Winterfest at Seattle Center

Current entrance to Seattle Center

April 21^st 1962

A huge tower topped with a flying saucer look alike observation deck. A couple of huge halls close by. A set of huge white arched structure act as gate to future. A huge ground full of people, 200 at first, 20,000 eventually and at a point some 2M people had shown glimpse of greatness that was paving way for some amazing stories to come. Musical notes with splashes of water dance to tunes of success and achievement. A fast train whizzes by all this, ready to transport people to a new era of technology and globalization.

The International Fountain and the Space Needle

Fast forward to 8^th December 2016

The huge flying saucer, called the Space needle is the pride of Seattle and the symbol of this beautiful city. The white arched gates still stand but are gates to IMAX and the science center. The huge fountain, called the international fountain, still plays music from different parts of the world and makes water and people dance to those tunes every day. The fast train now has company of music thanks to EMP museum or MoPop – Museum of Pop Culture. The big field now has more halls than ever, most dedicated to art and craft and some to recreation. But what still hasn’t changed is what this place stands for – people!

Seattle Center Park Way

This amazing place is Seattle Center!!!

Started in 1962, for Seattle’s World Fair – Century 21 Exposition, Seattle Center not only entered the 21^st century 38 years in advance and in full glory, it has only thrived and become more about people over the years. If you check Seattle Center’s website it says – ‘Seattle Center creates exceptional events, experiences and environments that delight and inspire the human spirit to build stronger communities’ just like it did when it was opened to public for the first time in 1962. And after being in the campus 3 times now, I can totally vouch for the authenticity of their claim.

It is all about holiday spirit!

Ever since I started writing about Seattle on my blog, people have asked me why I haven’t written about main tourist areas of Seattle, and I always thought when I did start writing about touristy places in Seattle I would start with Seattle Center, but had not found the right opportunity yet. Thanks to the ongoing Winterfest in Seattle Center, here I am and I would tell you all about why you should visit Seattle Center and not miss Winterfest if in Seattle during December.

Winterfest!

Winterfest is celebration of holiday season at Seattle Center, that starts just after thanksgiving and goes on till new year’s every year. I attended Winterfest this year on Black Friday and I do not regret letting go of shopping for some hours to be part of community and the holiday spirit for a few of hours. Winterfest has an ice rink for ice skating that I saw kids and adults enjoy equally. Many who didn’t know how to skate also didn’t mind spending the 8$ for falling, getting up and making memories with their friends and family.

Ice Rink

The train station was just the prettiest art display at the armoury. Tiny train, plane, hot air balloon. Some dancing damsel, a happy man skating over a frozen lake. Some children playing in snow, some people enjoying just nature. Festivities, music, and daily life – the train station display had it all and it just felt so real at time, maybe because of the whole holiday decoration of the armoury or maybe because of the carols being performed in the background.

Train Station Village

There are many musical and dance performances lined up every day at the armoury for the whole day, most troupes local to Seattle. Seattle is known as the city of performing arts and Seattle Centre Winterfest gives a chance to local groups to shine and display their art. 

When I visited Seattle Center, I was reminded of my childhood thanks to the tons of Christmas Carols performed by Snow Globe - Kristin Chambers and Puget Sound Acapella Choir.

Train Station Village

Apart from performing arts, display art is also huge in Seattle and at Winterfest, ice sculpting that happens every Saturday for the whole month is pretty huge! Sadly, I went there on a Friday and hence could not see the sculptures. But I did get to spend a lot of time at the International Fountain and I loved every minute of it. You can actually go down and drench and dance under this huge fountain! 

Holiday, snow and music

I did go round and dodged some water sprout due to the super cold weather but there were kids who were getting drenched even in this weather! But anyhow listening to Arabian and Russian music and watching the 20 or so water sprouts synchronizing with the music was kind of soothing – something that took me away from studies and stress of the upcoming finals week of my college. And street performances near this fountain just redefined ‘Seattle meets world at Seattle Center.’

Last Autumn Shades

Well long story when in Seattle, do go to Seattle Center; not just to Space Needle, the Chihuly Glass Museum and EMP but to Seattle Center as a whole! And if in Seattle during December – Get the feel of Seattle, Holidays and Winters all in one place! To know more about Winterfest check here - http://www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest/

The huge Christmas tree at armoury! 

P.S.: I would be telling you more about different places at Seattle Center in separate posts.

A snowy happy Holidays to all!!!

http://www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest/