Updated for 12/31/2024: Welcome to this year’s WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide! Check back often – we’re updating it at least once a day now through New Year’s – adding what’s newly announced and removing what’s over – so if you have something, lease email us ASAP so we can add it! Note that the link has changed this year – it’s westseattleblog.com/holiday – thank you!

MIDNIGHT FIREWORKS: Yes, the Space Needle plans pyrotechnics again to greet 2025.

NEW YEAR’S EVE AND DAY WALKS: “The Emerald City Wanderers again will host noncompetitive walks on New Year’s Eve and Day, starting at St John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California SW). Different 5K and 10K walks will be offered on each day. On New Year’s Eve start any time between 4 and 7 PM from the Church, and enjoy hot soups and treats afterward in the Church community room. On New Year’s Day start any time between 9 AM and noon, with hot soups and snacks afterward. This is a great way to bid farewell to 2024 and welcome 2025. Donations are requested. Info: Mike Nagan at m.nagan@comcast.net.”

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY AT REVELRY ROOM: 9 pm-2 am, book ASAP. Details in our calendar listing.

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY AT WEST SEATTLE BOWL/THREE9 LOUNGE: 7 pm-midnight, book ASAP. Details in our calendar listing.

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY AT MAHARAJA: DJ Kingblind! 8 pm until 2025, at Maharaja in The Junction (4542 California SW).

NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOW AT THE SKYLARK: Live music at The Skylark with Cofgod, Our Ex Parris, Manatee Alchemy, Déjalo, doors at 8, music at 9, 21+. Free champagne toast at midnight! (3803 Delridge Way SW)

NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOW AT TIM’S TAVERN: Seven bands! Doors 6 pm, show 6:30 pm, all ages. Details here. (16th/98th, White Center)

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY AT WEST SEATTLE BREWING: 10 pm, DJ Raw One with hip-hop, R&B, Afrobeat. (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW)

NEW YEAR’S EVE AT POGGIE TAVERN: Champagne toast at midnight. (4717 California SW)

NEW YEAR’S EVE DINING: From Circa (2605 California SW): “Circa is throwing a party with lots of decor, special menu & regular menu, music, and general merriment. No reservations – just come on in – open 9 am-10 pm!”

NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER: Harry’s Beach House is offering a special one and wanted to list it here – details are in our calendar listing.

ANOTHER NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER: Walter’s/Upwell is hosting one, with early and late seatings – info and booking here.

NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT PARADE: Highland Park Improvement Club will again lead a neighborhood walk/parade with noisemakers on NYE to say goodbye to the old year. Details:

Celebrate the arrival of the New Year with friends and neighbors with an all-ages, family-friendly march through Highland Park. An annual event since 2009 (with the exception of the COVID shutdown), the Not-So-Silent-Night Parade is a community celebration to ring in the new year. All ages welcome.

5:30- 6 pm: Assemble at the Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW). The store will be open for mingling, snacks and libations.

6 pm: Parade begins

Bring your personal noise or music makers and festive lighting, and help ring in 2025 as we parade down to the Riverview Playfields for a ceremonial goodbye to the old and welcome to the new!

Interested in volunteering to help with this event?

We need:

Hospitality table hosts and cookie makers
Parade safety monitors
Luminaria set-up help
Love to dress it up? Help lead the walk!

Contact kay.kirkpatrick@hpic1919.org if interested!

Tips & Info

We parade via sidewalks primarily on quiet side streets
The route is approximately one mile, with some moderate hills. Folks are welcome to join in at any point.
This is an all-weather event! Light up your umbrella, wear your snow boots, come bundled up for whatever the season brings us.
Don’t feel up to walking? Onlookers are welcome to wave and cheer us on – or meet the marchers at the end of our route to join the ceremony and hospitality table by the Playfields.

Route ends at SW Webster and 11th Ave SW

Pets may want to stay home — it can get loud!

(January 1, 2022 photo by Scott Nelson)

POLAR BEAR SWIM: New Year’s Day morning on Alki – organizer Mark Ufkes confirmed to the Alki Community Council that it’s on again, 10 am sharp, all along the sandy beach.

GROCERY STORES, RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOPS: Fewer closures for this holiday. For grocery stores, Trader Joe’s is the only one closed for New Year’s Day in West Seattle. … Want coffee on New Year’s morning? Here’s our list … Restaurants open today are listed here (and for those open NYD, we also list their NYE hours).

Any changes/additions? Please email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

(WSB photo from 2019 Junction celebration)

THE DATES: This year, the 8-night Festival of Lights begins the evening of December 25th and ends January 2nd.

FROM WEST SEATTLE TORAH LEARNING CENTER: Events:

3rd Annual Menorah Lighting on Alki Beach on Wednesday, January 1st at 4:30 pm – Watch as a 12-foot Menorah will be lit with a tiki torch! Enjoy festive chocolate gelt and jelly donuts with neighbors to celebrate the holiday of Chanukah.

Any other local Hanukkah events? Email us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

OLG TREE: Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish & School (35th SW/SW Myrtle) has lit up the city’s highest-elevation Christmas tree!

WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION TREE: In Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska).

MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS: The Menashe Family Lights are the biggest and brightest display in West Seattle.
(WSB photo)
(5605 Beach Drive SW)

HOLIDAY LIGHTS AT OUNCES, THROUGH JANUARY 5: Nightly after dusk till close* (closing times vary; see Ounces hours here):

This Holiday Season, experience the magic of the Holidays every night at Ounces with Holiday Lights, Christmas Music, a 20 ft Santa, Festive Inflatables & Decor, Holiday Beer & Cider on Tap, FREE Candy Canes and more festive fun for all! Stop in any Tuesday-Sunday from dusk till close to experience the holiday magic!

(3809 Delridge Way SW)

ASTRA LUMINA, THROUGH JANUARY 31: Celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, times vary. Tickets and info here.

DECORATED HOMES, ALL SEASON LONG: We’re spotlighting homes! Watch this WSB archive.

Got lights? See lights? Neighborhood displays included – please let us know! We’ll be spotlighting lights all season long

FESTIVAL OF TREES, THROUGH JANUARY 2: Fauntleroy Church (9140 California SW) will have a festive forest of distinctively decorated trees in Fellowship Hall through the holiday season. The public is invited to view them and “vote” for favorites with a donation of non-perishable items destined for area food banks. Open 9 am-noon Monday-Thursday. Free.

WESTSIDE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION (7141 California SW)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31ST, 4:00 PM
New Year’s Eve Gathering: Join us for an informal ritual and marking of the year ending, the year to come, on New Year’s Eve in the social hall and, weather permitting, in the parking lot. We will share readings, chant, reflect, ponder the coming year and release our regrets.

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CATHOLIC CHURCH (35th/Myrtle)

10 am New Year’s Day Mass

HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH (42nd/Genesee)

Holy Rosary Church Mass Times

January 1 – Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God: 9:00 am

We’ll add more winter-holiday services as we receive announcements/schedules – so please e-mail us if/when you have your schedule finalized – thanks!

WEST WINGS, THROUGH JANUARY 1: “West Wings is holding a food drive for the West Seattle Food Bank through January 1. If customers bring in a food item to donate at the restaurant and tell the server, we’ll take 10% off their bill.” (2329 California SW)

WEST SEATTLE GIVING SPIRIT: Started on WSB November 20 – see who we’ve featured by scrolling through this archive.

FORGOTTEN CHILDREN’S FUND AT JOHN L. SCOTT WESTWOOD, ONGOING: Starting November 25, wnwrapped toys and gift cards are being collected at John L. Scott Real Estate – Westwood (2600 SW Barton; WSB sponsor):

John L Scott Westwood/The Madrona Group are accepting toy and monetary donations from November 25-December 18, 2024. We are working again with THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN’S FUND to bring Christmas to underprivileged families in Washington. Last year we delivered over 20,000 gifts to children and families in Western Washington. We helped over 750 families and approximately 2,100 children.

The Forgotten Children’s Fund began when a boy named Craig wrote a letter to Santa Claus in December of 1976. That letter never got delivered to Santa’s North Pole, but it did reach a restaurant in Seattle called Francisco’s. The letter immediately captured the heart of Mr. Dick Francisco, and the Forgotten Children’s Fund was created to help others in similar situations. The FCF currently operates in King County, Lewis County, North Counties (including Skagit, Island, Snohomish and Whatcom Counties) and Chelan Counties of Washington State.

Visit forgottenchildrensfund.org to donate, volunteer or just learn more about this organization.

While all donations are greatly appreciated, the age groups that tend to have the greatest need are infants, who need engaging but safe toys, and 9–12-year old’s, who tend to prefer projects and crafts. Any toys you are able to donate would be incredibly meaningful to the families who will be receiving your support this year.

Please bring your unwrapped gifts to John L. Scott Westwood at 2600 SW Barton Street, Suite A-6 (Westwood Village), Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday between 10-1 PM. You can also donate at our other locations: John L. Scott Bothell, Des Moines, Federal Way, and Mukilteo.

Checks can be made to THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN’S FUND – P.O. BOX 365 – Mount Vernon, WA 98273. Questions? Contact Josiah Melton at 425-949-8434 or jhmelton@johnlscott.com

FRIENDS OF ROXHILL: Ongoing contribution campaign (donate here):

Every child should have a holiday meal and present, and parents and caregivers could use less stress this holiday season. You can make a difference by donating today to Friends of Roxhill Elementary, our school’s non-profit PTO.

Bring holiday cheer and help families cover basic household needs (e.g., groceries, cleaning supplies, utilities). Our goal is to provide each family with $200 in holiday and household support this year.

While we typically have about 50 families in our community who need support through the holiday season, Roxhill Elementary School’s counselor, Ms. Amber, has shared that the need for assistance has increased this year.

“Roxhill Elementary has the most amazing community of bright, loving kids and caring, generous families,” said Ms. Amber. “I know how hard it is to ask for help, so I honor every parent that has had the courage to let me know they need help right now. This is what community is about.”

Roxhill Elementary is a small but mighty Title I school with approximately 245 students, located in the south end of West Seattle. 60% of our students are on free and reduced lunch. Over 72% of our students are from BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color). Our school has a strong sense of community. We come together to celebrate and support each other.

You can help us show every family that they are seen and cared for. This is a moment when we need to come together.

CLOTHING DRIVE FOR DENNY/SEALTH, JANUARY 8 DROPOFFS: Details here.

CLOTHING DRIVE AT DAVE NEWMAN INSURANCE AGENCY, THROUGH JAN. 1: It’s back!

The 11th annual winter clothing drive has begun at Dave Newman State Farm Insurance Agency.

In conjunction with the West Seattle Food Bank and West Seattle Helpline, we are collecting donations of clothes, coats, and shoes from November 20th until January 1st. Come see the new building front when you drop off your donations at 3435 California Ave SW. The office is open for donations Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 9 am to 5 pm. Tuesdays 9 am to 2 pm.

This year our agency will also collect food donations for the West Seattle Food Bank. For undergarments and socks please donate only new and unopened packages of clothing items. Pickup may be available for those who have donations but are unable to transport them. For further information contact the State Farm office at (206) 932-1878. Special thank you to West Seattle Recycling for their donation of collection barrels. Thank you West Seattle for your generosity and spirit of giving.

CONCORD INTERNATIONAL DONATION DRIVE: Contribute through this GoFundMe crowdfunding page.

Concord International Elementary School is an incredible school with bright, hard-working kids, loving families, and passionate staff. Concord serves a high-needs community – many of our kids qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch and benefit from our weekly Backpack program, which sends home meals over the weekend. When winter break comes on December 20th, many of our families will be hard-pressed to make up for the lack of breakfast, lunch, and weekend backpacks. During the holiday season, you can make it possible for all of our kids to have what they need, including basic necessities in addition to food. Please join the PTA in raising money to send gift cards home with the 50 kids in this program. We would love to raise enough for $100 for each kid for the 16 days away from the food programs.

Even a small donation makes a big difference – please consider donating to this campaign today!

Let us know what else you want to see listed here, and/or what’s missing! Check back because we’ll be adding to the page frequently, as the events come in!