Bellevue Magic Season returns for 21st year

Expanded Magic Season Ice Arena moves back to Bellevue Downtown Park

The 21st annual Bellevue Magic Season kicks off Nov. 24, turning Downtown Bellevue into the perfect whimsical holiday destination.

Don’t miss out on The Bellevue Collection’s Snowflake Lane, holiday performances at Meydenbauer Centre Theatre, half a million lights at Garden d’Lights, and an expanded ice arena at Bellevue Downtown Park.

Magic Season Ice Arena

Presented by Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card, the Bellevue Magic Season Ice Arena will run Nov. 24 through Jan. 15, 2018 and is produced by the Bellevue Downtown Association.

The Magic Season Ice Arena is the region’s largest open-air holiday skating experience. The festive venue features a heated viewing area, shelter for all-weather skating, concessions, and a series of special skating events.

The Ice Arena will returns to Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 NE Fourth St., this year and will be located at the southwest corner near Inspiration Playground. Its expanded ice surface is now more than 9,000 square feet. That’s in increase of 25 percent over previous years.

Admission will be $14 for adults and $10 for children 8 years old and younger. The price includes skate rental. Free Skate Mondays, compliments of Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card and Bank of America, will be available. To skate for free, show your Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card or Bank of America debit or credit card to receive two free skate admissions on Mondays. The promotion is valid for one card per guest, per visit. There’s also a discount admission pass that allows patrons to purchase 10 skate admissions for $95 for a savings of $45. The discount pass is available at bellevuedowntown.com or during public hours at the Ice Arena.

Special events including free skating lessons, stroller skating and themed skate experiences.

For more information on the Ice Arena, visit bellevuedowntown.com or call 425-453-1223.

Snowflake Lane

Produced and presented by The Bellevue Collection and the Kemper Freeman family, Snowflake Lane will take place Nov. 24 through Dec. 24.

The Bellevue Collection has expanded and so has Snowflake Lane. The community can experience favorite characters – with falling snow, beautiful lights, and delightful holiday music. at this nightly parade beginning at 7 p.m. The parade can be seen from any place on the sidewalks on both sides of Bellevue Way between Northeast Fourth Street and Northeast Eighth Street with its new extended route. Standing in the street is not permitted.

For the parade route and more information, visit SnowflakeLane.com.

Garden d’Lights

From Nov. 25 through Dec. 31, Garden d’Lights will be produced by the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society in partnership with Bellevue Parks & Community Services.

Garden d’Lights features over half a million sparkling lights formed into the whimsical shapes of plants, flowers, birds, animals, and cascading waterfalls set amid the natural beauty of the Bellevue Botanical Garden. The spectacle is supported by Classical KING FM 98.1.

Garden d’Lights is open nightly from 4:30-9 p.m. with lights out at 9:30 p.m. Bellevue Botanical Garden is located at 12001 Main St. in Bellevue and is $5 for admission. Children 10 and younger get in free. Free admission nights include Nov. 27–30 and Dec. 4–7. On-site parking is $5 per vehicle (cash only), and free with disabled parking permit. However, parking is free at Wilburton Hill Park.

For more information, visit gardendlights.org.

Holiday performances at Meydenbauer Center Theatre

From Nov. 25 through Dec. 23, Meydenbauer Center Theatre will host an enchanting series of holiday themed productions, including Evergreen City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” Sammamish Symphony Orchestra’s “Christmas in Bellevue,” International Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker,” and “Magical Strings – A Celtic Yuletide.”

Meydenbauer Center Theatre is located at 11100 NE Sixth St. in Bellevue.

Tickets for most shows available through Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006 or BrownPaperTickets.com. For more information and a complete schedule of performances, visit meydenbauer.com or call 425-450-3810.

KidsQuest Children’s Museum’s gingerbread house workshops

Hosted by Hyatt Regency Bellevue, KidsQuest Children’s Museum will lead gingerbread house workshops on Nov. 24-25. Mountains of icing and a giant candy buffet will inspire even the most creative gingerbread artist. KidsQuest cleans up the mess while families and friends take home a reality-defying gingerbread creation to enjoy throughout the season. For more information and to sign up for workshops, visit KidsQuestMuseum.org. Pre-registration required, space is limited.

The gingerbread house workshops will be from 12-2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. on Nov. 24 and 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. on Nov. 25. The workshops are located at Hyatt Regency Bellevue at Bellevue Place, 900 Bellevue Way NE in the Evergreen Ballroom.

Celebrating its 21st year, the Bellevue Magic Season is supported by the following sponsors and partners: Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card, Bank of America, Sound Transit, Overlake Medical Center, PACCAR Inc, city of Bellevue, The Bellevue Collection, KidsQuest Children’s Museum, Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, Bellevue Parks & Community Services, Meydenbauer Center Theatre, The Seattle Times, KOMO 4 TV, KOMO Newsradio, Talk Radio 570 KVI, STAR 101.5, and Seattle Refined.

For more information and a complete calendar of Bellevue Magic Season events visit bellevuedowntown.com.