Winter Festivities

11/22 Christmas Straw-Weaving workshop at Toloka, ages 12+, $45, noon-2pm

11/22 Bellevue Community Band: Winter Concert (performance in Kirkland), free, 2-3:30pm (link)

11/23 Deadline to reserve a tree in Mountains to Sound Greenway’s Holiday Trees for Habitats. See 12/5 tree pickup event and market

11/27 Start of the Reindeer Festival at Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah, 10:30am-4:30pm or dusk (link) – until 12/23, then closing at 3:30pm from 12/26-12/30

11/27 Start of Santa Photos at Bellevue Square and the Marketplace at Factoria

11/27 KidsQuest’s Classic Gingerbread Workshop, $42 for one, $12 for additional guests, 1-3pm (link) – also 11/28 at 10am and 2pm, and there are ballet and champagne options at 5pm, and to-go kits are available

11/27 Winterfest – A Family Holiday Party at Forum Social House, 3-6pm (link)

11/27 KidsQuest’s Nutcracker Gingerbread workshop at the Hyatt Regency, $50-52 for one, $16 per additional guest, 5-7pm (link) – includes ballet performances by Flight Feathers Ballet

11/27 KidsQuest’s Gingerbread After Dark at the Hyatt Regency, $60 for one, $80 for two, 21+, 5-7pm (link) – includes champagne

11/27 Snowflake Lane performances start at 7pm and last approximately 25 minutes, nightly until December 24th. Viewing from the sidewalk is free but may be crowded. Reservations at Forum Social House for balcony viewing are available now and include hot cocoa and minigolf for $35, free for ages 5 and under (link).

11/28 Gingerbread House Decorating at Taste Buds Kitchen, $55, 9-10am (link) – also 11/29, 12/5, 12/12, 12/19, 12/21, and 12/23

11/28-11/29 Chinese Cultural Winter Market at Meydenbauer Center, 1-8pm

11/28-1/3 Garden d’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden, $10, 4:30-8pm Mon-Thurs, 4:30-9pm Fri-Sun(link) – see calendar for sensory friendly viewing, daytime viewing, senior events, and a discounted $5 evening. Daytime visits to BBG are always free.

11/29 Silent Santa Sensory-friendly Photos at the Marketplace at Factoria, 10:30-11:30am (link) – also 12/6 and 12/13. Santa Photos run from 11/27-12/25, except for 11/30 and 12/3.

12/1 Garden d’Lights Senior Social, free, 10am-1pm (link) – music, treats, and shopping at the Trillium store

12/1 Santa Paws photo night at the Marketplace at Factoria, 3-7pm (link) – also 12/8 and 12/15. The center’s Santa experience will also remain open for people without pets on these dates. Santa Photos run from 11/27-12/25, except for 11/30 and 12/3.

12/1 Winter Botanical Embroidery Basics at Newport Way Library, for adults, free, 5:30-7:30pm (link) – registration opens at noon on 11/17

12/4 Holiday Sing Along with Ms. Chrisi at Crossroads Community Center, ages 8 and under, $30 per child, 9:30-10:15am (link) – also 10:30am and on Saturday morning and Monday afternoon

12/4 Lichen Walk at Bellevue Botanical Garden, $40 (discount for BBG members), 10am-noon (link)

12/4 Assistance League of the Eastside Holiday Home Tour, 10am-6pm

12/4 Essentials First 2026 Holiday Fair, free – resource fair, hot meal, and more!

12/4 Hanukkah Stories with Rabbi Yo at Crossroads Community Center, 2:30-3pm (link)

12/4 Grand Connection Winter Market by the Bellevue Downtown Association, 4-9pm

12/4 Holiday Dinner and Dance Party, adapted for participants with intellectual disabilities, ages 16+, guardians and caregivers attend free, 6-8:30pm (link)

12/5 Holidays on the Hill at South Bellevue Community Center, 8-9:30am and 10-11:30am, $20 for residents, ages 3 and under are free but must be registered (the front desk can help with the discount) (link) – Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus, snowball fight, live music, and real reindeer, must pre-register, there is already a waitlist for the 10am session and not many slots left for the one at 8am. Volunteers are needed, ages 13+, also sign up at (link)

12/5 Build Your Own Wreath Class at Bellevue Botanical Garden, $60 (discount for BBG members), 9:30-11:30am (link) – class full

12/5 Mountains to Sound Greenway’s Holiday Trees for Habitats at the Holiday Market at the Lake Sammamish State Park in Issaquah, 10am-2pm (link). You can pick up a live, 2 foot ($100) or 4 foot ($200) tall tree to borrow (recommendation is to only bring it indoors for 7-10 days). Arrive early if you are hoping to get a specific variety. Must reserve a tree by Nov. 23rd. There is an alternate pickup on 12/6, and tree return dates are January 9 and 16; you’ll also receive an invitation to help with planting for habitat restoration in the spring. The Holiday Market also has gifts for sale and a wreath-making workshop.

12/5 Shop the Shelves at Glass Eye Studio in Seattle, 10am-1pm (link) – some ornaments are as low as $5-$10, and enjoy the music, snacks, and drinks

12/5 Winter at Theatre33 Craft Fair, noon-5pm (link) – Admission is free, with plenty of parking. 10% of all sales will support Theatre33 Youth productions.

12/5 Santa Saturdays in Old Bellevue, free, 1-3pm (link) – also 12/12 and 12/19 – photos with Santa, decorate a Christmas cookie, write a letter to Santa, and enjoy hot chocolate and sweet treats!

12/5 Barn Lighting at Kelsey Creek Farm, 5-6:30pm (link) – includes carols, crafts, cocoa, and a special visit

12/6 Children’s Winter Craft Workshop at Bellevue Botanical Garden for Kindergarten and above, $25 (discount for BBG members) for one adult and one child, 1-2:30pm (link)

12/6 Holiday Lights and Snow: Mini Golf Experience at Crossroads Park, free, 2-4pm (link) – also 12/13

12/7 Photography Workshop: The Art of Capturing Garden d’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden, $105 (discount for BBG members), 5:30-7:30pm (link) – Taught by Ray Pfortner for all skill levels, using any camera or phone. There will be a follow up Zoom discussion.

12/8 Garden d’Lights Sensory Friendly Night & $5 Night, 4:30-8pm (link)

12/9 The Spring District Holiday Market, 3-8pm – live reindeer and local vendors

12/11 KidsQuest Winter Dance Performance, doors open for dinner at 6pm, dance at 7pm, $20/child, $10/adult, pizza is $7 (link)

12/11-12/13 IBT’s The Nutcracker performs at Meydenbauer Center, $45-$70, 6pm (link) – other shows are at 1pm and 5pm, also 12/18-12/23

12/12 Wintering Wildlife class for ages 4 and up at Lake Hills Greenbelt, free, 10-11am (link) – waitlist for this, but there are openings on 12/19

12/12 Seattle Mandolin Orchestra Holiday Concert at the Bellevue Library, 2-3pm (link) – Ancient carols keep company with favorites from Bach, Berlioz, and Vivaldi. Jazzy Santa tunes appear alongside fresh takes on timeless movie themes. We have music to put you in a holiday mood.

12/12 Magic in the Air Concert at Highland Community Center, $20-$40, free for 5 and under, 5-10pm (link) – includes karaoke and afterparty, $30 tickets by 11/13

12/12 A Carol Christmas: Holiday Handbell Concert with Bells of the Sound on Mercer Island, $20 donation suggested for adults, $15 seniors, $10 ages 8-18, 7-9pm (link) – also in Redmond on 12/13

12/13 Master Chorus Eastside: A Hollywood Holiday at Faith Church in Issaquah, 3-5pm (link)

12/15 Brass Band Northwest: Twas the Night Before Christmas at Bellevue Presbyterian Church, donations accepted, 7-8:30pm (link)

12/16 Holiday Luncheon at North Bellevue Community Center, 55+, noon-1pm (link)

12/18 Community Night at Crossroads Community Center, free to pre-register, 6-8pm (link) – crafts and a family screening of Frozen, plus winter-themed activities like painting ornaments and making snow globe suncatchers, warm drinks and snacks. Space is limited, about 2/3 of spots are taken

12/19 Wintering Wildlife class for ages 4 and up at Lake Hills Greenbelt, free, 10-11am (link)

12/20 Greta Matassa Holiday Show: And to All a Good Night at Bake’s Place, 7-8:30pm (link)

12/21-1/1 No School for BSD students, Winter Break

12/21 Celebrate the Holidays with the Brian James Band at Bake’s Place, 7-8:30pm (link)

12/22 Garden d’Lights Senior & Family Daytime Viewing, free, 9am-noon (link) – live music, festive treats, and a special shopping opportunity at The Trillium Store.

12/22 Crafternoon, Supply Swap, and Robot Meet and Greet at Newport Way Library, noon-7pm (link) – the robot will be there from 2-3pm, there is a reusable fabric gift wrapping demonstration from 3:30-4:45pm, and a needle-felting demonstration from 5-6pm. Supplies being donated can be dropped off on 12/21 from 2-5 and the day of the event from 10am-5pm

12/31 Candyland Family NYE at Forum Social House, noon-3pm (link) and 5-8pm (link)

12/31 KidsQuest NYE countdowns at 10am, noon, 2pm, and 4pm, $18/child and non-member adult, $10/member adult, 9:30am-5pm (link

12/31 Bellevue NYE Night Market on Main St, 3-9pm

I am expecting to add many more events to this list as new events are announced – check back later!