Need something fun to do with the kids this weekend? There are all kinds of fun holiday happenings from gingerbread house making to puppet shows and more! There are even a few non holiday happenings! Read on for all of it!
Please do use the provided links to confirm event details. Mistakes can happen in listings of this size this time of year, and we always want you to have just as much fun as possible!
Ongoing Holiday Events
(Events specific to this Saturday and Sunday continue below this section)
These events are ongoing during the holiday season; check links for specific days and hours.
Christmas at the Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Santa will be at The Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse for complimentary photos with your families! Sleigh rides and other fun select dates
Christmas at the Meeker Mansion tour the mansion while it’s decorated for the season. *Closed the 30th for the bazaar.
Fantasy Lights at Lake Spanaway begins Thanksgiving! The area’s only drive thru lights show! Don’t miss it!
Zoolights at Point Defiance ZooOpens the 29th
Ice Skate at Point RustonTacoma’s temporary outdoor rink is back!
Reindeer at Watson’s Nursery, Puyallup – ongoing! Donner and Blitzen are spending their holiday vacation at Watson’s! Quick, free outing-the reindeer are outside. Watson’s is also fun to walk through this time of year, though I wouldn’t do it with little ones who grab or with a stroller.
North Pole at the Fair, Puyallup –Photos are all booked up, so you can’t visit with Santa, but you Can go for play for 5.00, and it’s a huge space that’s super fun for kids, especially the preschool set-think of it as a Christmas themed children’s museum.
Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop Tacoma – free crafts and fun
The Best Christmas Pageant Everat the Lakewood Playhouse; November 29-through December 22
A Charlie Brown Christmas at TMP
Christmas Revels at the Rialto
Singing Christmas Tree in Tacoma
The Wind in the Willows at Olympia Family Theater
Saturday
South King County
Adults: $8 (Auburn resident)/$10 (non-resident)
Child: $7 (Auburn resident)/$9 (non-residentTickets by calling: Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation 253-931-3043 Note from SFM: I haven’t checked availability yet.
Greater Pierce County
Santa Breakfast at Mountain View Community Center
Santa photos at Molen Freebie alert!
Saturday Art for Kids at Fred’s Creative Kids
A holiday tradition! Listen to classic Christmas music played with hand bells. No reservations required and all ages are welcome. 1PM at the Puyallup Public Library
- Puppets Please at the Sumner Library 12:00pm – 12:45pmColorful marionettes perform a holiday-themed, in-the-round show. All ages. No registration required.
- Puppets Please : 10:30am – 11:30am at the Bonney Lake Library
- Puppets Please at Milton/Edgewood Library 1:30pm – 2:15pm
- Puppets Please Saturday, December 14: 3:30pm – 4:30pm at the South Hill Library
Free holiday fun at Sunrise Village/South Hill
December 14 & 21 | 3 – 6pm Santa, wagon rides, petting zoo, living nativity plus magical mini donkeys and airbrush artists on the 7th, Mrs. Claus, a stilt walker, and other guests on the 14th, and magical mini donkeys back on the 21st.
Gingerbread House Making at Pierce County Libraries
various days/times Great free, event! Some locations require tickets or registration, so check yours.
- Gingerbread Houses at Buckley Saturday, December 14: 11:00am – 3:00pm
- Gingerbread Houses at Fife Saturday, December 14: 12:00pm – 1:00pm.
- Gingerbread Houses
at Fife Saturday, December 14: 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Tacoma
Light Plantasia at the Seymour Conservatory
Light Plantasia, presented by Lusio
Dec 10-15, 2019
Take a stroll through the wonderland that is Light Plantasia!
This is not your regular holiday light show. For five nights you can enjoy the botanical gardens inside the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory illuminated for a stunning and unique holiday excursion. Ticketed event
Christmas at Fort Steilacoom December 14
Celebrate the Christmas season as living historians in period clothing present a period candle light Christmas. The gift shop will be open for holiday shopping. Tickets to the event will be available for purchase in the Interpretive Center/Quarters 4. The event runs from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Old Town Tacoma – Saturday, December 14, Santa visits the Job Carr Cabin Museum. Join us on Saturday, December 14, 2019 to celebrate the season at Tacoma’s birthplace! Santa photos, crafts, choirs, and treats Free event
Victorian Holiday Festival at the Seymour Conservatory
Frolic and folly at our annual Victorian Holiday Festival honoring Tacoma’s historic Victorian-styled Conservatory. Staff and volunteers will be dressed in beautiful costumes. Enjoy live music, crafts and delightful refreshments. December 14, 2019 10 am-3 pm
From 12-4 pm the Dickens Festival at Stadium Business District will feature horse drawn carriage rides from Rankos Pharmacy to the Conservatory. $3 suggested donation
Santa is driving in to ACM this holiday season to upgrade his ride! Join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a photo op in a 1906 Cadillac Model K Tulip Touring Car. Kids receive a free slot car voucher for the ACM Speed Zone! Santa photos are FREE for ACM Members or included with ACM admission as a digital download. 14, 15, 20, and 21 select hours
Breakfast with Santa at Norpoint
Rise and shine for Breakfast with Santa at The Center at Norpoint on Dec. 14. Enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast, holiday arts and crafts, pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more!
The 3rd Annual Breakfast with Santa will host two sessions of fun at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Tickets are on advanced sale for $10, or at the door for $15. Space is limited. Sign up in advance to guarantee your spot.
Welcome Swan Creek salmon as they return home to spawn!
Experience the special wonder of watching salmon make their way upstream in an urban setting. Learn about the salmon, and how to protect them, with guided tours, children’s activities and more at this free event. Take a tour, stroll or hike on your own, or simply stop by to pick up free resource materials. 1-am-2
Cookies for Santa at the People’s Center Saturday, December 14 11 am-1 pm
People’s Community Center and pool is hosting its first annual cookies for Santa! Bring the entire family to decorate cookies, send a letter to Santa, enjoy holiday music and take pictures with Santa in the pool. Event is open 11:30 am- 1:00 pm and participants can choose from one of 3 activities times. Space is limited!
$6 for non-members and $4 for members; register in advance
Christmas Revels at the Rialto
Busy Bag Workshop at The Pod Works
Cocoa With a Cop with the Lakewood Police Department
Christmas with Santa at Lakewood Chick Fil A
Free astronomy event at Pierce College Science Dome
The Tacoma Astronomical Society hosts free public viewing sessions each month at Pierce College near Fort Steilacoom. Indoor lectures, demonstrations, and workshops are available at public nights regardless of the weather..
Children’s program at the Science Dome
Breakfast with Santa at Sprinker
Santa arrives at Sprinker Recreation Center the morning of WINTERFEST Opening Day – December 14th. Bring the kids for some holiday cheer🎄 , pancake🥞 ☕️ breakfast, ice skating⛸ 🧤 & the chance to share Christmas wishes with the jolly ol’ fellow himself! Stay and skate after 12:00 PM during WINTERFEST activities. Visit their site for details.
Las Posadas Piñata Party Saturday, December 14: 2:00pm – 3:00pm at the Lakewood Library
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Gingerbread Houses at Tillicum Saturday, December 14: 12:00pm – 1:00pm
- Gingerbread Houses at Parkland/Spanaway Saturday, December 14: 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Gig Harbor Area
The historic Eddon Boatyard will be transformed into Santa’s BoatShop on Saturday, December 14. Children are invited to build and paint model boats at this festive holiday event. Available Sessions: Maximum of 10 participants per 30-minute session 10:00 – 10:30 10:30 – 11:00 11:00 – 11:30 11:30 – 12:00 12:00 – 12:30 12:30 – 1:00 1:00 – 1:30 1:30 – 2:00 2:00 – 2:30 3:00 – 3:30 3:30 – 4:00 It takes roughly one hour to build your boat. Advance registration is recommended. Ages 3 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Fee: $15 for one child | $10 for each additional child (includes all materials)
Gingerbread Houses at Key Center Library Saturday, December 14: 11:00am – 1:00pm
Photos with the Grinch at Boujie
Bring you camera and snap a photo with the Grinch! 4-7:30
Holiday Hayrides with Santa on the downtown waterfront 4:30-7PM
Presented by the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance in partnership with Timberland Bank and Miracle Ranch. Join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a hayride and caroling with time for photos with Santa. Board in front of Timberland Bank, and enjoy cookies and cocoa inside the bank.
Pictures with Santa at the Log Cabin Museum – Port Orchard; Join us again this year for Pictures with Santa at the Log Cabin Museum. Bring your camera, kids, pets, family and friends. We provide Santa in front of a Christmas tree in the historic log cabin with candy canes and a cozy fire. Free event. Dress warm. Santa comes rain or shine.
Lighted Boat Parade – Gig Harbor
This year, 2019. the Gig Harbor Lighted Boat Parade is on Saturday, December 14th, 2019, beginning at 5:00 PM, and all area boaters are invited to participate and light up the harbor! Last year we had 35 boats beautifully lit, and the line of lighted boats made an amazing spectacle, stretching all around the harbor.
The parade is sponsored by the Gig Harbor Yacht Club, but you do not have to be member to join the parade – you simply need to bring a well-lit boat and a sense of adventure. Everyone is invited, from big fishing boats to gutsy kayakers.
Olympia/Dupont/Lacey
Gingerbread Houses at DuPont Saturday, December 14: 10:00am – 12:00pm
West Thurston Fire Santa Breakfast
Free pictures with Santa a Harley Davidson
Relay for Life Santa Breakfast Fundraiser at Applebee’s
Sunday
South King County
Tacoma/Puyallup/Gig Harbor/Greater Pierce County
Light Plantasia at the Seymour Conservatory
Light Plantasia, presented by Lusio
Dec 10-15, 2019
Take a stroll through the wonderland that is Light Plantasia!
This is not your regular holiday light show. For five nights you can enjoy the botanical gardens inside the W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory illuminated for a stunning and unique holiday excursion. Ticketed event
Santa is driving in to ACM this holiday season to upgrade his ride! Join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a photo op in a 1906 Cadillac Model K Tulip Touring Car. Kids receive a free slot car voucher for the ACM Speed Zone! Santa photos are FREE for ACM Members or included with ACM admission as a digital download. 14, 15, 20, and 21 select hours
A Charlie Brown Christmas at TMP
Holiday Around the World Event at The Pod Works
Join us for this very special end of the year open house honoring and sharing holiday traditions from around the world! AuPairCare au pairs will represent their home countries with a small tour of treasures, including games, crafts, songs and stories as well as diverse flavors and treats. Coffee and tea also provided.
*Free and family friendly 10am-12
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