Go and enjoy Seattle Center's Winterfest, six weeks of
festive, FREE, fun-filled entertainment. At the Seattle Center Armory you will find a decked out holiday model train and village set up. You can watch for free or kids can "drive" the trains at the conductor's console for a suggested donation of $2 at special times. And outside, sparkling lights illuminate the center
of Seattle Center in its 50th Anniversary year!
Winterfest will also feature an ice rink, ice sculpting, student showcases
and live weekend performances. This annual festival opens with Seattle
Youth Symphony Orchestra and rings in the New Year with dramatic
fireworks and The Rhythm Nation.
Campus Luminta sponsored by T-Mobile
Nov. 23 - Jan. 6, 2013, after dusk
Seattle Center Campus, FREE
Stroll along Seattle Center pathways and take in thousands of
twinkling festive lights. They'll guide your way to discovering a
74-acre wonderland in the heart of our city and lead to dazzling
Winterfest events.
Winterfest Ice Rink
Nov. 23 – Jan. 6, 2013
Sunday – Thursday, 11am – 8pm
Friday – Saturday, 11am – 10pm
Fisher Pavilion, Prices Vary
Glide into the season with the greatest of ease and excitement. For
novice or Olympiad, Winterfest Ice Rink offers fun for all. Admission
includes skate rental: $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12, and $2
children ages 5 and under.
Cash only. FREE admission to watch.
Special hours: closes at 4pm on Dec. 24; closed on Dec. 25; closes at 11:30pm on Dec. 31.
Winter Train & Village
Nov. 23 – Jan. 6, 2013, 10am – 6pm
Seattle Center Armory / Center House, FREE

A Winterfest favorite, a magnificent, turn-of-the-century village in
miniature size, with garlanded homes and buildings, snowy streets and a
moving model train. Visit and take a turn controlling the train between
10:30am-12pm, 1pm-2:30pm and 3:30-5:30pm daily. $2 suggested donation. Cash only.
Special hours: closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.

A much anticipated annual tradition, Seattle Youth Symphony
Orchestra, one of the nation’s largest and most noteworthy classical
music youth ensembles, opens Seattle Center Winterfest with a
performance of seasonal works. Their expert renditions are sure to
engage and inspire!
Ice Sculpting
Saturdays, Nov. 24 and Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, 12 noon – 2pm
Outside Fisher Pavilion, FREE
Artistry and ice unite in a glorious and temporal expression of the
season. Watch internationally acclaimed, award-winning artists at work
as they create seasonal sculptures – or stop by later to see the
glistening result. Each Saturday an ice master carves a different
design.
Seattle Men's Chorus
Saturday, Nov. 24, 12:30pm
Seattle Center Armory / Center House, FREE
The world's largest gay men's chorus presents community performances and
state-wide, national and international tours. More than just a chorus,
Seattle Men’s Chorus also is a “voice for acceptance” in the community
and across the country and plays an important national role providing
musical leadership and administrative expertise to arts organizations.
There's No Place Like Home
Saturday, Nov. 24, 4pm
International Fountain, FREE
Fanciful art installation and site-based participatory performance by
Lucia Neare Theatricals. This “wonder” full company creates joyful
theatrical experiences for audiences that offer vivid infusions of
whimsy and inspire hope and expansive thinking.
Cat Pack with Unexpected Productions
Sunday, Nov. 25, 12:30pm
Seattle Center Armory / Center House, FREE
Seattle's long-running comedy improv troupe is back at Seattle
Center Winterfest, in a musical show inspired by the Rat Pack era.
Winterfest Student Showcases
Nov. 26 – Jan. 6, 2013, varied times
Seattle Center Armory / Center House, FREE
Click
here for the complete schedule
Student Showcases offer entertainment as part of seasonal events and
provide public and private schools and youth performance groups the
opportunity to share their artistic accomplishments with family, friends
and the public.
The Magic of the Moment: PTSA Reflections
Dec. 10 – 31, 9am – 9pm
Harrison Street Gallery, Seattle Center Armory / Center House 3rd Floor, FREE
The exhibit features selected artwork of Seattle Public School students
created within a theme of “The Magic of the Moment.” The works are among
thousands of submissions from across the country competing in the
national PTA's Reflections art program. Finalists from this exhibit will
enter statewide competition. Reflections encourages students to explore
the arts and express themselves by giving positive recognition for
their artistic efforts. Since it was founded in 1969 by Mary Lou
Anderson, millions of students have benefited from this program.
Bailadores de Bronce
Saturday, Dec. 15, 12:30pm
Seattle Center Armory / Center House, FREE
Bailadores de Bronce portrays the positive aspects of the Mexican
culture in the broader community, breaking down cultural barriers and
building bridges as it teaches and performs Mexican folkloric dances in
Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest. The high energy and
enthusiasm of the dancers transcends the stage and is felt by the
audience at each performance, while their beautiful costumes convey the
richness of their culture.
Klez Kidz
Sunday, Dec. 16, 12:30pm
Seattle Center Armory / Center House, FREE
This intergenerational group of musicians, singers and dancers presents
interactive concerts of world Jewish music and mirth. You’ll hear the
wail of clarinets and the rousing sounds of Israeli dance music. You’ll
see bottles balanced on the heads of dancers, and you might even learn
some new steps!
SANCA Youth Performance Company
Saturday, Dec. 22, 12:30pm
Seattle Center Armory / Center House, FREE
SANCA Youth Performance Company practices and performs original acts in
aerial arts, juggling, tightwire, clowning, unicycle and acrobatics.
Come watch these talented kids as they delight their audience on Seattle
Center Armory stage.
Garfield High School Jazz Band
Sunday, Dec. 23, 1pm
Seattle Center Armory / Center House, FREE
A Winterfest sensation returns! Enjoy the seasonal sounds of the
esteemed Garfield High School Jazz Band under the direction of Seattle's
own jazz great, Clarence Acox.
The Dickens Carolers
Dec. 29, 12:30pm
Seattle Center Armory / Center House, FREE
A quartet of Victorian costumed carolers sings your favorite
seasonally-themed music on Seattle Center Armory Stage. Since 1978, The
Dickens Carolers have offered traditional and contemporary holiday
favorites, resonating in beautiful four-part harmony.
Eastside Modern Jazz Orchestra
Sunday, Dec. 30, 12:30pm
Seattle Center Armory / Center House, FREE
Presenting an electrifying mix of funk, Latin, jazz-rock fusion and
contemporary jazz, Eastside Modern Jazz Orchestra, an adjunct of the
Woodinville Community Band, plays with the unique power that comes from a
big band. Led by saxophonist extraordinaire and music instructor Neil
Proff, the ensemble will have you tapping your toes to music by great
arrangers like Gordon Goodwin, Thad Jones and Jeff Jarvis.
New Year's Eve Celebration with The Rhythm Nation
Monday, Dec. 31, 8:15pm – 11:45pm
Seattle Center Armory / Center House, FREE
The Rhythm Nation is the ultimate party band, playing a diverse mix of
popular dance, R&B, rock and old school music drawing from the 1970s
through the 1990s to the current hits of today. Their high-energy
performance and music will surely fill the dance floor and leave crowds
cheering for more!
Microsoft Jumpin' Jive Orchestra
Saturday, Jan. 5, 12:30pm
Seattle Center Armory, FREE
An adjunct music group of the non-profit organization The Dissonance,
the Microsoft Jumpin' Jive Orchestra (MJJO) is a unique big band
composed of players who work at or have worked for Microsoft. MJJO
performs the great standards and original compositions for delighted
audiences throughout the Puget Sound region.
For more info. go
here.