The Seattle Center is a complex, they use the term “campus” with various arts, museums and experiences for people of all ages. It is the location of the famous Space Needle.
Contacting The Seattle Center:
The Seattle Center
305 Harrison Street
Seattle, WA 98109
206-684-7200
www.seattlecenter.com
New Years Eve Festivities at The Seattle Center:
The New Year’s Eve festivities are a part of The Seattle Center’s Winterfest Festival, which begins after Thanksgiving and run into the new year.
Winterfest features a huge fireworks display from the Space Needle at midnight (www.seattlecenter.com/winterfest). The best places to view the fireworks are said to be at the Fisher Pavilion, the mural and the International Fountain.
At 11:59 pm, the Space Needle elevator will begin climbing all 605 feet to the top of the tower. As the elevator climbs, cascades of fireworks will be set off and strobe lights will sparkle the night. At midnight, the elevator reaches the top and unleashes a mountain of fireworks (over 8000 fireworks).
Authorities estimate fifty thousand people will attend this year. This is an alcohol free event, so it is safe for the whole family.
Winterfest Events:
Ride to the top of the Space Needle
$16.00 for adults ages 14-64; $14.00 for seniors; $8.00 for children ages 4-13 and children 3 and under are free.
Play on the Ice Rink
$5.00 for adults; $3.00 for children ages 6-12 and children 5 and under are free. Skate rentals are $2.00.
Step back in time on the classic carousel ride for only $1.00.
Winter Train Rides are donations only.
The Campus Luminata is free to the public and is a light display that turn the seventy-four acre campus into a winter wonderland after dark.
Free Winterfest Shows for New Years Eve:
Circus Contraption with the Aerialistas Circus Confection is a free show on December 30 at 6:30 pm in the Center House.
www.aerialista.com
www.circuscontraption.com
Keepin’ It Real is a lively hip hop show with singing, dancing and krumpin. The free show is at the Center House, on December 31, from 1pm until 5pm.
www.kontagious.net
www.bpdc.net
www.myspace.com/brizeeandband
New Years Eve Celebration with Soul’d Out is also at the Center House on December 31. This free show begins at 8pm and runs until 11:45pm.
www.souldoutshow.com
Transportation:
The Seattle Center has several parking lots surrounding their campus. If you choose to drive, you might want to consider carpooling. The parking lot on Fifth avenue offers a three dollar savings to cars with three or more people riding in them. To help you, Seattle has a carpooling website where you can link up with other citizens wishing to car pool to events (www.rideshareonline.com).
From anywhere in the region, you can plan your MetroBus trip online to get to The Seattle Center (www.tripplanner.metrokc.gov/cgi-bin/itin_page.pl?resptype=U)
The fastest way to The Seattle Center is to go to the Westlake Shopping Center and ride the monorail, which is reported to reach the Seattle Center in ninety seconds.
Closest Hotels to the Seattle Center:
Please note that Hotel availability and pricing is subject to change.
Directly Across The Street:
MarQueen Hotel, 600 Queen Anne Avenue, 888-445-3076
They only have one room left, and its $150.00 per night, $180.00 on New Years Eve.
1 Block Away:
Best Western Executive Inn, 200 Taylor Avenue North, 800-357-9444
They offer free shuttle service to anywhere in the area. $99.00 a night, $189.00 on New Years Eve.
Inn at Queen Anne, 505 First Avenue North, 800-952-5043
$75.00 a night.
2 Blocks Away:
Hampton Inn, 700 Fifth Avenue North, 206-282-7700
$150.00 a night.
Mediterranean Inn, 425 Queen Anne North, 866-525-4700
$120.00 a night.
3 Blocks Away:
Travelodge Space Needle, 200 Sixth Avenue North, 206-441-7878
$143.00 a night.
Quality Inn and Suites, 225 Aurora Avenue North, 206-728-7666
$104.00 a night, $140.00 on New Years Eve.
4 Blocks Away:
Comfort Suites, 301 Roy Street, 206-282-2600
$100.00 a night, $157.00 on New Years Eve
Homewood Suites, 206 Western Avenue West, 206-281-9393
$136.00 a night, $171.00 on New Years Eve
5 Blocks Away:
Holiday Inn, 211 Dexter Avenue North, 206-728-8123
$120.00 a night.
6 Blocks Away:
La Quinta Inn, 2224 Eighth Avenue, 800-437-4867
Sold out for New Years Eve
Courtyard Lake Union, 925 Westlake Avenue North, 800-321-2211
$109.00 a nightclubs
Pan Pacific Hotel, 2125 Terry Avenue, 206-264-8111
$195.00 a night, $235.00 on New Years Eve
7 Blocks Away:
Days Inn Seattle, 2205 Seventh Avenue, 800-441-6976
$129.00 a night.
Other Tourist Attractions To Visit While In Seattle:
The Waterfront has shops, restaurants, excursion boats, the Seattle Aquarium and the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center (www.seattle.gov/tour/water).
The Woodland Park Zoo has been named one of the top ten zoos in the country (www.zoo.org).
Take the kids to the Pacific Science Center (www.pacsci.org).
