Dec 06 Sunday
Allied Arts of Whatcom County is thrilled to present the 47th Annual Holiday Festival of the Arts, the longest running holiday market in Whatcom County. We host nearly one hundred artists for five weeks, and have music and children's art workshops on weekends!
The two-fold purpose of our festivals is to encourage and support the creation and sale of locally produced fine art and craft while providing an opportunity to connect artists and craftspeople with the general public.
The Festival opens on November 20th and runs until Christmas Eve! We're open seven days a week from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed for Thanksgiving, and we close early at 3pm on Christmas Eve.
We are excited to be back in Downtown Bellingham this year at 1400 Cornwall Ave, in the old Rite Aid building!
For hundreds of families and thousands of people across the Pacific Northwest, the holidays don’t truly begin until the first notes of “O Tannenbaum” ring out from the Jose “Juicy” Gonzales Trio.
What began over 15 years ago as a local favorite quickly blossomed into a cherished regional tradition—drawing audiences across generations who return year after year.
At the heart of the evening is Vince Guaraldi’s iconic score, recently named by Billboard as the #1 Greatest Holiday Album of All Time. Jose and his trio perform the soundtrack live in its entirety, honoring the original spirit while bringing warmth, swing, and soul to every note. From the infectious joy of “Linus and Lucy” to the nostalgic beauty of “Christmas Time Is Here,” the performance is an intimate experience that feels like a warm hug for the soul.
But the magic of this show extends beyond the music. Pianist and vocalist Jose “Juicy” Gonzales doesn’t just perform—he hosts. Through engaging storytelling, he shares behind-the-scenes history of the music and the original 1965 TV special, bringing to life the magic that made A Charlie Brown Christmas into a cultural touchstone.
Rooted in jazz, fueled by the blues, and touched with funk and lots of joy, the trio creates an experience that feels deeply human. You can feel the love in the room—it’s why audiences claim this show as their own and return year after year.
Virtual event on Zoom, open to everyone. Every Sunday, 2:30 to 3:00 PM Pacific (5:30 to 6:00 PM Eastern).
People skills are learnable, like anything else you practice.
Every Sunday, Jaunty runs a free 30-minute live class online for adults who want to feel easier around people: starting conversations, keeping them going, and connecting at work, with friends, or on dates.
It's live with a real instructor, not a recorded webinar.
Jaunty has been teaching social skills since 2013, founded in San Francisco by Eric Waisman, author of Approach.
Space is limited, so please register and arrive a few minutes early.
Register: https://www.jaunty.org/workshops
Some holiday memories begin with a song.
A few notes from Home Alone. A quiet winter night. A snowman who opens his eyes. A child looking up as the impossible begins to feel real.
Olympia Symphony brings families together for a holiday afternoon built around music, memory, and winter wonder. At the heart of the concert is Howard Blake’s beloved score to The Snowman, performed live with the animated film. As the story unfolds on screen, the orchestra carries every step, every snowfall, and the unforgettable Walking in the Air moment that has made the film a holiday favorite for generations.
The program also features John Williams’ Somewhere in My Memory from Home Alone, a piece that captures the glow, longing, and tenderness of the season in a melody many listeners know by heart.
Opening the concert, local young artist Alex Chen, winner of Olympia Symphony’s 2026 Young Artists Competition Junior Division, joins the orchestra for Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme. Bright, lively, and full of conversation between soloist and orchestra, the work gives Alex a chance to bring his own voice to a piece that has challenged and delighted cellists for generations.
This concert is a chance to slow down, sit together, and let the season feel magical again.
Buon Natale: An Italian Christmas
Celebrate the beauty and spirit of the season with Buon Natale: An Italian Christmas, a choral program inspired by Italy’s sacred music and folk traditions. This festive concert moves from intimate prayer to joyful celebration, revealing the many colors of Italy’s Christmas through music both reflective and exuberant.
The program opens with Giuseppe Verdi’s Ave Maria, a deeply expressive setting of quiet reverence and serenity. From there, we enter the devotional world of Ottorino Respighi’s dramatic tableau Laud to the Nativity, which tells the wonder of the Christmas story through rich harmonic language and ancient sacred inspiration.
Next is Francesco Paolo Frontini’s Eight Christmas Songs of the Sicilian People, arranged by Howard Arman—a vivid collection of Sicilian carols filled with folk energy, warmth, and communal joy.
The program concludes with Barlow Bradford’s arrangement of Santa Lucia, a heartfelt and expressive Sicilian hymn that brings the musical journey to a resonant close.
The evening caps off with our traditional candlelight finale, a cherished moment of shared reflection and quiet beauty that closes the concert in a spirit of peace and togetherness.
The non-profit Washington Blues Society is supporting Toys for Tots at a huge blues show at Aurora Borealis on Sunday, December 6. Five blues bands including McPage and Powell, Jeff and the Jet City Fliers, The Blue Skies Blues Band, the Karyn Michaelson Band, and Miles from Chicago will perform. Bring your dancin' shoes. Food and beverage service, of course. Admission is by donation to Toys for Tots (suggested minimum $15) or bring a new, unwrapped toy.
Seasonal ice skating returns to Bellevue Downtown Park at the Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink presented by Symetra!
Enjoy festive themed skate days, holiday fun, and memorable moments on the ice for all ages. The Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink is the region’s largest seasonal ice skating experience, with more than 9,000 square feet of real ice. Fun for the entire family!
Located at Bellevue Downtown Park, one block south of Bellevue Square at NE 1st Street and 100th Avenue NE, by Inspiration Playground.
Experience the wild wonder of the holiday season as you traverse through the Mystical Forest where stunning creatures gleam brightly! Here, behold the magical forest train, mystical tree fairies and fantastical unicorns. Embark on a Journey on a Bright Desert Highway and see desert flora and fauna before discovering Marvelous Mammals where spectacular Northwest animals are vividly portrayed in lantern form. Family-favorite Interactive Lanterns are spread throughout the WildLanterns spaces. Let your imagination take flight in the Birds of Paradise zone, swan into this area where magnificent peacocks flaunt their flamboyant plumes and birds of a feather perch on enchanted branches. Finally, embark on a journey Under the Jungle Canopy and spot all the mischievous monkeys hiding in the foliage!
Garden d’Lights is a dazzling holiday tradition that transforms the Bellevue Botanical Garden into a magical wonderland of over half a million sparkling lights in whimsical shapes of plants, flowers, birds, animals, and cascading waterfalls, all set amid the Garden’s natural beauty. Now celebrating its 32nd year, this beloved family event continues to enchant visitors with festive charm and imaginative displays.
