# Christmas break with kids in Seattle, 2026

> What to do with kids in Seattle over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: three say they’re open on Christmas Day and three on New Year’s Day. Plus four dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.

- Last checked: 2026-10-26
- 3 places’ holiday hours; 8 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/seattle/christmas-break/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/seattle/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/seattle/llms.txt

## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **The Museum of Flight**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas” Source: https://www.museumofflight.org/plan-your-visit/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **KidsQuest Children’s Museum**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24–25: closed; New Year’s Day Dec 31: New Year’s Eve Countdown. Their page says: “Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas” Source: https://www.kidsquestmuseum.org/plan-your-visit/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Woodland Park Zoo**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Closed Christmas Day; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: ““The zoo is closed on Christmas Day.”” Source: https://zoo.org/event/closed-on-christmas-day/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## Christmas Eve

- **Santa at the Seattle Christmas Market** at Seattle Center, Fisher Pavilion, 305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA 98109. When: Nov 20 – Dec 27, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day). Time: Weekdays 4–9pm and weekends 11:30am–9pm through Dec 13; Dec 24 10am–7pm. Price: Market ticket required; price on the ticket page. Official page: https://www.seattlechristmasmarket.com/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **WildLanterns** at Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103. When: Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027 (closed Nov 16–18, 23, 26, 30; Dec 7, 14, 24–25; Jan 4–6, 11–13). Time: 4–9pm (last entry 8:30pm). Price: Dated tickets; price on the ticket page. Low Sensory Nights are Nov 15, Dec 1 and Jan 10. Official page: https://zoo.org/wildlanterns/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Winterfest Winter Train and Village** at Seattle Center Armory, Seattle Center Armory, 305 Harrison St., Seattle, WA 98109. When: Daily, Nov 27 – Dec 31, 2026. Time: 10am–6pm. Price: Free; donations accepted. A model train and holiday village inside the Armory. Kids can take a turn running the train between 10:30am and 5:30pm. Official page: https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/winterfest (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink** at Downtown Bellevue, 100 100th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004. When: Nov 13 – Jan 18. Price: $12 Mondays, $16 Tuesday–Thursday, $22 Friday–Sunday, $24 Dec. 18–Jan. 3. Official page: https://www.bellevueicerink.com/admission (checked 2026-10-26)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **New Year’s Eve Countdown at KidsQuest** at KidsQuest Children’s Museum, 1116 108th Ave NE, Bellevue, WA 98004. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: Countdowns at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. Price: Regular admission. Four daytime countdowns, so you can ring in the new year whenever your kid is awake. Official page: https://www.kidsquestmuseum.org/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **New Year’s Eve at Seattle Center** at Seattle Center, Seattle Center. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: Fountain of Light at International Fountain 9pm; fireworks from the Space Needle at midnight. Price: Free. Space Needle light shows run at 10, 10:30, 11 and 11:30pm, which are easier with little ones than the midnight fireworks. Official page: https://www.seattlecenter.com/events/featured-events/new-years-eve (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Noon Year's Eve Celebration at Renton Library** at KCLS Renton Library, 100 Mill Ave S, Renton, WA 98057. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Price: Free. The Renton branch sits on a bridge over the Cedar River. Kids decorate a craft or two before counting down to noon, and the library aims it at preschoolers and early grade-schoolers. No registration is listed. Official page: https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/6ab2d4a9ab7a8e0037c3a355 (checked 2026-10-28)
- **WildLanterns** at Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103. When: Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027 (closed Nov 16–18, 23, 26, 30; Dec 7, 14, 24–25; Jan 4–6, 11–13). Time: 4–9pm (last entry 8:30pm). Price: Dated tickets; price on the ticket page. Low Sensory Nights are Nov 15, Dec 1 and Jan 10. Official page: https://zoo.org/wildlanterns/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Seattle with kids?
The Museum of Flight (Dec 25: closed), KidsQuest Children’s Museum (Dec 24–25: closed), Woodland Park Zoo (Closed Christmas Day) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Seattle?
On the calendar: Santa at the Seattle Christmas Market.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Seattle?
The Museum of Flight (Not listed), KidsQuest Children’s Museum (Dec 31: New Year’s Eve Countdown), Woodland Park Zoo (Not listed).

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Seattle?
On the calendar for Jan 1: WildLanterns. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Seattle?
WildLanterns, Winterfest Winter Train and Village and Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 26, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).