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Winterfest & Winter Break

Visiting family and friends, students on winter break and those in search of fun, free activities to awaken the holiday spirit and fill the heart with joy will find a plethora of possibilities at Seattle Center Winterfest, now through Dec. 31. They will discover a festively decorated Seattle Center Armory and a miniature Winter Train & Village, trees drenched in sparkling lights, ice staking every day, Saturday ice sculpting, and a delightful line-up of live weekend entertainment.

Following is a full list of upcoming Winterfest activities:

Winterfest Ice Rink, Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., now – Jan. 4, 2015, Fisher Pavilion. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® Cardholders Free Skate, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20 Free for cardholders +2 guests. Must show card upon entry. Coca-Cola Free Skate Day, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21. Coca-Cola hosts a day of free skating at Winterfest. Closed at 4 p.m., Dec. 24; closed, Dec. 25; open until 11:30 p.m., Dec. 31. $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, $2 children ages 5 and under, includes skate rental. Cash only. www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest.

Winter Train & Village, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, now – Dec. 31, Seattle Center Armory. A Winterfest crowd favorite, a sprawling display exploring an enchanting turn-of-the-century village and train. Take a turn “conducting” the model train between 10:30am-12pm, 1pm-2:30pm, and 3:30pm-5:30pm daily. $2 suggested donation. www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest

Winterfest Art Installations, Now – Jan. 4, 2015, Seattle Center Grounds, free. The installations, by artists Celeste Cooning, Elizabeth Gahan, Robb Kunz, Erin Shafkind, and Will Gundy, evoke attention through moments of surprise, contemplation, beauty, and humor, enlivening the visitor experience by introducing an element of the unexpected into the Seattle Center environment. These small-scale temporary artworks deal with illumination and light that complement our Winterfest activities. www.artbeat.seattle.gov/2014/10/27/temporary-art-at-winterfest-2014

Winterfest Student Showcases, Now – Dec. 30, varied times, Seattle Center Armory, free. Seattle Center Student Showcases fill the Seattle Center Armory Atrium with the sounds and sights of the season as they offer public and private schools and youth groups the opportunity to share their artistic accomplishments with family, friends, and the public. Check online at: www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest for a full schedule of performances.

Seattle’s Best Damn Happy Hour, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18, Seattle Center Armory, free entry. Outstanding food and drink at highly desirable prices, music, games and prizes attract a broad happy hour following to Seattle Center Armory the third Thursday of every month. Join them for giant Jenga, board games, giant Scrabble, darts and more! 21+. www.seattlecenter.com/happyhour.

The Mood Swings, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, Seattle Center Armory, free. Aiming to inspire a love of jazz in the community and a culture of camaraderie and empowerment among its female musicians of all ages, the six female founding members have grown the talented group into a true big band, with hundreds of tunes to its repertoire, regularly presenting high-energy, fun-filled performances throughout the Northwest. www.moodswingsjazz.org.

Captain Smartypants and Sensible Shoes, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21, Seattle Center Armory, free. Captain Smartypants tours the Pacific Northwest as the ambassadors of Seattle Men’s Chorus. Gaiety abounds as this homosexual vocal comedy group thrills, delights and, at times, alarms audiences from Washington D.C. to San Francisco. Sensible Shoes, a pop and vocal jazz group and outreach ensemble of Seattle Women’s Chorus, balances great vocal delivery with fun, innovative staging. www.flyinghouse.org.

Menorah Lighting Ceremony, 6 p.m.-7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21, Seattle Center Armory, free. Chabad of Seattle celebrates Chanukah with a Menorah Lighting ceremony, music, service and the spirit of the season. www.chabadofseattle.org.

Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 27, Seattle Center Armory, free. Experience the delight and exhilaration of a live performance of Vela Luka and Ruže Dalmatinke, adorned in vibrant costumes, as they share Slavic holiday traditions through exuberant dance, joyous melodies and ancient songs. www.velaluka.org.

Klez Kidz, 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 28, Seattle Center Armory, free. This 40-piece ensemble brings to life a multiplicty of Jewish music and mirth from around the world. Listen and you’ll hear the wail of the clarinet in rousing song, see bottles being balanced on the heads of dancers, and maybe even learn some new dance steps yourself!  www.templebetham.org/music-and-arts/klezkids.

New Year’s Eve Celebration with THE NINES, 8 p.m.-11:45 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 31, Seattle Center Armory, free. This super fun, five-piece band takes you through the sounds of the 1970‘s to today’s greatest hits including Studio 54 funk, synth pop, and party rock. With world class male and female lead vocals, THE NINES will have you dancing the night away as you await the spectacular midnight fireworks just outside the Armory doors!  www.lovethenines.com.

Seattle Center Winterfest, produced by Seattle Center, presents spirited programming for children, families and friends in search of entertaining and enriching activities during this festive time of year. For more information, visit www.seattecenter.com or call 206 684-7200.