Where to Find Holiday Markets Around Seattle

Seattle Christmas Market @ Seattle Center

Thru Dec 24

📆 Friday, November 24th – Sunday, December 24th
⏰ Open daily
📍Seattle Center: South Fountain Lawn and Fisher Pavilion
🎟 $16+ 

Nothing says Christmas cheer quite like a monthlong Christmas market!

From the brains behind the Vancouver Christmas Market, the new Seattle Christmas Market is setting up shop at the Fisher Pavilion and South Fountain Lawn in the Seattle Center this year. Inspired by holiday markets in Germany and Europe, this daily market brings together local artists and Christmas-themed entertainment for all to get their Christmas kicks. When announcing the festival, organizers called the Seattle Christmas Market a “true feast for the senses” with tons of Xmas decor, handmade wares, food, and a one-of-a-kind “Christmas Pyramid” unique to Seattle.

Once you buy your ticket for a timeslot entry, you’re free to peruse 60 artisan huts filled with handmade items—everything from Genna Fong’s fiber ornaments to jars of fermented veggies from Skagit Valley’s Junebug Ferments. You’ll get the whole German experience with food vendors selling Glühwein (spiced mulled wine) in the Christmas pyramid, warm pretzels, craft German beer, crispy schnitzel, and–of course!—bratwurst with hot German mustard.

Your time isn’t just limited to food and gifts. There’ll be an included Christmas Carousel for you and your family (over the age of 2!) to take a whirl on, a 30-foot-tall Christmas tree adorned with 50,000 lights you can walk underneath, a sparkling Lovers’ Lane to sneak a little kiss under the mistletoe, and a place to snap a pic with ol’ St. Nick. If you’ve had enough Glühwein, perhaps you’ll have the courage to attempt your own version of “All I Want for Christmas is You” at their holiday karaoke party. 

Go forth and immerse yourself in Christmas fun! Or Frohe Weihnachten, as they say in Germany!

🖊 JAS KEIMIG

Holiday Punk Rock Flea Market @ Nii Modo

Dec 8–10

📆 Friday, December 8th – Sunday, December 10th
⏰ Doors @ 3 pm on Friday | Doors @ 12 pm on weekends
📍Nii Modo: 1404 3rd Ave, Seattle
🎟 $1 to enter

The Punk Rock Flea Market is a time-honored tradition for punks and squares alike. The nomadic art market started in 2006 and, for the past 17 years, has been a place where Seattle’s DIY artist community can meet, hang out, and support each other’s projects. In December, the Punk Rock Flea Market will once again provide the masses with sick punk wares during the chaotic and stressful end-of-the-year holidays. 

Taking place inside the old Bartell Drugs on 3rd Avenue and Union, in a space now known as Nii Modo, dozens of fringe and freaky vendors will converge for three days with a wide variety of objects for your perusal—taxidermy for the death-obsessed, graffiti supplies for the renegade artists, crystals for the mystical, bondage for the masochists and sadists in your life—plus music, food, and drinks. 

This all-ages event only costs one buck to enter (inflation, who?), and organizers encourage people to “bring the kids, bring grandma, bring the whole damn crew.” A portion of the proceeds go to the Low Income Housing Institute, so not only are you a crucial part of maintaining underground culture here in Seattle, but you’re also supporting the unhoused community in the city. See you in the pit!

🖊 JAS KEIMIG

South Lake Union Winter Market @ Van Vorst Plaza

Dec 7–8

📅 Thursday, December 7th – Friday, December 8th
⏰ 10 am – 5 pm
📍 Van Vorst Plaza: 426 Terry Ave N, Seattle
🔁 New vendors each day
🎟  Free to attend

As the holiday season approaches, Seattle has plenty of opportunities to buy cool, handcrafted wares from local vendors. From December 7th to 8th, Seattle’s most prominent indie craft show, Urban Craft Uprising (UCU), takes over the Van Vorst Courtyard for a special South Lake Union Winter Market. 

Spread across two blocks, this free event features over two dozen vendors who rotate out each day for maximum craft potential. This year’s batches feature some primo craft content. You can get a print from Therapy Chickens Art, a tarot deck for your cool sister from Dark Days Tarot, and some locally made Hot Jawn Chili Sauce for your uncle who likes to keep it spicy. 

“It’s all unique and different and has more of a story than things one might purchase at a big box store,” UCU president Kristen Rask told Seattle Now about their makers’ markets earlier this week. One thing to note—the SLU Winter Market will be outside, so wear a warm coat and gloves, and don’t forget to bring a tote bag for all your treasures!

🖊 JAS KEIMIG

Winter Night Market 2023 @ Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

Dec 1–2

📅 Friday, December 1st + Saturday, December 2nd
⏰ 4 pm – 8 pm
📍 Island Gateway Plaza, next to Bainbridge Island Museum of Art: 500 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island
🎟 Free to attend

You smell that, Seattelites? It’s Puget Sound’s briny air beckoning you through its cold waters to Bainbridge Island for a cute, bespoke opportunity to support local artists and get gifts for end-of-the-year shenanigans. 

Now in its second year, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art‘s annual Winter Night Market is again taking over its plaza. For the first two nights of December, over two dozen vendors will be on deck for all of your holiday needs. Nab a sustainable, reusable Christmas gift bag from Indigo Crane, some earrings for your mom at Her Glow Candy Shop, or a cute stocking stuffy from Sablewood Paper Company. 

In addition to vendors, there will be short films playing BIMA’s galleries and typewriters should you want to make any vintage-feeling holiday letters. There won’t be a Santa Claus, but you can snap a picture with Miss Poulsbo, Kitsap, and Silverdale, who will all don holiday attire. And, of course, there will be hot cocoa, s’mores, and food from places like Taste Da Boot Authentic Cajun Cuisine and One Two Kai catering.  

🖊 JAS KEIMIG

Giving Marketplace @ Gates Foundation Discovery Center

Dec 1–2

🖊 SPONSORED: This top pick is presented by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. At the Discovery Center’s annual Giving Marketplace, you can support a good cause while shopping for everyone on your list.

📅 Friday, December 1st – Saturday, December 2nd
📍Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center: 440 5th Avenue, Seattle
⏰ 10 am – 5 pm
🎟 Free to attend

In 2011, Small Business Saturday became an official day, offering early holiday shoppers an alternative to Black Friday to support small businesses. Keeping in line with shopping with a purpose is the Giving Marketplace at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center—across from Seattle Center—where you can get a head start on your gift-buying while supporting great causes too. The marketplace is free to attend and great for all ages.

So far, here is the list of vendors set to appear:

African Print Takeover
Ajiri Tea Company
Awamaki
BaMatooke Made
Black Coffee Northwest
Friends of the Seattle Public Library
Friends of the WPC Nepal
Hawo Arts
International Rescue Committee, Seattle
Path with Art
Poverty Bay Coffee Company
Radical Grandma Collective
Refugee Artisan Initiative
Sacred Circle Gifts and Art
Seattle Fair Trade
Seeking Ferments
Snow Leopard Trust
Spír Candle Co.
Tizana Mexicana
TASWIRA
Tilth Alliance
The Pastry Project
UKUSH Handmade
Unkitawa
Ventures Marketplace
Water 1st
Water from Wine
Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience
Zuri

And whenever you need a breather from all the browsing, both days of the market promise plenty of activities. If you decide to drop in on Friday, you’ll be able to catch live music from Kenyan American singer-songwriter Naomi Wachira from 11 – 12 pm and 1 – 2 pm, along with animal portrait painting by Michelle Lassaline. If you’ve ever wondered what animal you embody, here’s your chance.

Saturday’s events include a performance from Brazilian guitar musician Marco de Carvalho and a wreath-making workshop from Jess Cheng in which she’ll be demonstrating how to turn dried flowers and invasive plant matter into a fully biodegradable mini-wreath. Guided ornament and jewelry-making will be taking place on both days as well, so if nothing catches your eye for some reason, you’ll at least be able to walk away with some handmade gifts.

Winter Market @ Seattle Rep

Nov 25 + Dec 3

📆 Saturday, November 25th @ 4:30 – 7:30 pm
📆 Sunday, December 3rd @ 2:30 – 5:30 pm
📍Seattle Rep lobby: 155 Mercer St, Seattle
🎟 Tickets to the matinee or evening performances of Little Womenon these dates are required for entry

Ever wanted to live in the world of Little Women, to traipse around Massachusetts of old and celebrate the holidays in true March Sisters fashion? You won’t be able to achieve that 100%, but you can get awfully close with Seattle Rep’s Winter Market in the theatre company’s lobby on two separate dates.

Tickets to either the matinee or evening performances of Little Women are required for entry, but playwright Kate Hamill’s vibrant adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic is already a perfect holiday outing for you and your family. So before or after you witness Jo March come into her own amidst the backdrop of 19th-century New England, have a grand time with several local vendors who promise to enliven your holiday season. Here are some businesses you can expect at this corner of the Seattle Center.

🎁 Need to brighten up your home with art, paper goods, and home décor? Check out euni + co. (only at the November market), the monarq, and Raquel Garcia’s trademark brand of shadow boxes.

🎁 Did you love the haberdashery you saw onstage? Seattle Rep’s own costumer Brent Roberts runs the Elsewhere Saint Hat Company, and he’ll make sure you cover your head with ultimate panache.

🎁 How about something to imbibe? The women-led and owned The Tea Heaven has you covered on Chai, Darjeeling, and the like, and it’s always a good time for some Theo Chocolates.

🎁 Finally, it’s not Little Women without a love of literature, so all you bookworms big and small should swing by the Secret Garden Books booth. 

🖊 MARCUS GORMAN

Bizarre Bazaar Holiday Market @ Georgetown Trailer Park Mall

Nov 25

📆 Saturday, November 25th
⏰ 11 am – 6 pm
📍Georgetown Trailer Park Mall: 5805 Airport Way S, Seattle
🎟 Free to attend

The Georgetown Trailer Park Mall is a delicious treasure in the glorious Georgetown neighborhood. Founded in 2010, nine local vendors open the doors to their vintage travel trailers every weekend for a sustainably run market of handcrafted goods, quirky wares, and genuinely scrumptious cookies. Unsurprisingly, their holiday market is equally strange, peppy fun. 

The Bizarre Bazaar Holiday Market is now back for its lucky 13th year and ready to have every visitor ho-ho-hoing their way through the holiday season. In this edition of the Bizarre Bazaar, there will be over 45 local artists and makers on-site vending their high-quality crafts as well as live music, cookies courtesy of Lowrider Cookies, and loads of coffee and hot chocolate. Pick up a couple of ornaments, why dontcha? Or perhaps some cool stationery from Get Lost Darling? Or find a unique ‘fit at Third Wave Mercantile for your holiday parties? Engage however you’d like—just don’t forget to take a Christmas picture with Mrs. Klaus, divorcée. She’s been through a lot!

🖊 JAS KEIMIG

Julefest: A Nordic Holiday Celebration @ National Nordic Museum

Nov 18–19

📆 Saturday, November 18th – Sunday, November 19th
⏰ 10 am – 5 pm
📍National Nordic Museum: 2655 NW Market Street, Seattle
🎟 $10 to enter for non-members | Free for members

For two days this month, a bit of Ballard transforms into a twinkling Nordic holiday experience. The 48th Julefest at the National Nordic Museum brings the traditions of Nordic Christmas markets right to Market Street—how perfect! Once Julefest opens its doors, four dozen vendors and their wares will welcome in the neighborhood to celebrate the Nordic way.

On the art and handcrafted goods end, there’ll be Scandinavian-themed prints from Swedish Dream and furry handmade gnomes and charcuterie boards from Pammy’s Attic. Norskwear and MorMor Crafts will be vending sweaters and hand-knit cold-weather gear, respectively. You can sip aquavit from Michigan’s Norden Aquavit (I’ve tried and it’s delish) and sample beer from Ballard’s Skål Beer Hall. And, duh, there’s gonna be tons of food: Swedish meatballs from Manic Meatballs, German-themed coffee-related treats from Kaffeeklatsch Seattle, and Hygge Chocolates’ cozy artisan chocolates.

As you pick up gifts for your loved ones (and yourself), the National Nordic Museum has booked a solid lineup of musicians to play. Bask in the heavenly notes of the Finnish Choral Society and get jiggy with the folk tunes of the Scandinavian group Hjarta Herring. Julefest is popular, and the museum urges people—even members—to purchase or reserve tickets ASAP so everyone can enter without delays. If you don’t want the Nordic fun to end, on Saturday, there’ll be a 21+ Julefest After Dark afterparty at Skål Beer Hall; show your ticket to the staff, and you’ll get a free pretzel with an additional purchase. Party away!

🖊 JAS KEIMIG