Activity Seattle Center
Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall
An activity in Seattle Center, pricey ($$$) and worth about 2.5 hours. Best time to go: Evening.
Why go
Pacific Northwest Ballet's annual Nutcracker, staged at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center from late November through late December.
It is one of 19 curated places we feature in Seattle, alongside 8 places to eat, 7 sights and 1 place for a drink. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with International Fountain and Chihuly Garden and Glass.
- Type
- Activity · Culture
- Neighborhood
- Seattle Center
- Price
- $$$
- Time needed
- 2.5 hr
- Best time
- Evening
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 3 beyond Seattle. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1International Fountain
Domed fountain at the heart of Seattle Center whose lawn becomes a dance floor with projections on New Year's Eve.
Activity · Seattle Center & Queen Anne · 0.1 mi straight-line - 2Chihuly Garden and Glass
Dale Chihuly's blown-glass works in galleries, a glasshouse and a garden at the foot of the Space Needle.
Sight · Seattle Center & Queen Anne · 0.2 mi straight-line - 3Chihuly Garden and Glass
Dale Chihuly's glasswork in galleries and a garden beside the Space Needle.
Sight · 0.2 mi straight-line - 4Space Needle
1962 tower with a rotating glass floor at 500 feet.
Sight · 0.3 mi straight-line - 5New Year's at the Needle
Seattle's free midnight show, with drones and fireworks launched from the 605-foot Space Needle itself.
Sight · Seattle Center & Queen Anne · 0.3 mi straight-line - 6Kerry Park
Small Queen Anne park with the classic skyline view of the Space Needle and, on clear days, Mount Rainier.
Sight · 0.6 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall is a stop on our Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in Seattle
Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall is our only activity pick in Seattle; here is what else we recommend there. See the full Seattle guide.
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Pike Place Market
Century-old public market with fishmongers, produce stalls and the original market arcades over Elliott Bay.
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Zig Zag Café
Classic cocktail bar tucked down the Pike Street Hillclimb steps below the market.
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Seattle Art Museum
Downtown art museum with strong Northwest Coast Native and modern collections.
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Hiram M. Chittenden Locks
Ballard Locks move boats between Lake Washington and Puget Sound; fish ladder windows show migrating salmon.
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Discovery Park
Seattle's largest park: bluff meadows, forest loop trail and a beach walk to West Point Lighthouse.
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Paseo Caribbean Food
Fremont's cult Cuban-style sandwich shop; the Caribbean Roast pork sandwich is the order.
When to go
Average daily highs in Seattle run from 44°F in December to 75°F in August; November is usually the wettest month. For Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall itself, we suggest: Evening.
Modelled monthly averages for Seattle from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Seattle weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall: quick answers
How much time do you need at Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall?
Plan on about 2.5 hours at Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall?
Our pick: Evening. Insider tip: Matinees on weekdays near Christmas are the easiest seats to get.
Which TripsCircle routes include Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall?
Pacific Northwest Ballet's Nutcracker at McCaw Hall appears on Seattle, Snoqualmie Pass & Leavenworth, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add it to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Seattle.
Plan Seattle
- Seattle travel guide 19 places
- Best time to visit Seattle weather by month
- Seattle to Bainbridge Island 8.9 mi straight-line
- Seattle to Snoqualmie Pass 45 mi straight-line
- Seattle to Olympic NP 61 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Seattle
- Elliott's Oyster House Food
- Hiram M. Chittenden Locks Sight
- Zig Zag Café Drinks
- Discovery Park Outdoors
- Fairmont Olympic Hotel Stay
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.