Updated for 12/31/2023: Welcome to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide! Check back often – we’re updating it at least once a day now through New Year’s – adding what’s newly announced and removing what’s over – so if you have something, lease email us ASAP so we can add it!

MIDNIGHT FIREWORKS, DRONE, LIGHT SHOW: Yes, the Space Needle will do it again to greet 2024, starting with light shows on the Needle at 10, 10:30, 11, and 11:30, then the fireworks and drone show to welcome the New Year.

IF YOU’RE WATCHING ON TV … look for West Seattle band THEM on the KING 5 broadcast/stream (details in our preview).

NEW YEAR’S EVE/DAY WALKS: The Emerald City Wanderers again invite you to celebrate on foot:

Say farewell to 2023 and welcome to 2024 with walks in West Seattle hosted by the Emerald City Wanderers. There will be 5 and 10K walks on New Year’s Eve and Day, different routes each day, leaving from St John the Baptist Episcopal Church [3050 California SW]. And hot soup and snacks to help you recover after the walks. On the Eve, walkers can start anytime between 3:30 and 6:30 PM; on New Year’s Day any time between 9 AM and noon. The Eve 10k goes down to Alki and around Duwamish Head and then back up to North Admiral. The Day walk does down to Emma Schmitz Memorial Overlook on Puget Sound, north to the Lighthouse, and back up to North Admiral via Schmitz Park. The Eve 5K goes down thru the Junction. The Day 5K tours North Admiral. There is no change for these walks though donations are very welcome. Flashlights are highly recommended for the New Year’s Eve walks. Info: m.nagan@comcast.net, emeraldcitywanderers.org.

NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT, NEW YEAR’S EVE: “HPAC and HPIC will be holding our annual ‘Not so Silent Night’ Parade on NYE. Bring a lantern or lights, your favorite noise maker, family and friends. We’ll meet at Highland Park Corner Store and wander loudly through the neighborhood welcoming in 2024. Plan to be at the start point by 6 pm.” (7789 Highland Park Way SW)

BAR (AND OTHER) PARTIES: Here’s what we have so far:

’80s PARTY AT THREE 9 LOUNGE: 8 pm-1 am, “Dress in your favorite ‘80s wear to be eligible to win a $100 gift card for the best dressed! Celebration of the Ladies of the ‘80s Playlist – Giveaways throughout the evening – Complimentary Midnight Toast.” (4505 39th SW)

THE ALLEY’S SUNDAY NIGHT JAZZ & NYE PARTY: Triangular Jazztet plays The Alley (4509 California SW) as usual, 8-10 pm, but tonight it’s part of the bar’s Black and Gold New Year’s Eve party, also featuring a DJ at 10:30 pm and champagne toast at midnight.

SOUL TRAIN NYE AT REVELRY ROOM/JET CITY LABS: 9 pm-1 am. Info here! (4547 California SW)

PARTY & DRAG SHOW AT ADMIRAL PUB: “New Year’s Eve party & Drag Show at Admiral Pub featuring Jolene Granby, Sid Seedy, & Jizzuhbell Johnson, with VJ Lacefront 9 pm. Free. With free Champagne Toast at Midnight.” (2306 California SW)

‘SEATTLE UNLEASHED’ NYE AT WEST SEATTLE BREWING: 9:45 pm, “untamed energy with an homage to the grunge legends,” party with live music, no cover. (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW)

COUNTDOWN PARTY AT BENBOW ROOM: DJ Tony Goods with ’80s and ’90s throwbacks – party starts at 10 pm at Benbow Room. (4210 SW Admiral Way)

SPARKLING CIDER TOAST AT WEST SEATTLE ARCADE: “West Seattle Arcade is hosting a family-friendly New Year’s toast! Open until after the Space Needle fireworks show, (which can be seen from the sidewalk out front), we will provide Martinelli’s sparkling apple juice in champagne flutes to everyone in the arcade at midnight. This is an alcohol-free event.” (2758 Alki SW)

(January 1, 2022 photo by Scott Nelson)

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE: It’s on! 10 am on Alki Beach; join the lineup just about anywhere on the sand east of the Bathhouse – here’s the announcement.

Let us know what else you want to see listed here, and/or what’s missing! Check back because we’ll be adding to the page frequently, as the events come in!

BUSINESS FESTIVAL DURING KWANZAA, DECEMBER 29-31: At the Washington State Black Legacy Institute (2656 42nd SW). 2-7 pm December 29, 11 am-7 pm December 30, 11 am-5 pm December 31. More info here and RSVP links in our story about WSBLI.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (3050 California SW; WSB sponsor)

Holiday Services at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church

Monday, December 25 at 9:30 AM — Christmas Day Eucharist

Sunday, December 31 at 9:30 AM — Christmas Lessons and Carols

Friday, January 5 at 6:30 PM — Twelfth Night Party in the Parish Hall. Join us for a festive celebration to include appetizers, king cake, wassail, and song!

Saturday, January 6 at 6:30 PM — Feast of the Epiphany Eucharist with Blessing of Chalk

PEACE LUTHERAN (39th/Thistle)

DECEMBER 31 SERVICE OF LESSONS AND CAROLS at 10:30 am. On the final day of the year, we gather to give thanks for God’s presence among us in the Incarnate Christ, retelling the story of his birth and childhood, as we ring out the old and bring in the new. This is a simple service of lessons and carols with Holy Communion and lots of singing. Come ring out the old and bring in the New Year!

FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH OF WEST SEATTLE (4105 California SW)

DECEMBER 25 Christmas Day 10:30 am

A Celebration of the Birth of Christ with A Festival Liturgy and Holy Communion.

These services will be celebrated within the old world beauty of this historic West Seattle church with its massive pillars, arches, vaulted beamed ceiling and awe-inspiring stained glass windows. Join us for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as part of your Christmas Tradition.

HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH (42nd/Oregon)

Livestream/replay at hopeseattle.org/onlineworship

New Year’s Eve
10 am Blended Worship service with Communion

BETHANY COMMUNITY CHURCH (8600 9th Ave SW)

New Year’s Eve Brunch | 9:30 AM

Reflect on the year before and the one to come during the New Year’s Eve Pancake Brunch at our normal worship time, 9:30 am, in the fellowship hall! Please register to let us know you will be there: churchbcc.org/EventDetail?EventOccurrenceId=2072

MENASHE FAMILY LIGHTS: The Menashe Family Lights are the biggest and brightest display in West Seattle.

(2023 photo by Theresa Arbow-O’Connor)

(5605 Beach Drive SW)

ASTRA LUMINA, THROUGH JANUARY 7: Celestially inspired light show on the grounds of the Seattle Chinese Garden at the north end of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) campus, times vary. Tickets and info here.

DECORATED HOMES, ALL SEASON LONG: We’re spotlighting homes as the tips come in! Watch this WSB archive.

Got lights? See lights? Neighborhood displays included – please let us know! We’ll be spotlighting lights all season long

BOOK DRIVE AT PAPER BOAT BOOKSELLERS, ONGOING: “This year we are partnering with Reading Partners Seattle and will be accepting donations of new and gently used kids books (picture books, chapter books). Reading Partners Seattle works with kids in our community schools through tutoring and the books you give will go to supply their ‘Take With You Library’ so that each child can receive a book to take home with them and start a book collection of their own. We have a basket set up by the register.” (6040 California SW)

DAVE NEWMAN STATE FARM INSURANCE AGENCY WARM CLOTHING DRIVE, ONGOING: In conjunction with the West Seattle Food Bank/West Seattle Helpline, the agency (WSB sponsor) is collecting donations of clothes, coats, and shoes until January 1st. Please drop off your donations at 3435 California Ave SW. The office is open for donations Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, 9 am to 5 pm. Tuesdays 9 am to 2 pm. For undergarments and socks, please donate only new and unopened packages of clothing items.

TOYS FOR TOTS AT NORTHWEST INSURANCE GROUP, ONGOING: Drop off new, unwrapped toys at Northweset Insurance Group (5431 California SW; WSB sponsor), 8 am-4 pm Mondays-Fridays.

CHIEF SEALTH IHS DONATION DRIVE, ONGOING: “Please consider donating to the CSIHS InvestED fundraising campaign. These funds are used to help our students that are struggling to fund the basic needs for a successful high school experience. Our current funds will not meet the many needs of our students this year so we are asking the community for help. The CSIHS InvestED fund helps provide students with necessities such as school supplies, clothing, emergency gear, and bedding. It also helps students pay for sports gear, dance tickets, yearbooks, caps and gowns, fees for art class, ASB stickers, funds for IB tests, and more. These funds can make a huge difference in our students ability to participate and thrive at school. Your donation will go directly into the InvestED Fund at Chief Sealth International High School. Simply designate your donation to Chief Sealth High School from the drop-down list on the donation page. Any donation is greatly appreciated! Donate Here!”

(Alki Bike and Board’s Treehouse donation corner, 2023)

DONATIONS FOR WSHS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, ONGOING: Here’s how to help:

Support WSHS Families This Holiday Season

Our Care Coordinator, Stacey Fernandez, is organizing a Holiday Gift Card Fund. Your donations will go directly toward providing WSHS students and families with items to meet their basic needs, including food, warm clothing, and personal hygiene supplies. No donation is too small. Give today! Stacey Fernandez (206) 252-8800 stfernandez@seattleschools.org

DONATIONS FOR ROXHILL STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, ONGOING: From Friends of Roxhill Elementary:

Every child should have a holiday meal and present, and parents and caregivers could use less stress this holiday season. You can make a difference by donating today to Friends of Roxhill Elementary, our school’s non-profit PTO. Bring holiday cheer and help families cover basic household needs (e.g., groceries, cleaning supplies, utilities). Our goal is to provide each family with $200 in holiday and household support this year. While we typically have about 50 families in our community who need support through the holiday season, Roxhill Elementary School’s counselor, Ms. Amber, has shared that the need for assistance has increased this year.

Roxhill Elementary is a small but mighty Title I school with approximately 245 students, located in the south end of West Seattle. 60% of our students are on free and reduced lunch. Over 72% of our students are from BIPOC communities (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color). Our school has a strong sense of community. We come together to celebrate and support each other. You can help us show every family that they are seen and cared for.

GIVE JOY FOR WESTSIDE BABY: Multiple ways this season:

While the weather’s turning gray and cool, WestSide Baby’s just getting warmed up! Our annual year-end campaign, Give Joy, kicked off November 1 and will run through December 31. This time of year, we have the incredible opportunity to partner with our neighbors to bring joy to children and parents in our communities. We’re inviting our neighbors to:
Donate dollars
Host a drive
Send warm items our way through our Amazon Wishlist

By participating in Give Joy, you will help WestSide Baby ensure that children in our community have the basics they need, like diapers and safety equipment – and also that they have the opportunity to experience extra joy this season. Questions? Email anna@westsidebaby.org