Here’s my weekly round-up of upcoming events for the week of November 30th – December 6th on Mercer Island:
Holiday Shopping Boutique
Tuesday, December 1, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm
Mercer Island Beach Club, 8326 Avalon Drive
Unique vendors, artists, and crafters will be featuring a wide variety of beautiful items for this shopping event. A portion of sales will be donated to Mercer Island Youth & Family Services.
Storybook Corner
Wednesday, December 2, 10:30 – 11 am
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
Bring your little ones in to the charming children’s section of Island Books to enjoy popular picture books read by our staff.
Learn more >>
Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
Wednesday, December 2, Noon
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th St
The special guest of this month’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon is Autumn Martin, Founder/Chocolatier of Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery. Autumn will show you how to make your own chocolate chip smoker and she’ll be bringing a selection of her award winning items to sell so think about your holiday shopping lists.
Chamber of Commerce website >>
Mercer Island Library Mini-Book Sale
Thursday, December 3 – Sunday, December 6, Library hours
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
While it’s a mini-sale, there are so many great books, you will have no trouble finding lovely gift selections for family and friends or a special book for yourself. Sale is during library hours.
“Soup and Sound” Advent Concert Series
Friday, December 4 | Soup served at 11:30 am; Performance begins at 12:15 pm
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 4400 86th Ave
Emmanuel Episcopal Church invites you to their “Soup and Sound” Advent Concert series with Advent and Christmas music, to take place three Fridays: December 4, 11, & 18. The event begins with a lunch of homemade soup and bread at 11:30 am followed by music in the church from 12:15 to 1 pm. This Friday, Henry Lebedinsky (organ) and Susan Bloomfield (Soprano) will perform German Advent Chorales and Arias.
Learn more >>
St. Monica’s Christmas Tree Lighting Event
Friday, December 4, 5:30 – 8:30 pm
St. Monica School, 4320 87th Ave SE
Join us for Christmas caroling, hot cocoa and the lighting of the Christmas Tree at the main school entrance, on December 4, beginning at 5:30 pm and ending at 8:30 pm. Walk down Candy Cane Lane to the school gymnasium for dinner ($5 per person), Gingerbread house making, Christmas cookie decorating, and taking pictures with Santa!
Learn more >>
Youth Theatre Northwest Presents: “It’s a Wonderful Life”
Dinner Theatre Performance – Friday, December 4, 6 pm
Mercer Island Beach Club, 8326 Avalon Drive
Regular Performances – Saturday, December 5, 2 pm & 7 pm
Sunday, December 6, 2 pm
YTN Blackbox, 4400 86th Ave SE
It’s a Wonderful Life follows the saga of George Bailey, beloved husband, father, and quintessential everyman living in the small town of Bedford Falls. Though beloved by the entire community, George’s dreams of escape and adventure have been quashed by family obligation and civic duty. When desperation pushes him to the edge, George’s guardian angel descends on Christmas Eve to save him from despair and to show him what the world would be like had he never been born.
Learn more >>
Holiday Tree Lighting & Firehouse Munch
Friday, December 4, 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Mercerdale Park & North Fire Station, 77th Avenue SE and SE 32nd Street
Gather your friends and family 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.
Chocolate Holiday Gift Making for Teens
Saturday, December 5, 12:30 – 2 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE
Join pastry chef Laurie Pfalzer to learn how to make chocolate gifts for the holiday season. Make dark chocolate ganache and turn it into beautiful hand-rolled truffles. Learn to temper chocolate and make dark chocolate and peppermint bark, white chocolate popcorn, and caramel corn with dark chocolate drizzle. At the end of class, you can package your gifts to give away, or take them home to enjoy! For middle and high school students. Ingredients and cooking supplies provided. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.
The Dickens Carolers
Saturday, December 5, 1 – 1:45 pm & Sunday, December 6, 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. There will be two caroling events this weekend – one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Don’t miss it! Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.
Parents Night Out
Saturday, December 5, 5 – 10 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
It may be called Parents Night Out, but let’s be honest … it’s really for the kids! All evenings will be gym and swim: your favorite games and splashin’ in the pool, followed by dinner and a movie.
Israeli TV Dinners: Florentine
Saturday, December 5, 6 pm
Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 East Mercer Way
Israel’s most popular TV series, “Florentine” (1997-2000), is back for a binge run at the J. Enjoy a Middle Eastern dinner and watch the first five episodes of the first season. For residents of this bohemian Tel Aviv neighborhood, personal matters override politics. Think “Friends” with an Israeli edge.
Learn more >>
Island Books PJ Story Time
Saturday, December 5, 6:30 pm
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE
On the first Saturday of every month, Island Books hosts a children’s pajama story time. This month’s singer/storyteller is Nancy Stewart. Geared especially for children over three; refreshments will be served.
Learn more >>
Island Choral Experience Annual Holiday Performances
Mercer Island High School, 9100 SE 42nd St
Island Girls & Prep Choir presents “Christmas Town!”
Saturday December 5, 7 pm | Sunday, December 6, 2 pm and 7 pm
Island Sound presents “Calendar Girls”
Saturday, December 12, 7 pm | Sunday, December 13, 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 gradesr) will delight audiences with these festive performances.
Learn more >>
Mercer Island Bike Drive
Sunday, December 6, Noon – 3 pm
Windermere Mercer Island, 2737 77th Ave SE #100
Give an old bike new life and support! Donate bikes, bike parts, and bike accessories at this special bike drive hosted in partnership with Windermere Mercer Island and Bike Works. Bike Works accepts all types of bikes, but is especially in need of bikes in good condition, including: 20″ wheel BMX style bikes, 24″ and 26″ wheel mountain bikes, road bikes of any size, and especially smaller-sized road bikes. Please also considering donating $5 to help offset the cost of transporting and processing the bicycles.
