There’s so much to take in during the holiday season! Plan your holiday in Kirkland today with these upcoming special events.
Winterfest
Visit Winterfest, held every year in Marina Park, and grab a cup of free hot chocolate, served to you by members of the Kirkland City Council! This fun tradition has been ongoing for years, giving our residents the chance to mingle and celebrate with council members and guests. While it seldom snows in Kirkland, kids of all ages love sledding down “Marina Mountain,” a custom-made snowy hill created just for Winterfest! Don’t forget about Celestial Lights, a spectacular showcase of choral and choral-orchestral music set against the magical backdrop of the Bastyr University Chapel. Learn more here.
Google Lights
Nothing will ignite your holiday spirit more than Google Lights, which takes place at the Google Campus and the Cross Kirkland Corridor. Like Winterfest, Google Lights is held every December, and features a stunning display of beautiful colored lights choreographed to music! The event includes carolers, free cider, and other surprises that change from year to year. Learn more here.
Kirkland Arts Center Holiday Art Market
The Holiday Art Market is a great find for last minute gifts. Running through December 21, the market has over 80 local artists participating, so you will be sure to find the best holiday gifts for friends and family alike. Meanwhile, you’ll be supporting local artists and the KAC. Learn more at their website here.
Downtown Kirkland Ice Rink
Experience the magic of winter in downtown Kirkland with festive outdoor ice skating on Lee Johnson Field surrounded by twinkling lights, music, and seasonal cheer for all ages. This is REAL ice, so bundle up! Ice skating runs through January 11 – buy tickets here.
Kirkland Performance Center
Centrally located in the heart of Kirkland, Kirkland Performance Center is the ideal venue for a truly memorable experience. Enjoy one of their holiday shows this winter season!
Jake Shimabukuro’s Holidays in Hawai’i
Monday, December 1, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Get ready to immerse yourself in the magical spirit of the holidays as the ukulele virtuoso and beloved ambassador of aloha, Jake Shimabukuro, presents his highly anticipated seasonal extravaganza: Jake Shimabukuro, Holidays in Hawai’i! This festive show promises to be a sensational gift to music lovers worldwide, delivering an unforgettable experience filled with joy, warmth, and the infectious charm of the ukulele. Tickets here.
Rock The Holidays
Wednesday, December 3, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Concert Rock Violinist Aaron Meyer brings familiar holiday songs as well as classical pieces to audiences, with the added excitement of a virtuosic Concert Rock band. From Mozart, Vivaldi, and Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, to Aerosmith and Led Zeppelin, Aaron’s unique brand of Concert Rock celebrates classical music by infusing new life through the modern sound, styles and performance of rock music. Tickets here.
Kalani Pe’a’s Hawaiian Christmas
Sunday, December 7, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Kalani Pe‘a’s Hawaiian Christmas show is a celebration of the warmth and special “aloha” of the Holiday Season, sharing much-loved songs from both western and Hawaiian roots. A four-time Grammy winner, Kalani is a charismatic performer with a gorgeous voice, powerful presence, and captivating style not-to-be-missed. Tickets here.
O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy
Wednesday, December 10, 2025 – 7:30 PM
Thursday, December 11, 2025 – 3:00 PM, 7:30 PM
Fans of Monty Python, Mr. Bean, and Dr. Seuss… Grab your teacups! Combining British propriety with an unabashed love for the unexpected, London’s 3-time Impresario Award-winning duo steep an outrageously funny and brilliantly inventive show reminiscent of classic British pantos. Tickets here ($10 off tickets at each tier for students).
Joyful Memories!
Sunday, December 14, 2025 – 2:00 PM, 7:00 PM
Let’s take a joyful musical stroll down memory lane. Join A Cappella Northwest for an evening of the very best a cappella available on the Eastside as they present Northwest Sound and Northwest Mix in their celebration of the season, Joyful Memories! Tickets here.
Nutcracker
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Thursday, December 18, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Nutcracker is a ballet that will always be timeless. It has been loved for more than 100 years by many generations of children and adults from different countries all around the world. This performance is presented by the Grand Kyiv Ballet, a company that organizes the touring activities of Ukrainian ballet dancers. Tickets here.
Geoffrey Castle’s Celtic Christmas
Friday, December 19, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 20, 2025 – 3:00 PM, 7:00 PM
This grand production features the showmanship and fiery fiddle of electric violin maestro Geoffrey Castle, complemented by Irish Tenor and Guitarist Dan Connolly, the All-Star Celtic Band, and the Seattle Irish Dance Company, PLUS the captivating voice of former Miss Kirkland, Emily McIntosh. Geoffrey Castle, a longtime Kirkland resident and award winning supporter of the Kirkland Performance Center, is a pioneer on an unusual instrument: the six-string electric violin! Tickets here.