FREE, all ages! Let’s help the kids by bringing an unwrapped toy or non-perishable food item for our Food and Toy Drive. Enjoy holiday family photos, refreshments, kids’ crafts, and music. Noon – 3 p.m.
Friday, December 15
- Garfield Community Center Holiday Celebration: FREE, all ages! Come celebrate all the season’s many wonders with your neighbors and friends. Pre-registration is required to receive a toy at the event. Call us at 206-684-4788 for more info. (Volunteers needed.) 6:30 – 8 p.m.
- International District Community Center Winter Wonderland Party: All ages. This fun-filled evening of surprises for children and their families will include arts and crafts projects, holiday pictures, and treats. Parents and grandparents are invited to participate. $2/child. 6– 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 16
- Spirit of Kwanzaa Day:Experience the 7 principles through dancing, drumming, art and community. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Powell Barnett Park.
Sunday, December 17
- Bombazo:A Puerto Rican cultural celebration with singers, dancers, and music. 2 to 4 p.m. at Seward Park
- Celebrating Women in Action Sports:An outdoor screening of short films promoting women and youth skateboarders and winter action sports she-roes. 4 to 7 p.m. at Pratt Park.
Monday, December 18
- Winter Art Market:Enjoy music, dance, and local and handmade arts and crafts for the whole family. 2 to 5 p.m. at John C. Little Sr. Park.
SOUTHWEST SEATTLE
Thursday, December 7
- Create Your Own Custom Holiday Gift Tags, Delridge Community Center: Ages 50 and older. In this FREE 2-hour workshop, learn how to use Microsoft Word or Publisher to create custom holiday gift tags with your own art or photographs. Bring a favorite photo or art design to class and leave with several sheets of gift tags ready to cut out and use for holiday gift giving! 1-3 p.m.
Saturday, December 9
- Holiday Party, Yesler Community Center: Come to Yesler to experience the holiday season with your family and enjoy the fun activities. Sponsored by Harborview Medical Center in partnership with Seattle Parks and Recreation. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Thursday, December 13
- 3rd Annual Gingerbread House Decorating, Delridge Community Center: Each child 12 years and under old gets a house to decorate; other family activities are planned. Please call the center to register for this FREE event. Sponsored by the Delridge Advisory Council. 6-7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 16
- Harborview Holiday Party, Yesler Community Center: All ages. Come to Yesler to enjoy the holiday season and some fun activities with your family. Sponsored by Harborview Medical Center. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
NORTHEAST SEATTLE
Friday, December 8
- Gingerbread House Decorating, Laurelhurst Community Center: All ages. Join us for an ooey-gooey night full of gumdrop rooftops and peppermint paths! Decorate your own house with all kinds of candy and take it home to display with your holiday decorations. 5:30-7 p.m. $8/ house.
Saturday, December 9
- Mokojumbie Gathering: Dance along with this unique cross-cultural tradition of stilt walking from the Caribbean. 2 to 4 p.m. at Gas Works Park (North Seattle/Fremont).
Friday, December 15
- Gingerbread House Decorating, Northgate Community Center: All ages. Join us for an ooey-gooey night full of gumdrop rooftops and peppermint paths! Decorate your own house with all kinds of candy and take it home to display with your holiday decorations. $10/house. 5 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, December 16
- Mariachi Concert:Enjoy a festive music concert and sip hot cider or coffee. 3 to 4 p.m. at Albert Davis Park (Northeast Seattle/Lake City).
- Holiday Party, Miller Community Center: All ages. Join Miller Community Center in a long-time partnership with The Country Doctor for a gathering of families to share in the holiday experience. Activities include treats, games, cookie decorating, face painting, and more! 10 a.m.-2 p.m
NORTHWEST SEATTLE
Wednesday, December 6
- Free Holiday Show – The Gingerbread Man, Bitter Lake Community Center: Ages 2 and older. Run, run, as fast as you can, you can’t catch me! Come and see a crazy cast of characters try and catch this tricky cookie. He thinks he’s so clever, but little does he know that he will soon meet the animal that will outfox him. 11:15 a.m.
Friday, December 8
- Multi-Cultural Dinner, Bitter Lake Community Center: All ages. Come join us for a culinary tour around the world! Use this annual Bitter Lake tradition to introduce your family to food from different cultures. We have something for everyone! Food is one of the best ways to experience and celebrate our diversity. 5:30-7 p.m. $10/4+ $3/person
- Lil Gingerbread Event, Magnolia Community Center: Ages 5 and Under. Bring the family and the little ones to decorate cookies and gingerbread houses. We supply all the goodies, you bring the fun. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $4. (If you miss out on first time, come back for the second showing from 5-7 p.m.)
Saturday, December 9
- Pathway of Lights, Green Lake Community Center: Gather your family and friends for our annual celebration. Follow the glow of hundreds of luminaires around both sides of the lake’s inner trail. Enjoy refreshments and the sounds of the season performed by local schools, and artists. Please bring a non-perishable food donation for our partners at Family Works and help brighten the holidays for someone less fortunate. 4:30-7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 15
- Free Holiday Show – The Gingerbread Man, Bitter Lake Community Center: Ages 2 and older. Run, run, as fast as you can, you can’t catch me! Come and see a crazy cast of characters try and catch this tricky cookie. He thinks he’s so clever, but little does he know that he will soon meet the animal that will outfox him. 11:15 a.m. Also at Loyal Heights Community Center 11:15 a.m.
- Gingerbread Jubilee, Ballard Community Center: Ages 1 and older This year’s event will be even bigger! It will be in the gym which means there is lots of space for decorating. Join us this year for an evening of holiday fun. You bring your imagination, we will provide the rest! 5-7 p.m. $5
Wednesday, December 20
- Free Holiday Show – The Gingerbread Man, Ballard Community Center: Ages 2 and older. Run, run, as fast as you can, you can’t catch me! Come and see a crazy cast of characters try and catch this tricky cookie. He thinks he’s so clever, but little does he know that he will soon meet the animal that will outfox him. 11:15 a.m.
DOWNTOWN
November 24, 2017 to January 1, 2018
- Holiday Carousel & Holiday Market, Westlake Park
Saturday, December 9
- Pioneer Square Howlidays: Bring your prized pooch down to Occidental Square for the sixth annual day of celebration for dogs and people! We’ll have a day of free entertainment, activities and treats—for humans and their canines. Let your dog play in the pop-up pooch park and enjoy a doggy costume contest at noon. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Saturday, December 16
- Horse Drawn Carriage Rides: Make your way through Occidental Square in style with free horse-drawn carriage rides, all afternoon! We’ll also have free crafting activities, carolers, hot cocoa and letters to Santa. 1 – 5 p.m.