Get ready — it’s almost time for the most wonderful time of year once again! And the busiest! After all, there are presents to buy, dinners to make, parties to plan, and a plethora of seasonal events to attend. With so much going on, it’s hard to keep track of what’s happening and when but don’t worry! We have a comprehensive list of Yakima’s wonderful winter events so you can mark them in your calendar and be prepared ahead of time.
Red Mountain Trails
27314 Ambassador PR NE, Benton City
509.948.0080
Upcoming weekends are for the wagon rides at Red Mountain Trails. Every Friday through Sunday until the last day of December, you can enjoy a family-friendly, horse-drawn wagon ride through beautiful vineyards. Each ride lasts about 25 minutes and only costs $10 per person. Afterward, stick around and relax by the fire pit — also $10 per reservation. Find picnic boxes and s’mores kits ready and waiting that are perfect for the whole family, a date night, or just a fun day with friends! Consider adding one of their famous winery wine flights during your meal and try five of their exquisite house wines.
Vintage Markets at Glenwood Square
5110 W Tieton Drive
509.426.1041
Don’t miss a chance to find that perfect gift for that special someone this winter with the help of Antiques Etc’s during their Vintage Markets at Glenwood Square events. The markets will run on November 5 and 19 and December 10 and 17. There will even be a Christmas Open House during their November 5 event, with a bazaar upstairs giving gift shoppers plenty of items to choose from for the holidays.
Bale Breaker Brewing Company
1801 Birchfield Road
509.424.4000
Bale Breaker Brewing Company is celebrating the holidays and fresh hop season from now until December 29. Every Thursday for the upcoming weeks will be Thirsty Thursdays at Bale Breaker with all-day hoppy hour. All pints are $1 off, so stop on in and enjoy a drink whenever you need to take a break from those holiday errands!
Holiday Baking Class
1101 W Yakima Ave., Suite 115
509.607.6862
If you’re looking to make some tasty treats this holiday season that rival your Aunt Carol’s famous apple pie, consider signing up for Healthy Eats Nutrition Classroom’s Holiday Baking Class on November 18 and 19. Only 22 spots are open, so be sure to register ahead of time for this hands-on course. Participants will be divided into small groups to help create one of the tasty recipes on the menu. After, you’ll take home the step-by-step recipes for those menu items to recreate them for the holidays, including directions for ginger molasses cookies, gingerbread cookies, frosted sugar cookies, French apple cake, sticky toffee pudding and cranberry orange biscotti. Yum!
Thanksgiving Floral Arrangement
1401 Arboretum Drive
509.248.7337
Wow, the family even further this upcoming Thanksgiving with a fabulous fall floral arrangement that you made all by yourself during Yakima Area Arboretum’s Thanksgiving Floral Arrangement Class. The course is held on November 19 and is open to a limit of 25 people. Don’t forget to register ahead of time if you’re interested in making a floral masterpiece using fresh fall foliage and flowers, all while under the watchful eye of trained florist and hobbyist Marci Venable.
Warehouse Theatre Company
1900 Beaudry Road
509.966.0951
Tickets will be on sale November 18 for an all-new, fun musical presented by Warehouse Theatre Company. The show, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – The Musical,” is a fun, new musical version inspired by the classic kid’s book of the same title by Barbara Robinson. Cast members hit the stage November 25 and 26 and December 1 through 3 at 7 p.m. Those looking to attend but unavailable for a late-night showing can enjoy the production on November 26, and December 3 at their 2 p.m. shows instead.
Small Business Saturday
Downtown Yakima
On November 26, the Downtown Association of Yakima will host its Small Business Saturday event. Patrons can take advantage of sales and promotions, a drawing for a gift basket through the passport promotion and receive a complimentary shopping tote with purchase. To enter the fun, all you have to do is pick up a passport and a map at one of three check-in stations between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the event runs. Each business participating will also have its own special promotions, sales, or door prizes, meaning there’s plenty to win and even more fun to be had as you shop local this upcoming holiday season.
Wreath Making
1401 Arboretum Drive
509.248.7337
On December 4, the Yakima Area Arboretum will be back at it again with its holiday creation classes. This time Jheri Ketcham will be leading the popular seasonal Wreath Making class on how to turn fresh greens, berries, and cones into a wreath worthy of your holiday décor and front door! They will also be hosting another event later in the month, on December 19, a Christmas Floral Arrangements class.
Yakima Symphony Orchestra at Capitol Theatre
19 S 3rd Street
509.248.1414
Yakima Symphony Orchestra will proudly present its Holiday Spectacular at the Capitol Theatre on December 4. Justin Raffa will be your chorusmaster as the YSO joins forces with the Yakima Symphony Chorus for this annual family holiday tradition here in Yakima. Doors open at 3:15 p.m. for this spectacular performance that will warm you with holiday cheer.
Cookies with Santa
1606 W Nob Hill Blvd.
509.574.4794
Santa visits the Larson Gallery, and Yakima Valley Vintners will feature a special hot cocoa and festive cookie collection so everyone can feast on cookies with him during this wonderful family tradition. From noon until 5 p.m. on December 17, families can stop in for a visit with Santa, all while enjoying the delicious cookies. The gift shops will also be open, full of unique gifts that are simply perfect for the upcoming holiday season.
There’s no doubt that the holiday season is definitely the busiest, but thankfully, it’s a fun kind of busy! After all, when else are you going to learn to bake holiday cookies, attend wreath-making classes, shop local for holiday gifts, and have cookies with Santa? There’s plenty of fun waiting to fill up your calendar, so don’t forget to mark these dates as Yakima welcomes the holiday season!
