Nov 29 Saturday
George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® returns to brighten your holidays! Experience the sparkle, dancing, music, and magic that only The Nutcracker can bring. We’ll be decking the halls (McCaw Hall, that is) and putting on the greatest show in town, all you need are your tickets. Gather your friends and family for the Northwest’s favorite holiday tradition, a treat you’ll savor all season long.
Santa Limited - Saturdays & Sundays November 29-30, December 6-7, 13-14, & 20-21Ring in the holidays with a 2-hour excursion that begins out of North Bend Depot with a ride to the Railway History Campus. There you will have an hour to enjoy cookies and hot chocolate, seasonal crafts, photo opportunities, and visit with Santa in the restored Chapel Car 5 where all children receive a gift from him. Afterward you will hop back aboard and return to North Bend.
Yuletide Express - Fridays December 5, 12, & 19; Saturdays November 29, December 6, 13, & 20A shorter experience still perfect for making holiday memories! This round-trip train ride will take you from Snoqualmie Depot to the top of Snoqualmie Falls for a gorgeous winter view of the Snoqualmie River Valley. Santa rides aboard the train and visits with every family during the ride. All children receive a gift from Santa and all passengers receive a peppermint treat upon returning to Snoqualmie.
The stars are descending from the night sky. Set off across mysterious grounds to discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song. Immerse yourself in illuminating encounters of lighting, projection and sound, and connect with the stars before they return to the sky above.
Astra Lumina at Chinese Garden is the 21st experience in the Lumina Enchanted Night Walk series.
Astra Lumina welcomes you to an extraordinary place, a garden right here on earth that shares a special connection with the sky above. Come nightfall, the garden sets the stage for a phenomenal event: a visit from the stars.
Stroll through a magical world with over 1.5 million sparkling lights. A classic holiday tradition, Zoolights has dazzled our community for 38 years. Online timed tickets are required. Our aquariums are closed and animals are sleeping during Zoolights. Visit during the day to see your favorite animals. Closed Dec. 24 & 25.
See the zoo transform into a colorful winter wonderland with over 1.5 million lights. From the giant Pacific octopus to the Narrows Bridges, the Flame Tree to the Seahawks tree, and a magical tunnel of lights, come find your favorite displays... and don’t forget to hunt for Sasquatch!
Meet our magnificent herd of goats! During this one-of-a-kind holiday-themed private animal encounter, you’ll get up close and personal with our playful goats. Give the goats festive enrichment and then head into the zoo to enjoy all the sparkling lights. Space is limited.
For the first time ever, you can bring your dog to Zoolights! Mark your calendars for select Dog Nights on Dec. 1, 3, 9, 10 and Jan. 4. It’s a magical way to enjoy the lights with your furry friend by your side.
The Farm Fresh Market, featuring Ayala Farms, run Saturdays October 11 – December 6 from 9 am to 2 pm at the Historic Shell Station. Locals and visitors take advantage of the seasonal flowers and support local farmers. Live music from 11 am to 1 pm.
The Gingerbread Jamboree is the sweetest holiday family tradition in the South Sound! This festive event returns with all your favorite family activities including gingerbread house decorating, the candy buffet, Santa Gene, and many more surprises.
Tickets to Gingerbread Jamboree
Single Admission includes one prebuilt gingerbread house, one ticket for a single person, and one ticket to visit the Candy Buffet. Additional admission tickets can be purchased separately or multiple single admission tickets can be purchased for more tickets, houses, and visits to the candy buffet.
Additional Admission is for extra tickets to the Gingerbread Jamboree. This option does not include a gingerbread house or a trip to the candy buffet.
VIP Package is for large families who would like to reserve a private table to the the Gingerbread Jamboree. The VIP Package comes with 10 admission tickets, five prebuilt gingerbread houses, unlimited visits to the Candy Buffet, and a reserved table so you can guarantee seats together for your family and friends.
All attendees to the event, including those accompanying children, must have a purchased single admission or additional admission ticket, as seats are limited.
Echoes of the Floating World features a striking collection of 18th, 19th and early 20th-century Japanese woodblock prints from the Tacoma Art Museum and others, displayed alongside works by contemporary Northwest artists. This exhibition honors the rich legacy of ukiyo-e while exploring its cultural impact on today’s artistic expressions.
Hours-
Monday CLOSEDTuesday CLOSEDWednesday 10 am – 5 pmThursday 10 am – 8 pmFriday 10 am – 5 pmSaturday 10 am – 5 pmSunday 10 am – 5 pm
We are protesting project 2025. TacomaRama marching band will join us for the next 4 years. We will meet each month on the Saturday closest to the 18th each month. Always 10am, always Reconciliation park. Feel loved and supported.
The period from the 1870s to the 1900s, known as the Gilded Age, saw the rise of the railroad, textile industry, and production. It also saw a rise in migration to US cities, providing workers to fill low paying jobs producing many of the fashions of the era. This era marked a turning point in fashion as new technologies and changing cultural norms transformed the ways in which people dressed.
Explore this history and enjoy the rare chance to see clothing, notions, and artifacts of the period from the Washington State Historical Society collections.
Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music unveils the profound legacy of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul artists who shaped the soundscape of American culture and used their music as instruments of resistance, identity, and representation.
Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul embody the profound influence of African American music on culture and history. From the spiritual foundations and transformative movements of Gospel hymns to the revolutionary improvisations of Jazz, the Blues’ Southern roots rising from the Mississippi Delta, and Soul’s powerful amplification of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, these genres have defined the unique sound and undying spirit of a nation that continues to echo through contemporary Black music today.
