Arts in the South End: December 2024 Roundup

Another holiday season is upon us as we count down the days until 2025. As always, events across the South End (and a little beyond) reflect the rich, diverse heritage of the people and communities who call this place home. From a welcome return of Black Nativity to poetry readings to holiday markets galore, there's lots to keep you busy during December. Find some locally made gifts! Check out some holiday lights with the fam! Snap a picture with Black Santa! We've got it all.

Think we missed something? Let us know at Arts@SeattleEmerald.org.

Now–Jan. 4, 2025

King Street Station

303 S. Jackson St., Top Floor

Art organization EL SUEÑO has curated an excellent show, "NOCHES DE ANÁHUAC." The exhibition features works by Tlalokan, Devin Muñoz, Maribel Galvan, Tessa Bañales, and Alicia Mullikin, who work across different mediums — carpentry, sculpture, textiles, paintings, and film — and explore their Mexican Indigenous identities.

Now–Dec. 29

T-Mobile Park 

1250 1st Ave. S.

Though we've yet to experience snow this year (fingers crossed it's coming!), get a jump-start on a kind of lit-up winter wonderland at Enchant Christmas. T-Mobile Park has been turned into a Christmas maze made up of light installations and sculptures set against a "captivating original story, Santa's Magic Timepiece." Snap some pics to send to Gramma!

Dec. 4–29

Broadway Performance Hall

1625 Broadway

After a successful return last year, Black Nativity is back on Seattle stages for an extended run. I wrote about it last week — read about it.

Dec. 6–8

Quality Flea Center

416 15th Ave. E.

Punk Rock Flea Market is setting up shop at the Quality Flea Center (aka the old QFC on 15th Avenue) for its annual holiday flea market, which will feature a wide variety of vendors: stickers, leather, vintage clothing, cool doodads, housewares, records, printed goods, etc. Music and a 21+ bar will add to the ambiance.

Dec. 6–28

Theatre Off Jackson

409 7th Ave. S.

Scott Shoemaker and a cast of Seattle luminaries are back once again with their evening hilariously dissecting the "War on Christmas." The event promises a night of "comedy, songs, dance numbers, delightful videos, and partial nudity." Adé, Glory Joel, Mandy Price, and Major Scales will all join Scott onstage during this month of weekend shows.

Dec. 7, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Rainier Beach Community Club

6038 S. Pilgrim St.

Another excellent opportunity to shop local for your gifting needs this year pop-up at the Rainier Beach Community Club's Arts & Crafts Market. There will be glassworks, ceramics, fine art, wood bowls, hand-painted wares, jewelry, natural soaps and home products, plushies, textile art, and more. Additionally, live music will be provided by the 60 Street Band and the SE Seattle Uke Club.

Dec. 7–8, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Northwest African American Museum

2300 S. Massachusetts St.

For many families, taking Santa photos is a sacred holiday tradition. Spend that evening at the Northwest African American Museum during its Black Santa Photo Op — there will be hot cocoa and holiday arts and crafts in addition to Santa pics.

Dec. 13–14, 12–6 p.m.

Occidental Square

117 S. Washington St.

Two dozen local vendors are setting up shop in Occidental Square from Dec. 13 to 14 for a veritable winter wonderland. There will be food, tons of handmade goods, and, oh yeah, a FREE ICE SKATING RINK! Downtown Seattle will provide free skates to borrow. Happy holidays!

Dec. 14, 12–5 p.m.

Alki Beach Bathhouse

2701 Alki Ave. SW

Makers Art Market has organized a holiday market at the Alki Beach Bathhouse. Come find some handmade holiday surprises by 25 PNW-based artisans and makers. It's a family-friendly event, and organizers urge everyone coming with a pet to keep them leashed at all times.

Dec. 13, 6–7:30 p.m.

Common Area Maintenance

2125 2nd Ave.

Though this is fairly outside South Seattle, Real Change and Pongo Poetry Project have teamed up for a poetry reading hosted by nikkita oliver during Belltown Art Walk. Unmissable! The event celebrates the release of Real Change's third zine, "Heal," featuring poetry, prose, and art by Real Change vendors. There will also be vendor artists selling their wares at the reading, and Pongo will have some youth anthologies for sale. Food and refreshments provided.

Dec 14–15, 2–5 p.m.

Fresh Mochi + The Grocery Studios

3001 21st Ave. S.

Fresh Mochi and The Grocery Studios are teaming up to bring you a super-sized holiday sale to their corner of Beacon Hill. Roll through to check out wares from over two dozen local artisans, sip some refreshments, listen to music, and perhaps find something special for that special person in your life.

Dec. 15, 17

The Royal Room

5000 Rainier Ave. S.

Nothing really says Christmas like Vince Guaraldi's 1965 record A Charlie Brown Christmas. Originally released to coincide with the TV debut of a Christmas special of the same name, the piano-forward album has become a mainstay of the wintry season. Over at The Royal Room, several of Seattle's finest jazz pianists will play this fantastic, cozy album at two matinee shows. Come early — seating is first come, first served!

Dec. 17–18

Dimitriou's Jazz Alley

2033 6th Ave.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra — a three-time Grammy-winning, 13-piece band — is playing two shows over two nights at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley. The orchestra's special Salsa Navidad show is dedicated to non-holiday Latino/Spanish music as well as American Christmas classics done with a salsa/Latin twist. According to its bio, the show "features the Puerto Rican Christmas style known as 'Aguinaldo,' which reflects the spirit and cultural essence of the Caribbean."

Dec. 18–19

The Beacon Cinema

4405 Rainier Ave. S.

Secrets & Lies is one of my favorite films of all time. It tells the story of a Black optometrist, Hortense, who seeks out her birth mother after her adoptive mother dies. To her surprise, Hortense discovers that her birth mom is a chaotic working-class white woman named Cynthia. After the shock wears off and they start to build a relationship, Hortense is brought into Cynthia's complicated, tense family dynamic and the two try to figure out where they both fit in each other's lives. Screening as part of The Beacon Cinema's Mike Leigh film series, Secrets & Lies is the British director at his very best, weaving together a humanistic, funny, and beautiful portrait of family, deception, and connection. I cried my eyes out! Life is beautiful!

Dec. 21–22, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center

5011 Bernie Whitebear Way

Head over to Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center for its annual Native Art Market, which will feature Indigenous artisans and their handcrafted goods. According to its website, the event "spans diverse artistic traditions from numerous tribal nations, encompassing meticulously crafted apparel, artisanal jewelry, traditional woodcraft, ceremonial drums, limited edition prints, and an array of other distinctive pieces."