NOV 23

THURSDAY

Thanksgiving Dinner: Each year, Vashon Eagles hosts a free community Thanksgiving meal. This year, join the Eagles from 3-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 23, at 18134 Vashon Hwy SW, for the celebration. The main course is provided — bring a side dish or dessert if you are able to share.

NOV 25

SATURDAY

Jingle Bash: The second annual Jingle Bash holiday market and celebration, a family-friendly event, will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, at Vashon High School, featuring 55 art, craft and specialty food vendors from throughout the Puget Sound region.

Live music at the event will start with Bridels Band, an electronic pop-rock duo, playing at 11 a.m. Folks and blues singer-songwriter Steve Utterly will take the stage at 12:30 p.m. At 2:30 p.m. a jamming mix of jazz, rock and alternative music will be played by A Least a Dollar Coin.

Food vendors will include Iyad’s Syrian Grill, El Paisano Tamales, and Vashon Island Baking Company. C’mon Barber will be there to provide haircuts on-site, and island photographer Yui Holbrook will be on hand to take Santa photos — no need to go off-island for those.

To learn more about the event, follow @ilovevashon on Instagram or I Love Vashon on Facebook.

NOV 26

SUNDAY

Rudolph at Vashon Theatre: “Meet Rudolph,” a free event that includes a chance to pet a live reindeer, a presentation of the animated classic, “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” a photo booth, a raffle with exclusive prizes, food from La Isla food truck, and concessions, will take place from 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at Vashon Theatre’s Backlot.

The first half hour of the event is reserved as a sensory-sensitive time.

Vendor booths will include a new group, the Special Education Parent Advisory Council, formed for parents of children with special needs.

The event is being presented by Connie Sorensen, Compass Real Estate, celebrating and thanking her clients for the past 25 years as an island realtor.

The “Rudolph” movie will be presented twice inside the Vashon Theatre, once at 4:45 p.m. and again at 6 p.m.

NOV 29-DEC 23

MULTI-WEEK

Gingerbread Contest: Vote for your favorite gingerbread creations in the categories of Best in Show, Best Vashon Landmark, Most Traditional, and Best Youth Creation, in this annual contest and display at Vashon Center for the Arts. Winners will receive Vashon Thriftway Gift Cards. Want to enter the contest? Bring your gingerbread creation to VCA on Wednesday, Nov. 29, between 12 and 5 p.m. The display will continue through Dec. 23. Regular hours are 12 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sundays, or view the entries at evening events at the arts center.

NOV 30-DEC 3

THURSDAY-SUNDAY

The Nutcracker Ballet: Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet — a holiday tradition at Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA) —will be performed by students of Vashon Center for Dance at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2 and 3, on the stage of VCA’s Kay White Hall. Find out more and get tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

DEC 1-22

MULTI-WEEK

Letters to Santa: Kids can drop their letters for Santa in a mailbox at Vashon Bookshop as late as Dec. 21. To receive an answer, just remember to include a return address. Postage is not necessary. (Letters dropped off at the post office won’t be delivered to St. Nick.)

DEC 1

FRIDAY

Polar Express: Vashon Park District will present a free screening of the acclaimed family classic holiday film, “The Polar Express,” at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Vashon Theatre. The film takes audiences on an enchanting journey to the North Pole.

DEC 2-3, 9-10

SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS

Vashon Island Holiday Studio Art Tour: Find one-of-a-kind gifts and support Vashon’s vibrant arts scene at the tour, to be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 2-3 and 10-11.

This year’s tour includes 40 studios featuring more than 100 artists, presenting fiber art, glass, jewelry, candles, pottery, tile and mosaic art, photography, sculpture, prints, paintings, and more.

It’s a free, self-guided event, produced by Vashon Island Visual Artists. A detailed map and full-color guide, showing all participants, are available at vivartists.com.

Of special interest this year is Stop #9 — Waterworks Studio, which will close after this year’s tour after being a central destination on the tour for decades. A total of 17 artists will display their work at Waterworks this year. A preview party will take place at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 for the Waterworks’ grand finale.

DEC 2

SATURDAY

Grinch’s Gratitude Market: Find vendor booths, hot cocoa, a scavenger hunt, and live music, and join friends fireside at the market in Vashon Theatre’s backlot from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.

WinterFest: Vashon Chamber of Commerce will kick off the holiday season with Winterfest, taking place from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in the town center of Vashon. Vashon Highway will be closed at 4 p.m. for the event.

A parade, including lighted tractors, walking groups, and of course, Santa, begins at 5 p.m. at Vashon Village, across the street from Ober Park, and will conclude at the south end of the town center. Come out to sing, dance, take photos with Santa, and cheer as Vashon’s tree is lit. Pre-parade fun for all ages will be hosted at Vashon Village. (See page 12.)

The Art of Regifting: Indulge in the joy of giving gifts while treading lighting on your pocketbook and the planet, by taking part in a re-gifting event hosted at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Dig Deep Gardens, 19028 Vashon Hwy SW. Take home a wide array of gently used items including jewelry, accessories, homeware and books. If donating items, please ensure that they are in good condition, clean, and suitable for gifting. For more information, visit Dig Deep Gardens on Facebook.

The Grinch: A free screening of the animated classic, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” will take place at Vashon Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 2, immediately following the “Winterfest” tree lighting ceremony at Vashon Village. Find out more at vashontheatre.com.

DEC 3

SUNDAY

Santa’s Cottage: Kids can visit Santa in Santa’s Cottage, located in the Village Green behind US Bank, from 12-3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3. Parents should bring their own cameras; there will not be a professional photographer on-site. Santa will return to his cottage at the same time on Dec. 10.

Santa at Point Robinson: The Keepers of Point Robinson and Vashon Park District will welcome islanders to the annual open house at Point Robinson Park from 12-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3. Santa will be at Quarters A from 1-3 p.m. to greet kids of all ages. Visitors can tour the lighthouse with Captain Joe Wubbold, U.S.C.G. (Ret.), and enjoy hors d’oeuvres, and sugary treats in Quarters A. The Ship’s Store will be open for those with nautical-themed gift needs.

Inclusion Island: This new program, supported by Hershey Housing, offers social and recreational opportunities on Vashon for adults and older teens with disabilities with their families and caregivers. Come to a holiday party on Sunday, Dec. 3, from 2-4 p.m., at Vashon Lutheran Church, for cookie decorating, snacks, gift-making and music. For questions, or to be added to the group’s mailing list, contact hersheyhousing@gmail.com.

DEC 5

TUESDAY

Elf: A screening of the Christmas classic movie, “Elf,” starring Will Ferrell, will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, at Vashon Theatre. Admission is by donation, will all proceeds visiting the 2024 senior class of Vashon High School.

DEC 9-10

SATURDAY-SUNDAY

“A PNW Christmas” Concert: The Vashon Island Chorale will present its annual holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10.

The concert will include ten works by composers from the Pacific Northwest, ranging from Reginald Unterseher’s ebullient “Christmas Joy” to Jessica French’s nostalgic “The Oxen,” to Giselle Wyers’ reflective “After the Winter.”

It will also feature a world premiere work by Calvin Rice, plus Morten Lauridsen’s beloved “O magnum mysterium.” The McMurray Middle School Choir will be featured at the concert, and there will also be sing-alongs of audience favorites.

Purchase tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org. The concert is free for youth 18 and younger.

DEC 10

SUNDAY

Santa’s Cottage: Kids can visit Santa in Santa’s Cottage, located in the Village Green behind US Bank, from 12-3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10. Parents should bring their own cameras; there will not be a professional photographer on-site.

Mukai Holiday Open House: Mukai Farm & Garden, located at 18017 107th St SW, will hold a holiday open house and Japanese scroll sale from 4-7 p.m. Light refreshments and drinks will be served.

Celebrate Chanukah: Vashon Havurah will host a Chanukah party at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10 at the Vashon Havurah, at ​​15401 Westside Hwy SW. A potluck dinner with latkes will be served. served. At 7 p.m. island author and educator Merna Hecht will tell Chanukah stories, accompanied by Michelle Dodson on cello.

Portage Fill Concert: Vashon’s venerable and beloved big band, the Portage Fill Harmonic, will play a holiday concert filled with jazz and swing favorites, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10, at Vashon Theatre. The concert, presented by Vashon Island Community Church, has a suggested donation of $10, with all proceeds going to support the work of the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness.

DEC 16

SATURDAY

A Christmas Carol: Vashon Repertory Theatre will present Allen Fitzpatrick’s solo adaptation of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol,” at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16, at Vashon Center for the Arts.

In his acclaimed adaptation of the tale, Fitzpatrick follows in the footsteps of its author who, a few years after writing the novella, began public readings of it which he continued to perform until the year of his death.

Fitzpatrick has acted at every major Seattle theater, including 28 productions at the 5th Avenue Theatre. In his 48 years on Broadway and in professional theater, he has worked with Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Harold Prince, John Guare, and Marvin Hamlisch.

Purchase tickets and find out more at vashonrepertorytheatre.org and vashoncenterforthearts.org.

DEC 17

SUNDAY

It’s a Wonderful Life: The ultimate Christmas classic movie, Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart, will have a free showing at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at Vashon Theatre.

DEC 19

TUESDAY

Singalong and Charlie Brown: An island holiday tradition — a community singalong of holiday carols at Vashon Theatre, will take place Tuesday, Dec. 19. The fun will start with a free screening of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at 5:30 p.m., with the singalong following at 6 p.m.

DEC 22

FRIDAY

Solstice Ceremony: Join mythologist and author Michael Meade, Mosaic and Dig Deep Gardens at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, for a community Solstice celebration that will include a remembrance of those who have passed and a ritual of forgiveness. The ceremony will include a candlelight ritual and collective song, followed by a celebration of the spirit of life marking the end of the darkest time of the year and the coming renewal of light.

Dig Deep Gardens is located at 19028 Vashon Hwy.

DEC 31

SUNDAY

New Year’s Eve: Open Space for Arts & Community will host a New Year’s Eve bash and dance party, with hourly confetti drops celebrating midnight all over the world.

Bowie/Rex & His Boogie Army — fronted by islander Martin Fevyear and backed by a supergroup of regional musicians — is the headline act, with opening acts by The Secret Agents and Cheap Scenery. The family-friendly party starts at 8 p.m. Find out more and get tickets at openspacevashon.org.

Corrections:

Previous versions of this article stated an incorrect date for Vashon Havurah’s Chanukah party. The party will take place on Sunday, Dec. 10, not Saturday, Dec. 9, as stated originally.

An incorrect time was previously listed for the Portage Fill Concert on Sunday, Dec. 10, at Vashon Theatre. The concert starts at 7 p.m., not 7:30. We regret the error.