Holiday festivities include Macy's Holiday Parade, Seattle, Nov. 23; Snowflake Lane, Bellevue, Nov. 23-Dec. 24; and Magic in the Market, Seattle, Nov. 24.
Weekend Highlight
Seattle and Bellevue officially kick off the holiday season on Friday, Nov. 23, with, respectively, the Macy’s Holiday Parade and Snowflake Lane parade.
The 28th annual Macy’s Holiday Parade is a local tradition that, like Mary Poppins, is practically perfect in every way. There are marching bands; floats; giant inflatables; dancing Christmas trees; the Seattle Sounders FC Sound Wave Band; the Mariner Moose in holiday attire; and the Seahawks Blitz, Sea Gals, Helmet Buggy and Blue Thunder. Local dog clubs step out with their adorable St. Bernards, Dalmatians and Old English Sheepdogs, many in Santa hats and other holiday gear. There’s also the Pacific Northwest Metropolitan Car Club’s cute little classic cars decked out in holiday decor. The Keith Highlanders Pipe Band will march by, since a parade’s not complete without a bagpipe band (to those of us of Scottish heritage, at least); and the crowd-pleasing Frango team will be on hand to toss the chocolate delights, one of the parade’s favorite traditions. It’s all an enchanted lead-in to the main arrival, Santa, ending the parade atop his grand sleigh float surrounded by dancing snowflake characters, bringing holiday spirit to all.
It’s a busy day for Santa as he arrives Friday evening, Nov. 23, in Bellevue at the first Snowflake Lane parade of the season, a festive celebration with falling snow, colorful lights, holiday music, toy drummers, dancers and other characters. (It fills Bellevue Way daily through Christmas Eve.) Santa’s Grand Arrival Festivities continue after the parade Friday at Bellevue Place Wintergarden with visiting Snowflake Lane characters, treats, music and Santa lighting the 30-foot holiday tree.
Other festivities continue Saturday, Nov. 24, at events including the Magic in the Market celebration at Seattle’s beloved Pike Place Market, with music, cookie decorating and the holiday-tree and Market-lighting countdown with Santa.
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For more holiday events, see our Community Calendar.
Happy holidays!
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Macy’s Holiday Parade
Time: 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 23
Location: Pine Street from Seventh Avenue to Fifth Avenue, on Fifth Avenue to University Street to Fourth Avenue, ending at Macy’s, Fourth Avenue and Pine Street, Seattle
More info: macys.com/social/events
Snowflake Lane
Time: 7 p.m. daily, Friday, Nov. 23, through Dec. 24
Location: Bellevue Way between Northeast Fourth Street and Northeast Eighth Street, Bellevue
Santa’s Grand Arrival Festivities: Following the parade Friday, Bellevue Place, Northeast Eighth Street and Bellevue Way, Bellevue
More info: snowflakelane.com
Magic in the Market
Time: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24; tree lighting 5 p.m.
Location: Pike Place Market, First Avenue and Pike Street, Seattle
More info: pikeplacemarket.org