Celebrate the holidays with the Bothell community! Explore our guide for all the events that unite us in festive spirit. From Bothell aficionados to first-time guests, our guide is your gateway to holiday wonder.
One beloved tradition is the Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker, where enchanting performances bring this classic tale to life. For a unique twist, the Christmas Ship Festival features stunning decorated boats sailing through the waters, illuminating the season with festive cheer. And the Nutcracker by Emerald Ballet Theatre is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a local take on this cherished holiday performance. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Please contact us if you have suggestions or corrections!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Bothell
- Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker (Seattle)
- Christmas Ship Festival (Seattle)
- Snowflake Lane (Bellevue)
- Holiday Pops by Seattle Symphony (Seattle)
- Village of Lights (Leavenworth)
- The Nutcracker by Emerald Ballet Theatre
- Polar Express Train Ride (Chehalis)
- Gingerbread Village (Seattle)
- A Victorian Country Christmas Festival (Puyallup)
- Chateau Ste. Michelle Winter Wine Land (Woodinville)
See these and even more events listed below!
Bothell Holiday Light Displays
Bothell Christmas Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Historic tree lighting with local merchant activities.
Description:
The Bothell Christmas Tree Lighting features a grand fir tree, Lucky, which has been a central part of Bothell's holiday celebrations since the early 1930s. The event includes a holiday market, Santa visits, and free activities for kids. It culminates with a tree lighting ceremony and selfies with Santa at First and Main Design Market.
Where: Bothell | More Info: Bothell Christmas Tree Lighting
Village of Lights
What to Expect:
Half a million lights and festive activities.
Description:
Leavenworth's Village of Lights features over half a million lights, live music, and festive activities like gingerbread house exhibitions and Santa photos.
Where: Leavenworth | More Info: Village of Lights
Lights of Christmas
What to Expect:
Over a million lights in a drive-thru setting.
Description:
Lights of Christmas is a drive-thru holiday light display in Stanwood, WA, featuring over a million lights, creative displays, and two activity stops. Enjoy fun Christmas music while driving through the event route, and stop for yummy snacks and exciting activities.
Where: Stanwood | More Info: Lights of Christmas
Bothell 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 & 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
A Victorian Country Christmas Festival
What to Expect:
Unique holiday shopping experience with local artisans.
Description:
A Victorian Country Christmas Festival offers a holiday shopping experience with unique gifts, handmade crafts, and local vendors. Enjoy musical acts and festive presentations, and bring your children to meet Santa Claus.
Where: Puyallup | More Info: A Victorian Country Christmas Festival
Bothell Holiday Craft Fair
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday market with student vendors.
Description:
The Bothell Holiday Craft Fair at St. Brendan Catholic School features over 100 small business vendors, a large home baked goods bake sale, and Santa photos. It is a community event where students also showcase their entrepreneurial skills.
Where: Bothell | More Info: Bothell Holiday Craft Fair
Trees for Hope Festival Gala and Holiday Vendor Market
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday market supporting local non-profits.
Description:
The Trees for Hope Festival Gala and Holiday Vendor Market is a community-driven event that combines fundraising efforts for local non-profits with a festive holiday market. Enjoy a variety of vendors offering handmade crafts, unique gifts, and seasonal items, all while supporting a good cause.
Where: Chehalis | More Info: Trees for Hope Festival Gala and Holiday Vendor Market
Bothell Holiday Shows and Entertainment
The Nutcracker by Emerald Ballet Theatre
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
The Nutcracker by Emerald Ballet Theatre is a captivating ballet performance featuring elegant choreography, intricate costumes, and a timeless story of love and transformation.
Where: Bothell | More Info: The Nutcracker by Emerald Ballet Theatre
Breakfast with Santa at McMenamin’s Anderson School
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a historic school setting.
Description:
Join Santa at McMenamin’s Anderson School for a delightful breakfast filled with holiday cheer and delicious treats in a charming 1930s school-turned-playground.
Where: Bothell | More Info: Breakfast with Santa at McMenamin’s Anderson School
Chateau Ste. Michelle Winter Wine Land
What to Expect:
Live music and wine tastings in a historic winery setting.
Description:
Chateau Ste. Michelle offers a variety of events, including live music, themed dinners, and wine tastings. The winery is open seven days a week, providing ample opportunities to enjoy its picturesque grounds and diverse activities.
Where: Woodinville | More Info: Chateau Ste. Michelle Winter Wine Land
Christmas Ship Festival
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday experience with live choir performances and festive decorations.
Description:
The Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship Festival is a long-standing Northwest tradition where the Spirit of Seattle, decorated with hundreds of shimmery white lights, sails to various Puget Sound waterfront communities. Onboard choirs perform for guests, follow boats, and communities gathered on shore. The event includes a 1.5-hour cruise, community choir performances, and a full-service bar with specialty cocktails and local beverages.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Christmas Ship Festival
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 lighting design, making it a standout holiday event.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker
Black Nativity
What to Expect:
Soulful retelling of the Christmas story with a city-wide gospel choir.
Description:
Langston Hughes' Gospel Song-Play, Black Nativity, features a cast of over 30 actors, dancers, and vocalists, along with a live band and city-wide gospel choir. The production combines poetry and vision with gospel renditions of beloved carols, offering a stirring experience for families of all backgrounds and beliefs.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Black Nativity
Holiday Pops by Seattle Symphony
What to Expect:
Dazzling holiday concert with Chloe Flower.
Description:
Join the Seattle Symphony for a dazzling holiday concert featuring powerhouse pianist Chloe Flower at Benaroya Hall.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Holiday Pops by Seattle Symphony
Snowflake Lane
What to Expect:
Complimentary nightly parade with toy drummers 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 every night at 7 pm.
Where: Bellevue | More Info: Snowflake Lane
Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition
What to Expect:
Large-scale holiday caroling competition benefiting a local food bank.
Description:
The Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition is a heart-warming event at Pike Place Market where nearly 10,000 people gather to enjoy holiday music and support the Pike Market Senior Center & Food Bank. This fundraiser raises over $1 million annually, benefiting the vital resource for the Market community and downtown Seattle.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Great Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition
Polar Express Train Ride
What to Expect:
Interactive storytelling with Santa and festive treats.
Description:
Embark on a festive train ride to the North Pole, where hot chocolate and treats are served as passengers listen to the classic children's book, The Polar Express. Santa and his helpers greet passengers, and each child receives a first gift of Christmas—a silver sleigh bell.
Where: Chehalis | More Info: Polar Express Train Ride
Bothell Other Holiday Activities
Holiday Wine & Spirits Walk
What to Expect:
10 tastings with a tote bag included.
Description:
Join us for the Holiday Wine, Beer & Spirits Walk in downtown Bothell, where you can socialize, listen to music, and enjoy tastings of delicious wines, beers, ciders, and spirits at local shops and restaurants.
Where: Bothell | More Info: Holiday Wine & Spirits Walk
Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Community-decorated trees with a "Once Upon a Time" theme.
Description:
The Festival of Trees at the White River Valley Museum is a community-based holiday exhibit featuring beautifully decorated trees by local businesses. Each tree creatively incorporates the theme "Once Upon a Time," showcasing the creativity and spirit of the season.
Where: Auburn | More Info: Festival of Trees
Gingerbread Village
What to Expect:
Large-scale gingerbread creations by local architects and chefs.
Description:
The Sheraton Grand Seattle's Gingerbread Village features 6ft tall gingerbread structures crafted by local architecture firms and Sheraton chefs, benefiting type 1 diabetes research.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Gingerbread Village
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Kenmore (2 miles)
- Inglewood-Finn Hill (3 miles)
- North Creek (4 miles)
- Mountlake Terrace (5 miles)
- Kirkland (6 miles)
- Cottage Lake (6 miles)
- Shoreline (6 miles)
- Lynnwood (7 miles)
- Mill Creek (7 miles)
- Redmond (7 miles)
- Silver Firs (8 miles)
- Picnic Point-North Lynnwood (8 miles)
- Edmonds (9 miles)
- Eastmont (9 miles)
- Sammamish (10 miles)
- Bellevue (11 miles)
- Seattle (12 miles)
- Mercer Island (13 miles)
- Mukilteo (13 miles)
- City of Sammamish (13 miles)
- West Lake Sammamish (14 miles)
- Everett (15 miles)
- West Lake Stevens (17 miles)
- Bainbridge Island (17 miles)
- Issaquah (18 miles)
- Lake Stevens (19 miles)
- Renton (19 miles)
- Marysville (20 miles)
- Tukwila (20 miles)
- Burien (21 miles)
- SeaTac (22 miles)
- Bremerton (24 miles)
- East Hill-Meridian (24 miles)
- Des Moines (26 miles)
- Kent (26 miles)
- Maple Valley (27 miles)
- Federal Way (31 miles)
- Auburn (31 miles)
- Tacoma (37 miles)
- University Place (40 miles)
- Puyallup (40 miles)
- Oak Harbor (42 miles)
- South Hill (43 miles)
- Parkland (43 miles)
- Lakewood (43 miles)