Kids are still focused on witches and pumpkins, but it's already time to start thinking about the upcoming holiday season. Otherwise, tickets to many popular activities are gone or rapidly dwindling. For the past decade, for example, every Snoqualmie Valley Railroad Santa Train sold out in advance; this year, half the tickets were gone by mid-October. So consider booking your December calendar now.
Outings
The Northwest Railway Museum expects more than 9,000 people to participate in its popular two-hour Santa Train events this season. The best chances for the $11 tickets are the first run of the day or in the afternoon. The engine heads out from North Bend to Snoqualmie Nov. 26-27 and Dec. 3-4 and 10-11 with hourly departures 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For tickets, call 425-888-2206 or order them online at www.trainmuseum.org.
Argosy Cruises will host its annual Christmas Ship Festival Dec. 1-23. Cost is $18 children, $31 adults for the Spirit of Seattle Christmas Ship and $11-$21 for parade boats. 206-623-1445 or www.argosycruises.com/themecruises/xmasschedule.cfm.
Santa breakfasts
The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center started taking reservations earlier this month for its Santa Breakfasts from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Dec. 10-11, 17-18 and 24 at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers. Cost is $25 children, $50 adults. www.fhcrc.org/about/ne/events/santa.html or 206-667-6264.
Macy's is accepting reservations for its $15.50-$17.50 Santa Brunches at 10 a.m. Dec. 3-4, 11, 17-18 and 22-23 at the downtown Seattle store. A portion of the ticket benefits The Make-a-Wish Foundation. 206-506-4FUN.
The downtown Nordstrom will host Santa Breakfasts benefiting Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center Dec. 4, 10-11 and 17-18. The $20-$25 breakfasts are served at 9 a.m., with doors open for pictures with Santa at 8:30 a.m. Reservations by mail only; forms are available by calling 206-987-2777, ext. 4.
The Olympic Ballet Theatre's Santa Breakfast will be at 10 a.m. Dec. 17 at the Lynnwood Embassy Suites. Cost is $20 for children under age 10 and $24 for adults. www.olympicballet.com or 425-774-7570.
The Woodland Park Zoo's holiday breakfasts are slated for 9:30 to 11 a.m. Dec. 10 and 17 at the Rain Forest Food Pavilion. The buffet's cost includes zoo admission; $25.95 adults, $15.45 for children age 3 to 10, tax and service charge are extra. www.zoo.org or 206-684-4825. Additional charge for Santa photos.
Holiday performances
A Contemporary Theatre's "A Christmas Carol" plays Nov. 25-Dec. 24; tickets are $23-$37. Children must be age 4 or older. 206-292-7676 or www.acttheatre.org.
Weekend seats, especially for matinees, go quickly for the Pacific Northwest Ballet's "Nutcracker" at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall Nov. 25 — Dec. 28. Tickets are $18-$102; family packs with four tickets range in price from $140 to $367. 206-441-2424 or www.pnb.org.
The Olympic Ballet Theatre will present "The Nutcracker" at 2 p.m. Dec. 3-4 at the Mountlake Terrace Performing Arts Center (preview performances, $12-$20); 2 p.m. Dec. 10-11 at Meany Hall Theatre ($18-$32); and 2 and 6 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Everett Performing Arts Center ($15-$26). www.OlympicBallet.com or 425-774-7570.
Stephanie Dunnewind, Seattle Times staff reporter
