December brings host of holiday events for Islanders

Published 10:00 am Monday, December 1, 2025

Mercer Islanders will have multiple events to check out this holiday season.

In the upcoming days and weeks, there will be tree and menorah lightings, a Holiday Makers Market, a Community Holiday Party and a visit from the Argosy Christmas Ship. Mercer Island Girl Scouts will also be running a toy drive in early December.

Mercer Island’s Recreation Program Supervisor Katie Herzog gave the Reporter a rundown on the gatherings that will be filling locals’ calendars and bringing the community together.

TREE LIGHTING

First up is the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting of the massive sequoia at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at Mercerdale Park. The event will feature the Mercer Island High School choir, Creation Dance Studio performances, vendor booths, an Eastside Fire and Rescue truck for attendees to visit and simulated snowfall courtesy of SplashTimesFun.

It’s a real community-centered event, said Herzog, adding that they’ll extend the event to Southeast 32nd Street between 77th Avenue Southeast and 78th Avenue Southeast with a stage and room for more booths. Upwards of 200 people have attended the event over the past couple of years, including families of the choir and dance performers.

As Herzog glances around at the activities happening on nights like these, she noted: “I always say doing events is such instant gratification because you put all the work into it and then you’re there to see it unfold and you’re there to see all the reactions and all the compliments that we typically get from our community, which means so much.”

HOLIDAY MAKERS MARKET

The Holiday Makers Market comes next from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. The event — in direct partnership with the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce — will feature 80-plus vendors, Creation Dance Studio performances once again, sweet treats, photo booth, coffee and more.

At the market, attendees can check holiday shopping off their lists while supporting local vendors and businesses, Herzog said. In past years, items have included woodworking, holiday cards, bath and body goods and Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL) art and knitted items.

MENORAH LIGHTING

Later in the month on Dec. 16, Chabad Mercer Island will present a menorah lighting at 5:15 p.m. at Mercerdale Park. The “Fire and Ice” Chanukah event is open to all, free of charge and will feature a giant hand-carved ice menorah, holiday toy drive, traditional holiday treats and more.

“We love having the menorah out there with our big sequoia lit up. It’s a great event for the community,” Herzog said.

HOLIDAY PARTY AND ARGOSY CHRISTMAS SHIP

Islanders can get a double dose of holiday events on Dec. 19 with the Community Holiday Party occurring from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center and the lighted Argosy Christmas Ship making a visit from 8:30-9 p.m. down the way at Luther Burbank Park Beach.

The party will feature Santa, Dickens Carolers, lantern making, community vendors, a hot cocoa walk to the ship and more.

On the lantern-making front, MIVAL members will be on site to help with this project that will have attendees of all ages decorating white paper bags and placing battery-operated synthetic candles inside to enhance their walk down to the water.

“Our staff will help guide people down to the beach area where the (Argosy) lights will be,” Herzog said.

GIRLS SCOUTS TOY DRIVE

Girl scouts will hold their Toys for Tots drive on Dec. 6 at the Holiday Makers Market (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and at Mercerdale Park (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Their toy collection box will remain at the community center through Dec. 10.