NOV 28 (THURSDAY)
Turkey Trot: Vashon Running Club will present its annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot fun run and walk, starting at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28, in the parking lot next to Recess Lab and Voice of Vashon, at 17641 Vashon Hwy SW. The 2.5-mile fun run and walk — with music, hot cider, camaraderie and joie de vivre — is free and also open to furry friends and folks with kids in strollers. A map of the course will be available at the event. The event is a fundraiser for Vashon XC, the booster club for youth cross country on the island, with donations collected in a pickle jar at the event.
Thanksgiving Dinner: Join the Vashon Eagles starting at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 28, at 18134 Vashon Hwy SW, for its annual free community Thanksgiving meal. The main course is provided — bring a side dish or dessert if you can share.
NOV 29-DEC 15
Vashon Estate Sales annual Vintage Holiday Market runs for three weekends with the first sale beginning on Nov. 29-Dec. 1, featuring a wide array of holiday decor. The second sale, featuring modern home furnishings and gifts, runs Dec. 6-8. The third sale runs Dec. 13-15.
NOV 30 (SATURDAY)
Jingle Bash: Kick off the holiday season with this market, held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Vashon High School. It will feature 60 art, craft and specialty food vendors, live music, and lunch served hot by Aeggy’s Food Truck and El Paisano Tamales. A photographer will be there to snap photos of kids and families with Santa Claus. Register for photos at tinyurl.com/mrxcfsbk.
Musicians include Colette Jones, an Americana acoustic duo, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Pine & Shake, a 1920s and 1930s blues, jazz, jug, and ragtime band, from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
Classic holiday films: Vashon-Maury Island Preschool will present a double feature of two classic animated children’s films: “The Snowman,” and “The Snowman and the Snowdog,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30, at Vashon Theatre. Admission is by donation.
NOV 27-DEC 21
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, 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 3-20
Holiday Gingerbread Contest: Join in Vashon Center for the Arts’ fifth annual contest for creative bakers of all ages, with prizes from Vashon Thriftway. Categories include Best Vashon Landmark, Best in Show, Most Traditional and Best Youth Design. All entries must be delivered to VCA between 12-5 p.m. on Dec. 3-5 and must be edible, have a solid base for stability and include the full names of their creators. Entries will be displayed for public viewing and voting from 12-5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, from Dec. 6-20.
DEC 5-8 (THURSDAY-SUNDAY)
“The Nutcracker,” a cherished holiday ballet, at Vashon Center for the Arts. Performances will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 5 and 6; and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7 and 8. The 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 performance is sensory-friendly. Get tickets to all shows and find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
DEC 5 (THURSDAY)
“Hundreds of Beavers” — this supernatural winter-themed comedy set in the 19th century, has a special screening at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, at Vashon Theatre. Get tickets at vashontheatre.com.
DEC 6 (FRIDAY)
“A Christmas Story,” the classic holiday film, will have a free screening courtesy of Vashon Park District, at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Vashon Theatre. A trio of jazz musicians from Vashon High School will play before the show.
DEC 7-8 and 14-15 (SATURDAY-SUNDAY)
The 2024 Vashon Island Holiday Studio Tour, presented by members of Vashon Island Visual Artists (ViVA) will feature 44 studios and galleries representing more than 150 artists on the tour.
The tour, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, Dec 7-8 and 14-15, is a chance to see Vashon’s vibrant community of artists in the places where they create their art and to shop for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts. Visit vivaartists.com for a map and more information about the tour.
DEC 7 (SATURDAY)
WinterFest on Vashon, a parade and holiday festivities for all ages from 5-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in Vashon’s town center.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” starring Jim Carrey, will be presented free of charge at 6 p.m. Saturday, after the WinterFest parade, at Vashon Theatre. A trio of jazz musicians from Vashon High School will play before the show.
DEC 8 (SUNDAY)
Santa’s Cottage will be open for visitors and photographs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 (and Dec. 15), at the cottage located behind U.S. Bank in the Village Green. Bring your own camera for a keepsake photo of your children or pets with St. Nick.
Point Robinson Open House — The Keepers of Point Robinson and Vashon Park District welcome islanders to the annual open house at Point Robinson Lighthouse from 12-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8. Santa will be at Quarters A from 2-4 p.m., greeting kids of all ages. There will also be festive music, hors d’oeuvres, and sugary treats in Quarters A. Visitors are also welcome to tour the lighthouse with Captain Joe Wubbold, U.S.C.G. (Ret.), explore Quarters B, and browse the Ship’s Store for nautical-themed gifts.
Inclusion Island, serving adults with developmental disabilities and their families and friends, will have a holiday party from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, at Vashon Lutheran Church, at 18623 Vashon Hwy SW. Questions? Contact hersheyhousing@gmail.com.
DEC 10 (TUESDAY)
“Elf,” the classic Christmas film, will have a screening at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, at Vashon Theatre. Admission is by donation, with all proceeds benefitting Vashon High School programs.
DEC 14-15 (SATURDAY-SUNDAY)
Vashon Island Chorale will present “Candlelight Carols: Christmas Music by Johann Sebastian Bach & Sir John Rutter,” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at Vashon Center for the Arts. Get tickets and find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
DEC 14 (SATURDAY)
“A Patchwork of Favorite Christmas Tales,” a heartwarming solo show by Northwest storyteller Debbie Dimitre, will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Vashon Presbyterian Church.
The show is a fundraiser by one of two Vashon chapters of P.E.O. The organization, founded in 1869, is an international women’s nonprofit that helps girls and women achieve their educational goals through scholarships, grants, and loan programs, as well as in its own institution of higher learning, Cottey College.
Vashon members of the organization also give out their own scholarships to island girls via the Vashon Community Scholarship Foundation.
“Warren Miller’s 75,” an action-packed new snow sports documentary featuring 75 years of filmmaking by Warren Miller, will play at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, at Vashon Theatre. The screening is co-sponsored by Vashon Boards. Get tickets at vashontheatre.com.
DEC 15 (SUNDAY)
Santa’s Cottage will be open for visitors and photographs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at the cottage located behind U.S. Bank in the Village Green. Bring your own camera for a keepsake photo of your children or pets with Santa.
Portage Fill, Vashon’s beloved big band, will play a holiday concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at Vashon Theatre. Admission is by donation with all proceeds going to Vashon Food Bank.
DEC 17 (TUESDAY)
Vashon’s annual community holiday singalong will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, at Vashon Theatre, led by islander Craig Beles as Father Christmas.
DEC 18 (WEDNESDAY)
“Holiday Ordeal,” a concert by Storm Large, of Pink Martini and America’s Got Talent fame, will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Vashon Center for the Arts. Get tickets at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
DEC 21 (SATURDAY)
Vashon Events will present a holiday showcase featuring local musicians, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, at Snapdragon. The event is a benefit for Vashon Events’ Music Instrument Library, which lends a wide variety of musical instruments free of charge to islanders. Find out more at vashonevents.org.
Winter Solstice celebrations take place on Dec. 21, marking the longest night and shortest day of the year in terms of daylight. Read The Beachcomber for announcements of celebrations.
DEC 22 (SUNDAY)
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” the classic film starring Jimmy Stewart, will have a free screening at 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, at Vashon Theatre.
“A Christmas Carol,” starring actor Allen Fitzgerald in his acclaimed solo adaptation of the classic tale by Charles Dickens, will be staged by Vashon Repertory Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, at Vashon Center for the Arts. Find out more and get tickets at vashonrepertorytheatre.org.
DEC 28 (SATURDAY)
Best of Seattle International Comedy Competition — three comedians will perform stand-up in this post-Christmas show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at Vashon Theatre. Get tickets at vashontheatre.com.
Hanukkah Party — Vashon Havurah’s annual Hanukkah party will take place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at Vashon Cohousing’s Common House. Latkes and fixings will be provided; bring a menorah and candles. This year, Hanukkah will be celebrated from Dec. 25 to Jan. 2.
DEC 31 (WEDNESDAY)
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, starting at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31. Bowie/Rex & His Boogie Army will headline the evening, with Cheap Scenery as the opening band. Find out more and get tickets soon to the family-friendly party at openspacevashon.com — last year, the event sold out weeks in advance.
Correction: Thanksgiving Day at the Eagles on Vashon starts at 3 p.m., not 5 p.m. We regret the error.
It wouldn’t be the holiday season on Vashon without a glimpse of one of the most iconic sights on Vashon: the John Deere Pond, lit up as Rudolph, on SW Cemetery Road. (Ray Pfortner photo)
