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A Taste of Europe Comes to Seattle for Christmas

Monthlong celebration begins the day after Thanksgiving

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Photo by AleksandarNakic/Getty

This article originally appeared in the November/December 2023 issue of Seattle magazine.

A scene reminiscent of old Europe will be on full display at Seattle Center this holiday season when the city’s first-ever Seattle Christmas Market opens for a monthlong celebration.

Inspired by historic German Christmas markets, the Seattle Christmas Market opened Nov. 24 and runs through Christmas Eve at Fisher Pavilion and South Fountain lawn at Seattle Center. The European-style outdoor Christmas village and community marketplace will feature festive decorations, daily live entertainment, sweet and savory treats, and handcrafted gifts.

It will also boast a 50-foot walkthrough Christmas tree with more than 50,000 twinkling lights; a Christmas carousel; and a Lover’s Lane light installation.

The monthlong yuletide celebration is based on the Vancouver, B.C., Christmas Market, which debuted in 2010.

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