David's Picks

Black Friday Sales
FRI So-called because it’s the busiest shopping day of the year, and the day that retailers hope to see their balance sheets in the black.

Macy's Holiday Parade
FRI 8:45AM A Holiday Tradition in Downtown Seattle as the parade makes it's way through the streets followed by the official arrival of Santa.

Seattle Tree Lighting Festival
FRI 5PM Westlake Park Tree Lighting festivities and illuminating of Macy's Holiday Star, followed by fireworks.

Seattle Center Winterfest
FRI-Dec 31  Lights and holiday displays, music & entertainment, a carousel and ice skating at Seattle Center.  (www.seattlecenter.com).

Bellevue Magic Season
FRI-Jan 10  Ice skating and entertainment in Bellevue Downtown Park plus Snowflake Lane and Santa at Bellevue Square.  (www.magicseason.com).

Holidays at The Bravern
FRI-DEC 31  The holiday spirit is in full swing at The Bravern with Dickens carolers, live entertainment and music, dance performances, fashion shows, children's activities and visits from The Bravern Winter Fairies.  (www.thebravern.com/ ).

Bellevue Botanical Garden d'Lights
FRI-Jan 2  Garden and holiday-themed light displays with over a half-million twinkling lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden.  (www.bellevuebotanical.org).

Magic in the Market
SAT  Entertainment, food and a holiday concert & Santa followed by a tree-lighting ceremony at Pike Place Market.  (www.pikeplacemarket.org).

Christmas Ship Festival
SAT-Dec 23  A NW tradition that brings communities together to celebrate the holidays both on water and onshore with a portion of the proceeds benefiting charitable organizations.  (www.argosycruises.com).

Kirkland Tree Lighting
SAT 7PM  Kick-off to the Holiday Season with music, decorations and the lighting of the 30' tree plus cider, reindeer and Santa at Marina Park.  (www.kirklanddowntown.org).

Space Needle Holiday Season
THURS-Dec 25  Santa Claus visits, children's arts & crafts, shopping and Santa Brunch plus the Lighting of the Needle.  (www.spaceneedle.com).

Point Defiance Zoolights
SAT-Jan 4  The Zoo comes aglow with more than a half-million lights for a festive visit with the animals at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma.  (www.pdza.org).

Ski Areas

Following last weekend’s storm some ski areas are now open. For kids and non-skiers there’s tubing (for your safety please check the current pass report and have the appropriate legal traction devices when travelling in mountain passes)

Nodic Museum Yulefest
SAT-SUN  Start your holiday season with this Nordic Christmas tradition featuring hands-on crafts for kids, Scandinavian entertainment and Nordic cuisine at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Ballard.  (www.nordicmuseum.org).

Bellevue Bead Festival
SAT-SUN  Shop with bead merchants and artists around the world plus attend workshops by the industry's top instructors at the Red Lion Hotel Bellevue.  (www.bellevuebeadfestival.com).

International Gem & Jewelry Show
FRI-SUN  The greatest selection of jewels, precious gems, metals and more with something for everyone at Seattle Center.  (www.InterGem.com ).

Seattle Public Library Holiday Book Sale
SAT  A mini sale featuring gift books and items, a large selection of cookbooks and children's books, and general non-fiction. Most books sell for $1.  (www.spl.org).

Festival du Beaujolais Nouveau
FRI 6pm Celebrating the French tradition of welcoming the first wines of the 2008 vintage with wine tasting, French cuisine buffet and "village" with samples from local French restaurants and shops, music by Hot Club Sandwich featuring French pop inspired jazz, sponsored by the French-American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest; for ages 21 and older at South Lake Union Naval Reserve Bldg. in Seattle.  (http://beaujolaisnouveau.wordpress.com).

Seattle International Auto Show
WED-SUN  Display of 2009 models of cars, trucks, SUVs, hybrids as well as exotic and classic cars at Qwest Field Event Center.  (www.seattleautoshow.com).

2009 Glitter Sale at Seattle Goodwill
SAT-SUN  Glamorous attire and accessories at their famous low prices to get you dolled up for holiday events at Seattle Goodwill.  (www.seattlegoodwill.org).

Best of the Northwest
FRI-SUN  A holiday show featuring fine art and American crafts designed by artists from around the region in the Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center.  (www.seattlecenter.com).

Maritime Family Festival
SAT Toy boat building, kids hands-on activities, tour tugboat Arthur Foss and steamer Virginia V, sale of new and used gifts, books, CDs, ship models, holiday decor, toys and treasure, live sea music in the Armory Building at Lake union Park.  (www.atlakeunionpark.org).

Cultural Crossroads Festival
FRI-SUN  Ethnic entertainment, international bazaar and children's activities at Crossroads Mall in Bellevue. (www.crossroadsbellevue.com).

Families

Halloween at the Commons

FRI For Microsoft employees and guests. Trick-or-treat at Commons restaurants and shops, photographer, magician, face painting, kids crafts. http://commons

Microsoft Sammamish Boo-Fest

FRI For Sammamish FTE only. Great haunted house, decorated hallways, and snacks in the cafeteria. 4-8pm. Admission is 4 non-perishable food items. Registration required.

Museum of Fright Halloween Celebration
FRI  Treats, stories, games and the ghosts of aviation's past at the Museum of Flight.  (www.museumofflight.org).

Halloween Family Funfest
SAT Trick-or-treat at participating merchants, Mad Science Booth, children’s performances.  (www.bellevuesquare.com).

Halloween Sleepover at Pacific Science Center
SAT  Investigate the spooky side of science - bats, pumpkins, spiders, candy concoctions and more! Venture through our darkened exhibit halls to find Halloween tricks and treats, then sleep amongst the dinosaurs at Pacific Science Center.  (www.pacsci.org)

Halloween Hoopla
SAT  Super-scary haunted house for older kids, Frankenstein's Lab for little ones, carnival games, trick-or-treating and more at Wallingford Boys & Girls Club.  (www.wallingfordboysandgirlsclub.org).

Halloween at the Haunted Castle
SAT  Haunted walk through historic Masonic home plus kids carnival at Landmark on the Sound in Des Moines.  (www.landmarkcelebrations.com).

Adults

Halloween “Good Evening” at the Emerald Queen Casino
SAT Hitchcock-themed Halloween party with cash prizes for best costumes plus music and prizes at the Emerald Queen Casino.  (www.emeraldqueen.com).

Pike Place Market Ghost Tour
SAT Tour of locations with spooky history at the Pike Place Market .  (www.seattleghost.com).