A curated list of events and activities for you to check out 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.
1. Explore Van Gogh: the Immersive Experience
You can explore the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh in a whole new way by stepping into his paintings in this immersive exhibition in Seattle. Tickets are available now for Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience through November.
2. 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 just a few of the Candlelight Concerts in Seattle this November:
- Candlelight: Indie Rock Classics
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay at AXIS Pioneer Square
- Candlelight: A Tribute to The Rolling Stones
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Beyoncé at Sparkman Cellars
- Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift at Sparkman Cellars
3. Walk among the dinosaurs at Dinos Alive
This unique exhibition is fun for all ages. You’ll feel like you’re in Jurassic Park as you walk among life-size, moving dinosaurs in Dinos Alive: An Immersive Experience.
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 from now until November 5 and 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
On Thursday, November 3 you can enjoy a free day at a museum. Here are the Seattle museums that offer free admission the first Thursday of every month:
- Seattle Art Museum
- Museum of Flight (5-9 p.m.)
- Museum of History and Industry
- Nordic Museum
- Northwest African American Museum
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
- Henry Art Gallery (free every Sunday as well)
There are also a few Seattle museums that are free every day. These include:
- Frye Art Museum
- Center for Wooden Boats
- Center on Contemporary Art
- The Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center
- Klondike Gold Rush Museum
- Olympic Sculpture Park
6. Sip tea-infused cocktails at a glamorous evening soiree
On Thursday, November 3 you can go to the Fairmont Olympic Hotel for Tea Noir. This glamorous evening soiree offers you the chance to get dressed up and partake in tea-infused cocktails, an eight-course menu, and music and dancing. The event takes place from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. If interested, you must purchase tickets for Tea Noir in advance.
7. Get a taste of Seattle’s urban wineries
Love wine? On Friday, November 4 you can head to SODO for the fifth 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 2o22 tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door (but keep in mind that the event may sell out).
8. Treat yourself at the Northwest Chocolate Festival
On November 5 and 6 chocolate lovers can head over to Pier 66 on the Seattle waterfront for the Northwest Chocolate Festival! This is the largest gathering of artisan chocolate makers in the world and there will be plenty of opportunities to treat your taste buds. You can get tickets at the Northwest Chocolate Festival website.
9. Celebrate Día de los Muertos
On Saturday, November 5 you can celebrate Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) in Seattle. The Phinney Center celebration will have food, drink and festivities for this Mexican holiday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
10. 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, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Lewis & Clark National Historical Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and Whitman Mission National Historic Site.
Check out our guide to some of the best state parks in Washington.
11. Try new wines in the Walla Walla Valley
Calling all connoisseurs and enjoyers of wine! At Walla Walla Valley’s Fall Release Weekend, taking place from November 4-6, 2022, 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. 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 11-13 at Hangar 30 in Warren G. Magnuson Park, Seattle. This arts and fine crafts show offers wine, appetizers, and live music while you shop.
13. Try new brews at a winter beer tasting
On Saturday, November 12, Seattle beer lovers can head over to Phinney Center for the 35th Annual PNA Winter Beer Taste: Night of the Living Draft! With your ticket you’ll get to enjoy tastes from over 30 breweries plus food.
14. Dine at a local farm feast
On Sunday, November 13 you’ll want to bring your appetite and partake in An Incredible Feast. Some of Seattle’s best chefs and market farmers will be providing delicious food along with live music, drinks, and more. This 21+ event takes place at Block 41 in Belltown from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
15. See an incredible aerial show
On November 18 and 19, Seattleites can enjoy an amazing aerial and musical show. Aerial Americana is a collaboration between Emerald City Trapeze and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra for just one weekend in Seattle.
16. 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 18 to 30. You can go at any time in that period to view the designer Christmas trees, and you have until November 27 to purchase a tree. You can also buy tickets to the Festival of Trees Gala on November 19. All the proceeds from these events go towards Seattle Children’s Hospital as well as the Seattle Children’s Autism Center.
17. 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 19 at the Rainier Club. There will be top drams from around the world, food, and interesting educational opportunities.
18. 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 19 and 20. Your ticket will grant you admission to the museum as well as the weekend’s outdoor Christmas market.
19. See Seattle Shakespeare perform Macbeth
Seattle Shakespeare is performing Macbeth now through November 20 at Seattle Center! If you’re on a budget, you can see a pay-what-you-will performance on November 2. They also have pre-show and post-show events throughout the month. Get all the info about this production on the Seattle Shakespeare website.
20. Cheer on the Seattle Kraken at their home games
The Seattle Kraken have six 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.
21. Find a treasure at a monthly vintage market
On Saturday, November 19 you can go underneath the Fremont Bridge for a new monthly vintage market. The market runs from noon to 5:00 p.m. and will have up to 75 vendors (and patio heaters) under the bridge.
22. Shop local at a Native craft fair
Another great place to find unique holiday gifts in Seattle this season is the United Indians Native Art Market. This market full of Native American clothing, jewelry, woodworking, drums, art prints, and more takes places from November 19 to 20 at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center in Discovery Park.
23. Get a special meal or takeout 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.
24. 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 (pictured above) on November 19 and the Turkey Trot in Magnuson Park on November 24.
25. 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.
26. Compete in the Seattle Marathon 2022
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 at the University of Washington. Register and get all the info you need on the Seattle Marathon 2022 website.
27. See an epic Christmas Rock Opera
On November 26, 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!
28. Cheer on the Seahawks at a home game
The Seahawks are playing the Las Vegas Raiders on November 27 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 our favorite neighborhood sports bar.
29. Explore Winterfest at Seattle Center
Seattle Center Winterfest starts on November 25 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 25th!
30. 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 11, 2022 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!
31. Go to the Nutcracker Ballet
The Pacific Northwest Ballet production of The Nutcracker runs from November 25 to December 27. Experiencing this classic ballet is a great way to get festive this holiday season.
32. 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 25 to 27 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.
33. Experience Magic in the Market at Pike Place
Get in the holiday spirit on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at Pike Place Market. The all-day Magic in the Market event will have shopping, caroling, Santa, and ultimately the famous Market lighting ceremony.
34. 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 25, 2022.
35. Visit Seattle’s famous gingerbread village
Last year the Sheraton Grand Seattle’s Annual Gingerbread Village was cancelled but it’s coming back for 2022! You can visit the Sheraton Grand hotel later this month (date TBD) to see a newly designed setup. This event is free but your donation will go towards the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
See also: 8 Spectacular Spots To Watch The Sunset In Seattle
[Featured Image Source: Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash]