Weekend calendar

Animal events

Seattle Aquarium Winter Break Fantastic Fishtival

THU-JAN. 3 The Aquarium is open today, noon-5 p.m.; winter break hands-on arts and crafts, storytelling and activities to learn more about the Aquarium's creatures, focusing on octopus, Friday; sharks, Saturday; salmon, Sunday; marine mammals, Dec. 29; coral reefs, Dec. 30; seastars, Dec. 31; animals with shells, Jan. 1; rockfish, Jan. 2; sea and shore birds, Jan. 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, The Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle; $10-$15 (206-386-4300 or www.seattleaquarium.org).

Woodland Park Zoo

ONGOING Zoo animals get holiday-themed treats as an enrichment activity, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, African Savanna, Temperate Forest, Tropical Rain Forest, Zoomazium indoor/outdoor play space for kids, Northern Trail, Day and Night building with snakes, reptiles and nocturnal animals, Pink Flamingos, Rain Forest Food Pavilion, ZooStore; the zoo is closed today; regular hours 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. daily; Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle; $11/ages 13-64, $9/ages 65 and older and people with disabilities, $8/ages 3-12; parking $4.50 (206-548-2500 or www.zoo.org).

Free cats to good homes

ONGOING Cats over the age of one year available for adoption for free through December, noon-6 p.m. daily, Humane Society for Seattle/King County, 13212 S.E. Eastgate Way, Bellevue (425-649-7563 or www.seattlehumane.org).

Dance

Emerald City Contra Dance

FRI All dances taught, no partner necessary; no cologne or other scented products; beginners' workshop 7 p.m.; dance to live music and caller, 7:30-10 p.m. Friday; Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle; $4-$7 (206-440-9839).

Sno-King International

Folk Dance Club

SAT International folk-dancing lesson, 7:30 p.m.; dancing, potluck snacks, 8:30-10:45 p.m. Saturday; Cedar Valley Grange, 20526 52nd Ave. W., Lynnwood; $2-$5 (425-385-2088).

Harbor Happening

SUN Dance lesson, 7 p.m.; dance for singles and couples to a variety of music by the Dancin' DJ, 8-11 p.m. Sunday; China Harbor, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle; $6/lesson, $8/dance, $12/lesson and dance (425-917-1188 or www.seattledanceinfo.com).

Kids Irish Ceili Dance

SUN Irish musical gathering, learn traditional Irish folk dances at a dance with live music; geared for kids, suitable for all ages; wear shoes that glide, 4 p.m. Sunday, Des Moines North Hill Community Center, 20827 Third Ave. S., Des Moines; suggested donation $5/person or $10/family (www.hoilands.com/hooley.htm).

Festivals/Expos

Mochi Tsuki

SAT Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community celebration to make mochi sweet rice in a centuries-old method in a tradition to wish families and communities good health and prosperity in the coming year, with taiko drum performances, historical exhibit and tours of the Islandwood campus, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, IslandWood, 4450 Blakely Ave. N.E., Bainbridge Island; free, donations for mochi welcome; parking limited, carpooling encouraged (206-855-9038).

Seattle Center Winterfest

FRI-DEC. 31 Classic carousel, train and winter-village display, activities and performances, closed today, open Friday through Dec. 31, including Kwanzaa celebration with performance by Adefua African Music and Dance Company, 2-4 p.m. Saturday; Seattle World Percussion Society, noon-2 p.m. Sunday; Leight Fantastic troupe with dozens of dancers, musicians, actors and novelty acts recreates vaudeville performances and Radio City Music Hall Rockettes dances, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday; Circus Contraption with the Aerialistas performance 7:30 p.m. Sunday-Tuesday; New Year's Eve all-ages dance with Soul'd Out, 8-11:45 p.m. Wednesday, fireworks at the Space Needle at midnight to ring in the New Year, Seattle Center, Seattle; free (206-684-7200 or www.seattlecenter.com).

Hiking/walks

Issaquah Alps Trails Club

THU, SAT, SUN Cougar Mountain-AA Peak 6 miles, 1,400-foot elevation gain, 10 a.m. today; Twin Falls 3-4 miles, 9 a.m. Saturday; dogs welcome on Cougar Mountain Sky Country Trails 5-6 mile hike, 10 a.m. Sunday; food, water, daypack, rainwear, warm clothes and hiking shoes required on all hikes, from Issaquah Alps Trail Club clubhouse, First and Bush Streets, Issaquah (issaquahalps.org).

Eastshore Singles

SAT Olmsted park and conservatory followed by lunch nearby, newcomers welcome, 11 a.m. Saturday, Volunteer Park, meet at park entrance at Prospect Street and 14th Avenue East, Seattle (www.eastshoresingles.org).

New Year's Day Walking Tour

PLAN AHEAD Friends of Seattle's Olmsted Parks walking tour on mostly level terrain, children and leashed pets welcome, 1 p.m. Jan. 1, Interlaken Park, 2451 Delmar Drive E. (corner of Miller Street and Interlaken Boulevard), Seattle; free, no reservations required (425-885-3173).

New Year's Eve and

New Year's Day walks

PLAN AHEAD Volkssport 5K or 10K

(3.1 or 6.2 mile) walks with city views, start anytime 4-7 p.m., finish by 10 p.m. Dec. 31, start anytime 9 a.m.-1 p.m., finish by 4 p.m. Jan. 1 from St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 3050 California Ave. S.W., Seattle; free (206-935-3225 or www.walkingwithecw.org).

Holiday events

NOTE: Events may be interrupted by winter weather; check before you go.

Teddy Bear Suite

THU-FRI Visit holiday suite with teddy bears and kids' books, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. today and Friday, The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 411 University St., Seattle; free, donations accepted for Seattle Children's Hospital (www.downtownholidays.com).

Garden d'Lights

THU-JAN. 3 Holiday and garden-themed display with 500,000 lights, 5-10 p.m. daily through Jan. 3, weather permitting; Bellevue Botanical Garden, 12001 Main St., Bellevue; free, donations encouraged; preferred parking $5, parking at Wilburton Park free (425-452-2750 or www.bellevuebotanical.org). Zoolights

THU-JAN. 4 Holiday and animal-themed light displays, 5-9 p.m. daily through Jan. 4, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma; $7 (253-404-3822 or www.pdza.org). The Lights of Christmas

FRI-SUN Light displays, train rides, music, pony rides and more, 5-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Warm Beach Christian Camps & Conference Center, 20800 Marine Drive, Stanwood; $7-$12 (360-652-7575 or www.warmbeach.com).

Holiday Carousel

FRI-DEC. 31 Carousel holiday attraction benefiting Treehouse, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, Westlake Park, 401 Pine St., Seattle; $2 (www.downtownholidays.com). Downtown Light Spectacular

FRI-DEC. 31 Light show, dusk-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, dusk-8 p.m. Sunday, dusk-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, Westlake Park, 401 Pine St., Seattle (www.downtownholidays.com/toyland.html).

Winter Wonderland,

Pacific Place

FRI-DEC. 31 Snowfall show in the atrium, 6 p.m. daily, through Dec. 31, Pacific Place, 600 Pine St., Seattle; free (206-405-2655).

Gingerbread Village

ONGOING Gingerbread village, "A Superhero Holiday," created by local architectural firms and Sheraton culinary staff, daily through Jan. 4, Sheraton Seattle Hotel and Towers, 1400 Sixth Ave., Seattle; free, donations collected for the Northwest Chapter of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (206-621-9000).

Bellevue Magic Season

FRI-DEC. 31 Celebration Lane display of lights, music, drumming from live "toy" soldiers and magical snow, 7 p.m. Friday through Wednesday, along Bellevue Way and Northeast Eighth Street, Bellevue (425-454-8096 or www.magicseason.com).

Ivar's Clam Lights

THU-JAN. 1 Light display, 6:30-9 p.m. daily through Jan. 1, Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, 1201 Lake Washington Blvd., Renton; free (425-630-6700 or www.rentonwa.gov).

Holiday Carousel in Kent

FRI-MON Morford Family Carousel, 1940s classic Venetian-style carousel, 4-9 p.m. Friday, noon-9 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 4-8 p.m. Monday, at Town Square Plaza, on Second Avenue and Harrison Street, Kent; $1 benefits local charities (253-856-5110 or www.ci.Kent.wa.us).

Museum events

Museum of Flight

FRI-JAN. 4 Winter Break Blast-Off aviation-themed activities for kids, noon-3 p.m. daily, Friday-Dec. 30; Blackbird tip-to-tail tours, about the fastest piloted jet in the world, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, Friday-Jan. 4, Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle; $7.50-$14 (206-764-5720).

Pacific Science Center

Science Extravaganza

FRI-JAN. 4 Science activities, hands-on crafts, interactive Discover Carts, free laser shows, workshops, planetarium shows and demonstrations, daily through Jan. 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, admission $9-$20.75 including "Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia" exhibit; sleepover for kids in grades 2-8 with activities and viewing the midnight Space Needle fireworks show, 7 p.m. Wednesday, $90-$110, reservations required; Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave. N, Seattle (206-443-3656 or www.pacificsciencecenter.org/scienceextravaganza/).

Model Train Festival

FRI-JAN. 3 Celebrating the golden ages of railroads with nine model train displays and the largest permanent model-train layout in the state, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, Friday-Jan. 3, Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave., Tacoma; $6-$8 (888-238-4373 or washingtonhistory.org).

Arctic Wings: Miracle of Migration

ONGOING The story of migrant birds on six continents, by acclaimed wildlife photographers, at the museum through Dec. 31; closed today, regular hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, closing at 3 p.m. Dec. 31; Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle; $5-$8 (206-543-5590 or www.burkemuseum.org).

"The Little Doll With a Big Story: Nancy Ann Dolls"

ONGOING Dolls created by Nancy Ann Abbott including Storybook Dolls, early bisque dolls to the later plastic, and Abbott's larger plastic dolls, on display through Feb. 1, closed today and Jan. 1, closing 3 p.m. Dec. 31, regular hours 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art, 1116 108th Ave. N.E., Bellevue; $5-$8 (425-455-1116 or www.dollart.com).

Performances

British Panto style "Cinderella"

FRI-SUN Fremont Players family show, "Cinderella," in British Panto style with audience interaction, 7:30 p.m. Friday; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday, Hale's Ales Brewpub and Palladium, 4301 Leary Way N.W., Seattle; $6-$12, tickets available in advance or at the door (800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com).

First Night Tacoma

PLAN AHEAD Performing artists at indoor and outdoor locations including Grand Procession down Broadway, 6 p.m.-midnight Dec. 31 at several locations in downtown Tacoma (253-279-8213 or www.firstnighttacoma.org).

Running

Bog Slog

SAT Explore the park by searching for checkpoints marked on a map, run, walk and/or mountain bike, no orienteering experience necessary, instruction available, start anytime 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Saint Edward State Park, 14445 Juanita Drive N.E., Kenmore; $3-$5 (www.cascadeoc.org).

Resolution Run 5K

& Polar Bear Dive

PLAN AHEAD Flat, festive 5K run/walk with optional Polar Bear Dive near the finish line that takes participants into Lake Washington; post-race celebration includes kids dash, beer garden and chili feed; proceeds benefit Club Northwest Track Club; 10:30 a.m. Jan. 1, Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle; $10-$35 (206-729-9972 or www.promotionevents.com).

Skating

Winterfest Ice Rink

FRI-JAN. 4 Indoor ice rink, closed today; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays through Jan. 4, Fisher Pavilion, $3-$5, skate rental $2, cash only (206-684-7200 or www.seattlecenter.com).

Bellevue Magic Season Ice Arena

FRI-JAN. 11 Open-air, partially covered ice rink with heated spectator tent, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Jan. 3, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 4, 3-9 p.m. Jan. 5-6, 1-9 p.m. Jan. 7, 3-9 p.m. Jan. 8, 3-11 p.m. Jan. 9, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Jan. 10, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 11, Bellevue Downtown Park, 10201 N.E. Fourth St., Bellevue; $10/all ages, includes skate rental; $7/your own skates; free skating on Mondays with pass from Bank of America Bellevue sites (magicseason.com/events/icearena.html).

Snow sports

Snowshoe tours, Snoqualmie Pass

PLAN AHEAD Moderately paced 90-minute snowshoe walks, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday; half-day outing that requires a higher level of fitness and winter preparedness, limited to 8 participants, 9:15 a.m. Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, weather permitting; minimum age 10 for both programs, snowshoes provided, Snoqualmie Pass Visitor Information Center, Snoqualmie Pass summit; $10/90-minute walks, $20/half-day, call for reservations 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday-Sundays (509-852-1062; after Jan. 2, 425-434-6111).

Snowshoe tours, Stevens Pass

PLAN AHEAD Indoor slide show of area history followed by one-mile round-trip snowshoe walk on the Pacific Crest Trail, suitable for beginners, minimum age 6 years old; wear layers of insulated clothing and sturdy, waterproof boots, snowshoes provided, group size limited to 12 people, noon Saturdays and Sundays from the USFS Guard Station at Stevens Pass; shuttle bus to the summit available from Sultan; $10/per person donation suggested, reservations required (360-677-2414 or www.stevenspass.com).