Holiday magic is in the PNW air
Colors changing, air cooling, stores bustling, nostalgia bubbling up. Just like that (oh, snap!), the holiday season has arrived. It’s time to start planning for holiday happenings in and around Redmond.
Archer’s hand-picked these Redmond-area holiday activities — each with a hearty helping of West Coast holiday spirit.
Holiday lights
Redmond Lights — Enjoy nightly light and art installations (5 - 11 PM) in Redmond’s Downtown Park, plus Friday Night Celebrations (6 - 9 PM) with live entertainment, local food vendors, crafting activities, community booths and performances. The 2023 Kick-Off and a Family Light Promenade are December 2.
Bellevue Magic Season — Bellevue’s holiday tradition features an open-air ice rink, holiday dance, music and theatre performances, Garden d’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden, gingerbread house decorating at KidsQuest’s Gingerbread Lane and the downtown magical street performance, Snowflake Lane.
Kirkland’s Winterfest and Google Lights — Winterfest features a nightly tree lighting, Santa's mailbox, a gingerbread house competition and merchant decorating contests. Google and SRM Development have created a nightly wonderland of thousands of colored lights along Cross Kirkland Corridor.
Holiday spirits + eats
AKB, a hotel bar — Archer’s whipped up The Giving Drink — a vanilla chai old fashioned that celebrates all things holiday: bourbon, lemon juice, orange bitters, chai simple and a cinnamon stick. Perhaps the best part? Archer donates $2 from the sale of each drink to No Kid Hungry — a national campaign committed to ending childhood hunger in the U.S.
Woodblock — In Redmond with more than 500 whiskey selections gracing the drink menu, guests are sure to find a warming spirit here. Along with shareable, approachable fare, savor whiskey flights, seasonal cocktails and the local-favorite: spiced apple cider.
Village Wines — Enjoy live music 6 - 8 PM Thursdays while choosing from more than 50 wines, local beers on tap and a delicious menu. Get into the holiday spirit Tuesday, November 14, with a special wine tasting event hosted by sommelier Shelly Fitzgerald.
The Feather Ballroom — Join Santa and Mrs. Claus in Snohomish on Saturday, December 9, for a full-catered breakfast, hot cocoa, holiday crafts, music and a photo booth.
Winter Beerfest — At Hangar 30 in Seattle’s Magnuson Park, this popular tasting tradition features more than 40 local breweries. Bonus: Designated driver admission is only $5.
Nifty holiday gifts
Small Business Saturday — Redmond Town Center (with 100+ shops, restaurants and services) hosts this all-day affair the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Help support brick-and-mortar small businesses and the local economy.
Redmond International Winter Market — Head to downtown Redmond (December 2, 11 AM - 3 PM) for great gift ideas from various cultures and international artisans, as well as tasty treats from local and international small businesses.
Annual Magic in the Market — All 9 acres of Pike Place Market are abuzz in holiday spirit. Along with a special shopping offer, visitors can enjoy (among many, many other things) cookie decorating, holiday choirs, Santa and crafty holiday photos, hands-on Hanukkah kids crafts, glass blowing demonstrations and a lighting ceremony.
Festive holiday stays with Archer
