Seattle may or may not get snow this winter, but you can still find plenty of ways to get into the holiday spirit.

State of play: Here are a dozen of our favorite things to do this time of year, including Santa photo ops, Christmas tree lightings, holiday performances, craft markets and Hanukkah celebrations.

Magic in the Market

Take free photos with Santa, browse Christmas trees and wreaths, or make your own ornaments at this family-friendly event, which will be capped off with a tree lighting celebration. Nov. 30. Free.

• 11am-6pm at Pike Place Market. Tree lighting is from 5-6pm.

Pop-up ice skating rink

Test your gliding skills on a synthetic, outdoor skating rink in Occidental Square. Skates are available to borrow for free. Dec. 13-15. Free.

• Noon-6pm all three days.

Occidental Square Holiday Bazaar

Browse a market featuring more than 30 vendors selling artwork, crafts, sustainable gifts and more. Dec. 13-14. Free. Noon-6pm.

Winterfest at Seattle Center

The five-week festival includes ticketed events like the Seattle Christmas Market and the World Bazaar. But it's free to check out the giant model Christmas Train and Village at Seattle Center Armory or just wander around and admire the lights. Nov. 29-Dec. 31.

Tree Lighting at Westlake Center

Watch the lighting of downtown Seattle's 45-foot-tall tree and holiday star, followed by a fireworks show. Friday, Nov. 29. 5pm, with fireworks after.

Black Nativity

Raise your voice and sing along with this production of Langston Hughes' gospel musical, which is brought to life by a choir, dancers and a live band. Dec. 4-29. $25-110.

Ballard menorah lighting

This public menorah lighting comes with latkes, doughnuts, balloons and a fire show. Dec. 12. Free. 5:30pm at Bergen Place

Hanukkah at the J

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with a glow stick dance party, live music, craft Hanukkah cocktails and dinner, plus a community menorah lighting. Dec. 20. Tickets are $65 for families, or $20 for individuals.

• 5:30-730pm. Stroum Jewish Community Center, 3801 E Mercer Way
  Mercer Island.

Four more

With AAA projecting a record 80 million Americans will travel more than 50 miles from home for Thanksgiving this year, it's wise to plan for delays in western Washington.

The big picture: The vast majority, 71.7 million people, will travel by car, an additional 1.3 million travelers on the road compared with last year, per AAA.

• The worst times to travel by car will be Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and the best time will be Thanksgiving Day itself, when interstates and highways are typically clear, according to Kirkland-based INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights.

What they're saying: Drivers should follow traffic apps and local news alerts to avoid major delays, Bob Pishue, transportation analyst at INRIX, said in a written statement.

• He said it's especially important in big cities like Seattle, where traffic is expected to be more than double what it typically is on a normal day.

Zoom in: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is preparing for nearly 1.5 million passengers from Nov. 21-30, with the busiest days expected to be next Tuesday, next Thursday and Nov. 30.

• With more than 300,000 passengers expected on vessels between Nov. 27 and Dec. 1, Washington State Ferries is warning of long lines for car travelers.
• The Washington State Department of Transportation has posted traffic charts for Nov. 27 through Dec. 2 on routes that historically see the highest congestion, including Interstate 5 at the U.S.-Canada border.

Tell a traveler

Washington's last Sears store—reportedly one of just nine remaining in the U.S.—will close on Dec. 15, with plans to liquidate the already limited inventory at the Westfield Southcenter location beforehand. (Seattle Times)

Power is expected to be restored by Saturday for most of the more than 200,000 Puget Sound Energy customers that remained without power yesterday after a windstorm on Tuesday. (KING 5)

✈️ FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker plans to visit Boeing's Seattle offices soon to meet with CEO Kelly Ortberg as the company resumes 737 MAX production under heightened FAA oversight after a recent 53-day strike. (Reuters)

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