Here’s the My MI 2016 guide to festive holiday events happening around Mercer Island:
MIVAL Holiday Show
Open daily through December 16
Mercer Island Community & Event Center Gallery, 8236 SE 24th Street
The Mercer Island Visual Arts League’s annual holiday art show is now open and runs through Friday, December 16. The show is presented by the Mercer Island Arts Council in conjunction with the Mercer Island Parks and Recreation Department as well as MIVAL. Featured art includes painting, sculpture, jewelry, fabric art, cards, and other work of the talented MIVAL artists and is a wonderful place to shop for quality artwork and holiday gifts. This year’s juror is artist Virginia Paquette.
“Soup and Sound” Advent Concert Series
Three Fridays – December 2, 9, 16
Soup served at 11:30 am; Performance begins at Noon
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave
Emmanuel Episcopal Church invites you to their “Soup and Sound” Advent Concert series with Advent and Christmas music. The event begins with a lunch of homemade soup and bread at 11:30 am followed by music in the church from Noon to 12:45 pm. This year’s concerts will be provided by Pacific MusicWorks; Susan E. Bloomfield, organ; and the Pacific NW Chamber Ensemble.
Learn more >>
St. Monica’s Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration
Friday, December 2, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
St. Monica Catholic Church, 4301 88th Ave SE
Christmas caroling, hot cocoa, and the lighting of the Christmas trees at the main school entrance. Walk down Snowflake Lane to the school gymnasium for dinner, Gingerbread house making, Christmas cookie decorating, crafts, and pictures with Santa.
Holiday Tree Lighting and Firehouse Munch
Friday, December 2, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
6:30 – 7 pm – Tree Lighting & Caroling
7 – 8:30 pm – Firehouse Munch & Activities
Mercerdale Park & North Fire Station, 77th Avenue SE and SE 32nd Street
Gather with your family, friends, and neighbors for the community tree lighting ceremony and caroling followed by treats, Santa photos, and other festive activities at the Firehouse. Bring an unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots drive to help a child in need have a better holiday season. This is a FREE event.
Handmade Chocolate Holiday Gift Making for Teens
Saturday, December 3, 11 am – 12:30 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Chocolates make a great gift or enjoy them yourself! Make chocolate truffles, chocolate peppermint bark, and white chocolate popcorn. Chef Laurie Pfalzer will demonstrate caramel corn with dark chocolate drizzle. Package your creations and take them home to enjoy or give away! All supplies provided. For middle and high school students. Space is limited – first come, first served.
Children’s Craft Workshop
Saturday, December 3, 1 – 4 pm
Evergreen Covenant Church, 3200 78th Ave SE
Children ages 3 to 13 in our community are invited to join us to make Christmas gifts for their friends and family. Each craft takes 15 to 20 minutes to complete, so please arrive in plenty of time to complete all the crafts you order. This is not a drop-off event. Parents can enjoy the Holiday Cafe while waiting. Please register in advance online.
Island Choral Experience Annual Holiday Performances
Mercer Island High School, 9100 SE 42nd St
Island Girls & Prep Choir presents “The 12 Days of Christmas”
Saturday December 3, 7 pm | Sunday, December 4, 2 pm and 7 pm
Island Sound presents “Candyland!”
Saturday, December 10, 7 pm | Sunday, December 11, 2 pm and 7 pm
Mercer Island girls’ choirs, Prep (2nd through 4th graders), Island Girls (4th through 6th graders), and Island Sound (7th through 12th graders) will delight audiences with these festive performances.
Learn more >>
The Dickens Carolers
Sunday, December 4, 1:30 – 2:15 pm & Sunday, December 11, 1:30 – 2:15 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
For over 35 years, The Dickens Carolers has been a local holiday tradition. Your holiday favorites, both traditional and contemporary, are sung in beautiful four-part harmony. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.
MIVAL Jr. Holiday Workshop for Kids
Saturday, December 10, 1 – 3 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
Here come the holidays, along with a chance for kids to add their personalized, artistic touch. Join this fun workshop run by talented artists from the Mercer Island Visual Arts League, with the support of Mercer Island High School students. In just two hours, kids K-8 will create a personal holiday gift or cards for friends and family. Pre-registration required. Registration closes December 5th.
Learn more >>
Island Youth Ballet presents: “Excerpts from the Nutcracker”
Saturday, December 10, 1 pm & 5 pm | Sunday December 11, 1 pm & 5 pm
Saturday, December 16, 7 pm | Sunday, December 18, 7 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
Island Youth’s Ballet “Excerpts from the Nutcracker” has become a cherished Mercer Island tradition and must-see for all who wish to experience the holiday magic of one of ballet’s most cherished classics. Whether this is a family tradition or you are experiencing it for the first time, this holiday offering will delight your spirit and imagination. Beautiful costumes, theatrical lighting and sets, and spirited dancing transport you to magical places where mice and soldiers battle, snowflakes dance, and a beautiful sugar plum fairy reigns.
Parents Night Out Holiday Party with Santa
Saturday, December 10, 5 – 10 pm
Mercer Island Community & Events Center, 8236 SE 24th Street
A perfect time for parents to finish up holiday shopping or attend a holiday party while your kids have a great time with the City’s Parks & Recreation Department staff! We’ll have refreshments, crafts, a holiday movie, and more! Santa and his elves will make an appearance for photos! Reservations required.
“O Magnum Mysterium” Holiday Concert at MIPC
Saturday, December 10, 7 – 9 pm
Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 84th Ave SE
The Mercer Island Presbyterian Church welcomes the Bellevue Chamber Chorus, performing music of the season in a special “O Magnum Mysterium” Christmas concert.
MIPC website >>
Navidad! Christmas Music from New and Old Spain
Saturday, December 10, 7:30 pm
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Avenue SE
Colonial Latin America’s unique melting pot of Italian, Spanish, African, Portuguese, and native traditions led to the creation of the Christmas Villancico. This vivacious, rhythmic, and rustic form retells the Christmas story through the characteristic sounds of guitar, harp, harpsichord, and strings with a quartet of voices. Experience a rich tapestry of works from Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Bolivia, and Spain in this unique holiday program. The program includes the US premieres of works by Guatemalan composer Rafael Castellanos (ca. 1721-1791) and Spanish composer Fabián Garcia Pacheco (1725-1808).
Learn more >>
Menorah Mania
Saturday, December 17, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
Join us for our annual community-wide Hanukkah celebration! Make your own Hanukkah menorah to take home, decorate cookies, play a life-sized dreidel game. Plus, enjoy performances from the Klezmatics and a re-telling of the Hanukkah story from the local musicians of Shul of Rock. Food will be available for purchase from Napkin Friends, Delfino’s Chicago Pizza, and Street Donuts. Please also bring supplies to donate to our mitzvah project: care kits to deliver to the homeless. Thank you to our co-presenter The Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle and additional sponsors Camp Solomon Schechter and Chabad Mercer Island.
Lions’ Christmas Tree Sale
Currently on sale through Sunday, December 20 (Saturdays & Sundays, 10 am – 7 pm; Wednesdays – Fridays, 1 – 7 pm)
Farmers Insurance Parking Lot, 3003 77th Ave SE
Pick out the perfect Christmas Tree at the annual Lions’ Christmas Tree Sale. Wreaths and garlands also available for sale. Proceeds support Mercer Island Youth & Family Services, Mercer Island Boys & Girls Club, and other Mercer Island causes and charities.
