Don’t miss these top things to do in Seattle this November!
Looking for some fun and festive things to do in Seattle this November? We curated this comprehensive list of all the best events and unique things to do in the Emerald City this month. Many of these activities are budget-friendly and some are even free!
Read on for over 30 exciting ideas (in more or less chronological order):
1. Go to an interactive Harry Potter™ Experience
Harry Potter™ fans in Seattle will love embarking on an immersive journey into the wizarding world at the Harry Potter™: Magic at Play Seattle experience. It opens on November 10 and you can now get tickets here.
2. Enjoy a concert on a historic steamship
The historic S.S. Virginia V Steamship occasionally hosts an intimate concert on board and the next one is coming up this month. You can purchase wine or beer while enjoying an intimate acoustic concert aboard the 1922 steamship. Tickets are available now for an upcoming concert on November 3.
3. Go to a Concert Under the Stars
Take in stunning rooftop views and sip a cocktail while you listen to a romantic concert one evening. Here are two upcoming Concerts Under the Stars in Seattle this November:
- ABBA Under The Stars at The Olympic Rooftop Pavilion on November 9
- Amy Winehouse Under The Stars at The Olympic Rooftop on November 16
4. Feast throughout Seattle Restaurant Week
Does eating out for a discounted price while supporting local restaurants sound like a fun time to you? If so, we have great news: Seattle Restaurant Week, Seattle’s discount dining celebration, is running through November 4. There are over 165 restaurants participating with special meal offers. You can try $20 two-course lunches or $35 three-course dinners at new restaurants or go back to one of your favorites. There are also takeout and delivery options so you can indulge at home if you’d like!
5. Take advantage of free museum admission
Every month, several Seattle museums offer a free admission day. For most museums this occurs on the first Thursday of the month. See our guide to free admission days at Seattle museums.
6. Embark on a Mystery Picnic
This fall, Seattleites have the chance to embark on a Mystery Picnic that lets you explore a Seattle-area location of your choice while going on an interactive journey picking up gourmet picnic treats from local businesses. Below are the various foodie adventures up for grabs this November:
- Bellingham Mystery Picnic: Self-Guided Foodie Adventure
- Bainbridge Island Mystery Picnic: Self-Guided Foodie Adventure
- Mystery Picnic with Friends: Self Guided Foodie Adventure
- Mystery Picnic Date: Self-Guided Foodie Adventure
7. Experience a romantic Candlelight Concert
Looking for something cozy and romantic to do as the days get shorter and darker? Take yourself or a loved one on a date to a romantic candlelight string concert in Seattle. Here are Seattle’s upcoming Candlelight Concerts this November:
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Bad Bunny on November 15
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Pink Floyd on November 16
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele on November 29
- Candlelight: The Best of Metallica and Schubert on November 30
8. See Seattle Shakespeare perform a comedy
Seattle Shakespeare is performing the comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor on November 1-19 at Seattle Center! Get tickets and all the info about this production on the Seattle Shakespeare website.
9. Party at Freakout Fest
This epic Seattle fall music festival takes place in Ballard every November. As of this week, you can still get tickets to party for as many days as you want; it runs from November 2 through November 5 this year. Most of the festival is for ages 21+ but two stages are free and for all ages. Read more about Freakout Festival.
10. See a movie at a discounted price
If you’re planning to go see a movie in Seattle this November, take advantage of the savings offered by the AMC Yellow Ticket. This gets you an exclusive discount on any AMC Theatres ticket!
11. Try new wines in the Walla Walla Valley
Calling all connoisseurs and enjoyers of wine! At Walla Walla Valley’s 2023 Fall Release Weekend, taking place from November 3-5, you’ll be able to taste, savor, and purchase newly released wines from local wineries and tasting rooms. Trying an assortment of wines among the colored leaves of the valley’s trees sounds like it will make for a fantastic fall tasting experience! For all the details visit the event website.
12. Celebrate Día de los Muertos
On Saturday, November 4 you can celebrate Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) in Seattle. The Phinney Center celebration is free and will have food, drink and festivities for this Mexican holiday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
13. See the zoo illuminated by animal lanterns
Experience the zoo in a new, extra-festive way at this festival! WildLanterns is an immersive lantern festival starting on November 10 at the Woodland Park Zoo. As you stroll through the zoo, you’ll notice more “animals” than usual… in illuminated lantern forms. You’ll see shining lanterns of famous wild animals such as grizzly bears, eagles, snow leopards, tigers, giraffes, zebras, gorillas, and many more!
14. Shop a Seattle arts and crafts show
Want to find some unique, locally-made gifts ahead of the holidays? Check out the Best of the Northwest FALL Show from November 10-12 at Hangar 30 in Seattle’s Magnuson Park. This arts and fine crafts show offers wine, appetizers, and live music while you shop.
15. Try new brews at a winter beer tasting
On Saturday, November 11, Seattle beer lovers can head over to Phinney Center for the 35th Annual PNA Winter Beer Taste: Twin Pints! With your ticket you’ll get to enjoy tastes from over 30 breweries plus food.
16. Visit National or Washington State Parks for free
A visit to one of the national or Washington State parks near Seattle is always a great way to spend your day, but it’s even better when it’s free! You can enter both state and national parks completely free-of-charge on November 11th for Veterans Day, and Washington State parks are also free on November 25 for Native American Heritage Day (the day after Thanksgiving). This is a great way to discover or revisit parks that normally charge an entrance fee such as Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park.
Check out our guide to some of the best state parks in Washington.
17. Get a taste of Seattle’s urban wineries
Love wine? On Friday, November 17 you can head to SODO for the sixth annual POUR event. There will be over 20 Seattle wineries represented at Club Sur for an evening of wine, food, and music. If you’re interested in attending POUR 2023 tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door (but keep in mind that the event usually sells out fast).
18. Check out a huge holiday drive-through display
Christmas is on its way and it seems it’s never too early to put up decorations and start the festivities! If you’re already in the jolly mood, you can visit Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park near Tacoma, the largest holiday drive-through display in the Northwest. The two-mile-long drive will feature around 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights, and it’ll be in town starting on November 17.
19. Warm up at a Seattle whiskey tasting
Are you a whiskey connoisseur? You won’t want to miss Whiskies of the World Seattle on Saturday, November 18 at the Rainier Club. There will be top drams from around the world, food, and interesting educational opportunities.
20. Attend Seattle’s Nordic Christmas celebration
Get in the holiday spirit at Julefest: a Nordic Christmas celebration at the National Nordic Museum in Ballard on November 18-19. Your ticket will grant you admission to the museum as well as the weekend’s outdoor Christmas market.
21. Get active with a festive Thanksgiving run/walk
Looking to get active this November? You can choose between the Tacky Turkey Sweater 5k at Green Lake on November 18 and the Turkey Trot in Magnuson Park on November 23.
22. Get in the holiday spirit at a charitable Christmas tree display
The Seattle Festival of Trees will be at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in downtown Seattle from November 19 to 28. You can go at any time in that period to view the designer Christmas trees. You can also buy tickets to the Festival of Trees Gala on November 18. All the proceeds from these events go towards Seattle Children’s Hospital as well as the Seattle Children’s Autism Center.
23. Visit Seattle’s famous gingerbread village
You can visit the Sheraton Grand Seattle to view the famous Gingerbread Village starting on November 21 and continuing into January. This event is free but your donation (via a vote for a gingerbread house) will go towards the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
24. Find unique gifts at GeekCraft Expo
If you have a proud nerd in your life to shop for this holiday season, check out the GeekCraft Expo holiday market that runs from November 24-26 at Hangar 30 in Magnuson Park. Local makers and crafters will be selling all manner of handmade geeky goods. Get all the info you need to attend GeekCraft Expo in Seattle.
25. Go to the Nutcracker Ballet
The Pacific Northwest Ballet production of The Nutcracker runs from November 24 through December 27. Experiencing this classic ballet is a great way to get festive this holiday season.
26. Visit the new Seattle Christmas Market
Inspired by traditional European Christmas markets, the new Seattle Christmas Market opens in 2023 on November 24 at Seattle Center and continues through December. Although there is an admission fee, most of the activities within the market are free. Tickets have already gone on sale! Read more about the Seattle Christmas Market.
27. Explore Winterfest at Seattle Center
Seattle Center Winterfest starts on November 24 and continues through the end of December. You’ll get into the holiday spirit with the help of festive lights, entertainment, and a winter train and village. Don’t miss out on the free opening day celebration at Seattle Center on November 24th!
28. Attend the Seattle tree lighting celebration
On Friday, November 25 the Seattle tree lighting happens in Westlake Center. Thousands of people gather in downtown Seattle for this festive celebration.
29. Experience Magic in the Market at Pike Place
Get in the holiday spirit on Saturday, November 25 at Pike Place Market. The all-day Magic in the Market 2023 event will have shopping, caroling, Santa, and ultimately the famous Market lighting ceremony.
30. See an epic Christmas Rock Opera
On November 25, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is performing the rock opera The Ghosts of Christmas Eve at Climate Pledge Arena. Don’t miss out on this electric and festive show!
31. Compete in the Seattle Marathon
The Seattle Marathon is the Pacific Northwest’s oldest marathon (and one of the most scenic, in our opinion!). It takes place on November 26, along with a half marathon. Register and get all the info you need on the Seattle Marathon website.
32. Cheer on the Seattle Kraken at their home games
The Seattle Kraken have eight home games in November. Even if hockey isn’t your thing, the incredible arena food and the fun new Kraken mascot are sure to provide a good time.
33. Find a treasure at these Fremont weekend markets
On every Sunday in November you can go underneath the Fremont Bridge for the winter location of the Fremont Sunday Market. The same location hosts the Troll Vintage Market on every third Saturday of the month. You’ll find tons of vendors and cozy patio heaters under the bridge.
34. Get a special meal for Thanksgiving
Whether you’re far from family and friends on Thanksgiving or just prefer not to cook for the holiday, there are many Seattle restaurants offering special Thanksgiving meals. We’ll share a guide closer to the holiday but for now our suggestions include making a reservation for a vegetarian Thanksgiving meal at Cafe Flora, ordering a take-home vegan feast from Plum Bistro, or snagging a dinner reservation at Toulouse Petit.
35. Cheer on the Seahawks at a home game
The Seahawks are playing home games on November 12 and November 23 at Lumen Field. If you can score tickets to the game, have a blast; for the rest of us, we’ll have just as much fun cheering on the Seahawks at these Seattle sports bars.
36. See Christmas trees and Santa at The Westin
The Westin Seattle is hosting the 2023 Family Preview, which is a family-friendly holiday event with free admission on November 27. There will be free milk and cookies for kids, photos with Santa, arts and crafts, a raffle, and voting for your favorite decorated Christmas tree. It runs from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.