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Celebrate the Holiday Spirit at Seattle Center Winterfest
presented by Symetra
November 29 to December 31
SEATTLE – Get ready to kick off the 2024 holiday season in style as Winterfest returns to Seattle Center, bringing five weeks of festive fun and entertainment for everyone! Presented by Symetra, this beloved annual event transforms the Seattle Center campus into a winter wonderland filled with live performances, vibrant markets, and activities to ignite the holiday spirit.
“We’re excited to bring back Winterfest, where families and friends can make lasting memories together in the heart of Seattle,” said Marc, Jones, Director of Marketing and Strategic Partnerships for Seattle Center. “This season is all about joy, connection, and community, and there’s no better place to experience that than at Seattle Center.”
“Symetra is thrilled to be part of Winterfest once again and help bring the joy of the season to Seattle,” said Chief Marketing Officer Trinity Parker. “These magical five weeks are brimming with seasonal spirit and truly offer something for everyone. It’s a wonderful opportunity to come together and celebrate the holidays with our entire community.”
The festivities begin on November 29 with the Symetra Ice Spectacle. From 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., visitors can enjoy a wide array of free and low-cost activities, including ice carving, roaming carolers, and live performances. Check out the exciting opening day lineup:
- Winter Train & Village (Armory) 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Winterfest World Bazaar Presented by Festál (Armory) 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
- Ice Carving (International Fountain Plaza) 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
- Zaniac Comedy Show (Armory Stage) 12:30 p.m.
- Tlalokan (Armory Stage) 2 p.m.
- Starlight Carolers (International Fountain Plaza) 3-5 p.m.
From November 29 through December 31, take in the nostalgic charm of the Winter Train & Village, bask in the glow of holiday lights illuminating the campus courtesy of Climate Pledge Arena, and catch weekend performances on the Armory stage.
Don’t miss the Seattle Christmas Market, a picturesque European-style outdoor holiday village, or browse unique gifts at the free Winterfest World Bazaar Presented by Festál, featuring handcrafted treasures from Seattle’s diverse cultural communities.
Ring in 2025 in style with Winterfest’s New Year’s Eve celebration, featuring a live performance by the Blue Wave Band and a Fountain of Light show at the International Fountain, DJ Baby Van Beezly providing the beats.
In the weeks leading up to New Year’s Eve, Seattle Center will offer an array of seasonal events across its campus, including world-renowned performances like Pacific Northwest Ballet’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, The Snow Queen at Seattle Children’s Theatre, and the cult classic A Very Drunken Christmas Carol which returns to Tagney Jones Hall at the Opera Center. Meet Santa Claus at the Space Needle every weekend starting November 29 through December 23. For sports fans, Climate Pledge Arena hosts Seattle Kraken games and major concerts. You can also catch Blithe Spirit at the Seattle Repertory Theatre or explore Seattle Center’s public art collection with a self-guided tour presented by Alaska Airlines.
Of course, the grand finale will be Seattle’s famous New Year’s Eve at the Needle firework and drone show under the iconic Space Needle—an unforgettable way to welcome the new year. Watch the show live from Seattle Center.
For more details on events, attractions, and performances, visit seattlecenter.com/winterfest or follow us on Instagram and Facebook @seattlecenter.
Special thanks to Symetra, our presenting partner, and our official sponsors Alaska Airlines, Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle Christmas Market, and the Space Needle for making Winterfest 2024 an extraordinary experience.
About Seattle Center
Connect to the extraordinary at Seattle Center, an active civic, arts, and family gathering place in the core of our city and region. Seattle Center’s 74-acre campus, centered around the International Fountain, is part of the Uptown Arts & Cultural District and home to Climate Pledge Arena; more than 30 cultural, educational, sports, and entertainment organizations; and a broad range of public and community programs. In everything it does, Seattle Center’s mission is to create exceptional events, experiences, and environments which delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities.
Seattle Center has expanded its role to provide maintenance and public safety services for Seattle’s new Waterfront Park, a series of new public spaces on Seattle’s downtown waterfront between Pioneer Square and the Seattle Aquarium. Seattle Center supports managing these new waterfront public spaces in partnership with the non-profit Friends of Waterfront Seattle, which offers the community a range of recreational and cultural programming.
Thanks to the support of Official Seattle Center Partners – Alaska Airlines, The Climate Pledge, Coors Light, Pepsi, Premera Blue Cross, Symetra, T-Mobile, and WaFd Bank – Seattle Center is the #1 arts and entertainment destination in the Pacific Northwest with 12 million annual visitors, generating $1.864 billion in business activity and more than $631 million in labor income annually. www.seattlecenter.com
