Seattle’s best holiday shows, concerts to plan and buy tickets for now

Last year, most holiday events and traditions were canceled or held virtually in Seattle due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While we still have a way to go before this pandemic is in hindsight, there is some good news: most of the city’s beloved holiday shows are back this year along with some new additions.

Bellevue Baptist Church is currently reinventing its singing Christmas tree program, “Hip Hop Nutcracker,” and no performance with Unexpected Productions’ “An (Improvised) Christmas Carol” is going to be the same. This year also marks the 7th year of the Pacific Northwest Ballet using George Balanchine’s version of “The Nutcracker” and the 20th year of Christmas concerts for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Keep reading for a list of the best holiday shows and concerts – from classics to newly imagined versions – taking place around Seattle this year.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker.

Seattle Theater Group

Nutcracker performances

“The Hip Hop Nutcracker”
13.-14. November
Paramount Theater, Seattle
$ 82- $ 319
A mix of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker traditional music and hip hop dance. Instead of Christmas, production is put on during New Year’s Eve, Sweets Land is a nightclub, and pirouettes are replaced with floor wind turbines.
Tickets: seattle-theatre.com

George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker”
November 26 – December 28
McCaw Hall, Seattle
$ 27- $ 174
This is Seattle’s major holiday event with 150 different roles, 154 costumes (not counting duplicates), 22 painted scenery and a 40 foot Christmas tree plus lots of “snow” and scenography portrayed by children’s book illustrator Ian Falconer.
Tickets: pnb.org

“The Land of Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker”
December 8 – 29
Triple Door, Seattle
$ 50- $ 90
This is not your grandmother’s ballet show. This play takes the traditional show and gives it a bawdy makeover. But make no mistake, this is a professional production featuring original choreography by Lily Verlaine and original jazz arrangements by Jasper, McCann, Kate Olson and Michael Owcharuk.
Tickets: thetripledoor.net

International Ballets “The Nutcracker”
December 10 – 23
Meydenbauer Theater, Bellevue
$ 26- $ 53
Celebrating the company’s 20th anniversary performance of this classic show with a cast of 80 young people.
Tickets: brownpapertickets.com

A performance by the Transiberian Orchestra

The Transiberian Orchestra

Christmas concerts

Big Bad Voodoo far
November 21st
Pantages Theater, Tacoma
$ 29- $ 79
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy invites you to join their “Wild and Swingin ‘Holiday Party” with their unique offer of Christmas tunes from their two Christmas albums.
Tickets: tickets.tacomaartslive.org

Trans-Siberian Orchestra
November 27
Climate Pledge Arena
$ 80- $ 312
The new production – “Christmas Eve and Other Stories” – which celebrates 20 years of holiday rock music, will feature new music as well as some of the group’s biggest tunes.
Tickets: seattle-theatre.com

Hope: A PLU Christmas concert
4-6. December and 11-12
Lagerquist Concert Hall and Benaroya Concert Hall, Seattle
$ 10- $ 37
The PLU Choir of the West, University Chorale and University Symphony Orchestra come together to present an uplifting concert featuring traditional songs and seasonal favorites.
Tickets: plu.edu

Food and Savanna Shaw
December 6th
Neptune Theater, Seattle
$ 25- $ 55
This father-daughter singing duo has been one YouTube Sensation with their recording of “The Prayer”. Now their “The Joy of Christmas Tour” hopes to spread joy and cheers through their music.
Tickets: stgpresents.org

Christmas in Hawaii
December 10th
Pantages Theater, Tacoma
$ 29- $ 85
Ukulele champion and an unofficial “cheerful ambassador for aloha”, Jake Shimabukuro will debut his first holiday concert.
Tickets: tickets.tacomaartslive.org

Holiday Pops
10.-12. December
Benaroya Hall, Seattle
$ 41- $ 101
Conductor Stuart Chafetz and Broadway star, N’Kenge headlines in this program with holiday favorites, traditional Christmas songs and lots of cheers.
Tickets: seattlesymphony.org

“Singing Christmas tree”
December 8, 10, 11 and 12
Bellevue Baptist Church, Bellevue
Cost TBA
The church is getting bored with its presentation of the “singing Christmas tree” that says they keep the tradition alive but re-perceived.
Tickets: bellevue.org/singing-christmas-tree

“And Charlie Brown you”
December 12
Cornish Playhouse, Seattle
$ 18 – $ 75
The Jose Gonzales Trio returns for the tenth time and presents the music of Vince Guaraldi from the classic animated TV special.
Tickets: Brown paper tickets

James Garners “Johnny Cash Christmas”
December 12
Historic Everett Theater, Everett
$ 25- $ 35
For 13 years now, Garner has recreated some of Johnny Cash’s greatest hits with amazing accuracy. Now, “The Man in Black” will present a holiday show that takes you down the memory path.
Tickets: eventbrite.com

Mariachi Sol De Mexico
December 14th
Neptune Theater, Seattle
$ 57- $ 84
Jose Hernandez’s Grammy-nominated and world-renowned band presents the festive “A Merry-achi Christmas.”
Tickets: seattle-theatre.com

A Beach Boys Christmas with “Surfin”
December 17th
Historic Everett Theater, Everett
$ 40- $ 45
This Beach Boys tribute band plays all the holiday classics with a “surfin” twist.
More info: eventbrite.com

“Messiah”
December 18-19
First Free Methodist Church (Seattle) and Bastyr Chapel (Kenmore)
$ 10- $ 25
The Harmonia Orchestra and Chorus present Handel’s full and unabridged score of “Messiah” at two venues with soloists Ellaina Lewis, José Luis Muñoz, Brendan Tuohy and Ryan Bede.
Tickets: harmoniaseattle.org

Snow Globe Holiday Concert
December 19th
Royal Room, Seattle
$ 15
With all the proceeds going to benefit Northwest Harvest, you will feel warm inside this Christmas concert featuring, among others, Kristin Chambers and The Mack Grout Trio.
Tickets: strangertickets.com

Christmas Revels

The Christmas Revels

Christmas theater productions

“An (improvised) Christmas song”
26.-28. November, 2-5., 9.-12. and 16.-23. December
Unexpected productions, Seattle
$ 15- $ 20
One of the city’s cheapest vacation programs is also one of the most creative. Using about 30 different suggestions from the audience, this team recreates the classic “A Christmas Carol” with their own bizarre twist.
Tickets: eventbrite.com

“Inspection of Carol”
November 26-Dec. 19
Phoenix Theater, Edmonds
Cost TBD
Back after popular demand, Daniel Sullivan’s script follows a problematic production of “A Christmas Carol,” in which Tim is no longer small, Scrooge will make the play in Spanish, and the show is put on hold until it is approved by inspection, hence the name.
Tickets: tptedmonds.org

“Christmastown: A Holiday Noir”
November 26-Dec. 24
Seattle Public Theater, Seattle
$ 5- $ 50
This hard-boiled comedy features detective Nick Holiday investigating shenanigans in Christmastown involving Big Red, a glamorous pixie, a used Christmas tree seller and more.
Tickets: app.arts-people.com

“A Drag Queen Christmas”
November 29
Moore Theater
37-80 dollars
The Seattle Theater Group promises that this show will be a “magical night of fun with holiday classics and cheeky blinds.” You have been warned.
Tickets: ticketmaster.com

“O julete”
November 30th
Neptune Theater, Seattle
$ 19- $ 44
“O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy” is said to excite fans of Monty Python and Mr. Bean. Off-Broadway physical comedians, James & Jamesy, will present an assortment of clever Christmas-themed comedy sketches.
Tickets: stgpresents.org

“A John Waters Christmas”
December 1st
Neptune Theater, Seattle
$ 63- $ 199
The legendary cult film, John Waters offers a one-man monologue that gives tips for showing the best Christmas movies and music and asks the awkward questions about the holiday that you do not want.
Tickets: seattle-theatre.com

“A very hard Christmas”
3-20. December
Seattle Public Theater, Seattle
$ 28- $ 36
It’s the return to a holiday favorite and a musical comedy parody of the unofficial holiday movie, “Die Hard.” Yippie ki yay, julehygge.
Tickets: app.arts-people.com

“A Christmas carol”
7.-26. December
ACT Theater, Seattle
$ 20- $ 82
A Contemporary Theater is a tradition in Seattle for 46 years and presents Charles Dickens’ holiday story of Scrooge, who finally discovers the joy of charity, redemption and Christmas.
Tickets: order.acttheatre.org

“Dina Martina Christmas Show”
10.-11. December
Moore Theater, Seattle
$ 25- $ 60
This drag queen show promises to be “packed with ridiculous songs, terrifying stories and overloaded costumes”, while Martina and her accompanist, Chris Jeffries, present a show you will never forget. ‘It’s the season.
Tickets: ticketmaster.com

“Christmas fun”
18.-22. December
Rialto Theater, Seattle
$ 13- $ 36
Expect magical storytelling, toe-tapping tunes, high energy clogging, beautiful Christmas Eve, noisy songs in the new year, a flying canoe and a quick trade with the devil.
Tickets: pugetsoundrevels.org