Let the Holidays Begin!

Thanksgiving is over. The leftovers have been divvied up, the dining room put back together, and you’ve slept off all that wonderful food. In my family we put on our layers and comfy shoes and headed downtown for a day of Christmas shopping and taking in the sights and sounds of a magical Seattle Washington Christmas vacation! Here in the Emerald City, the day after Thanksgiving is when we officially kick-off the holidays, and this year November 29th will be no exception. The Macy’s Holiday parade, the Westlake and Pike Place tree lighting ceremonies, holiday décor at its finest….the list goes on. Want to see the city’s largest gingerbread house or professionally decorated trees, all while supporting the kids at Seattle Children’s? We have that. Looking for a super cute photo op for the kids with ginormous teddy bears? Check. Ice skating through a light maze? We have that too. With so many choices, I thought I’d put together a handy guide to help you get in the holiday spirit!

The Westlake Center tree lighting ceremony

First things first – the parade! Macy’s has long been putting on the holiday parade here, and it’s one of the best in my humble opinion. The route starts on 7th and Pine and winds through downtown ending up at Macy’s on 4th. It includes Santa on his sleigh and at the end the big guy heads up to open Santaland on the 2nd floor of the store at 11 am. The parade starts at 9 am and lasts about an hour. Get your seats along the parade route early, pretty much the entire city shows up for this. Pro Tip: wear layers. All of the events on the 29th happen rain or shine, but unless you’re an actual gingerbread person a rain jacket will let you enjoy the festivities regardless of how mother nature is feeling that day! The parade is a unique Seattle Washington Christmas activity.

After the parade head up to the Fairmont Hotel on 4th and University. There you can warm up, grab a hot beverage, and check out three very cool attractions. The first is their annual Festival of Trees in the main lobby. Each tree has a unique theme and is decorated to honor the brave kids at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Next, head up to the 2nd floor to the Teddy Bear Suite – yes, one of the amazing suites at the hotel is transformed into a teddy bear wonderland that is too cute for words. Get a photo with the little ones (ok, or yourself) for picture-perfect holiday cards. Finally, head to the lower lobby to see the huge gingerbread house made with over 4,000 real gingerbread bricks. It looks good enough to eat, but please don’t.

The Teddy Bear Suite at the Fairmont Hotel

Our fine city offers not one, but two great tree lighting ceremonies and it’s hard to recommend one over the other. The first is Magic in the Market, and it’s personally my favorite. It starts around 11am and offers Santa pictures (for free!) under the Market Clock, cookie decorating in the Market Atrium Kitchen, and holiday music. I’m a huge fan of supporting local artisans, and the Market offers unique gifts, along with yummy food and beverages. At 5 pm Santa will lead the countdown to light the 20-foot holiday tree and lights that extend throughout the entire market!  Your other option is the head to Westlake Park for their tree lighting ceremony that starts around 4:30. There you can hop on the Holiday Carousel, grab a bite to eat from one of the many great food trucks, or head into Westlake Center for some holiday shopping. Santa is a busy guy, and will be making an appearance at this event as well! There’s so much more to see and do for a fabulous Seattle Washington Christmas vacation, but I’ll tell you about those next week.

Holiday lights at Pike Place Market

After a day of holiday merriment in the city, why not come home to a cozy, relaxing place with super comfy furniture where you can put your feet up and enjoy a glass of wine? You can cook up the local fare you got at the market in the well-appointed kitchen, or just order in and savor some quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of downtown. The team at Seattle Oasis Vacation Rentals is here to make sure each of our guests enjoys a customized and luxurious stay right in the heart of it all. Contact us today for more information on our property options.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience.
By using this site, you agree to all cookies in accordance with ourCookie Policy