While the approaching winter months are all about staying warm and cozy, that doesn’t mean you can’t fill your calendar with spirited holiday events across the Emerald City! Besa Gordon shared a few of her favorite productions, activities, and holiday hotspots that make this time of year in the greater Seattle area so special. These are the experiences that turn you back into a kid and remind you what the season is all about.

The stage is set once more for the triumphant return of “Black Nativity,” the celebrated holiday production originally conceived by the legendary poet and playwright Langston Hughes. Presented by Intiman Theatre starting today, Dec. 10, this revival has become a powerful annual touchstone, re-establishing a sense of community, faith, and cultural pride.

The fashion sense was impeccable when Curtis Delgardo II, aka Cuddy, recently welcomed his friend Divante Teague, widely known as DJ Teague, to "Almost the Weekend" to discuss Teague’s bold sense of style as a designer and creative, his journey from Chicago to Seattle, and the creation of his streetwear brand, Vision of Vanté.

Scope Screenings, a monthly independent film festival, has cemented its place as a vital cornerstone of Seattle’s arts ecosystem. Last month, the festival brought together a variety of filmmakers, musicians, and creatives to showcase their short-form content on the big screen. With pride in their people and expression, the local creatives and team members revealed a profound dedication to community, artistic growth, and powerful storytelling.

Host Trae Holiday welcomed Justin Pinder, the co-founder and executive director of the new nonprofit How2Listen on a recent episode of "The Day with Trae." Pinder shared his journey from a Seattle-raised artist to a music executive and detailed his organization's inspiring mission: to cultivate a thriving music ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest.

Host Trae Holiday recently welcomed Crystal Hairston, the founding director of the Lifted! Youth Gospel Choir, to "The Day with Trae." Hairston shared the incredible journey of the choir, which has grown from just a handful of children in 2020 to over 65 families, all centered on creating a space of belonging and mutual respect.

The multi-Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir has returned to North America, bringing their inspirational new concert, "PEACE," to audiences across the continent, including Seattle on December 18 at the Moore Theatre. Formed in 2002 to celebrate the unique power of African gospel music, the choir has established itself as a global phenomenon, thrilling audiences with their powerful sound and infectious spirit.

The Black Media Matter Studio was full of brotherly love when Seattle rapper and multi-faceted artist Vic Daggs II joined his long-time friend Curtis Delgardo II on Almost The Weekend! last week. The pair dove into Daggs’ motivation behind his artistry in music, audio engineering, and fashion design, and his focus on capturing authentic moments of creative excellence. 

The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute is transforming into a sacred space for Black imagination on Sunday, November 30. Former NFL star-turned-creative visionary, Martellus Bennett, aka MR. TOMONOSHi, is bringing his electrifying show, "Slices of Black American Life," right here to Seattle’s Central District.

Last week on Almost The Weekend!, the Art Queen of Converge Takiyah “T-Dub” Ward joined host Besa Gordon to discuss Sole Food: For The Community, The Re-Sole 206’s upcoming event that combines T-Dub’s love of sneakers with a dedication to uplifting community this Thanksgiving season. 

KD Hall, a six-time Emmy-nominated TV show host, crisis manager, and non-profit leader of the KD Hall foundation, has announced the launch of her new book “Sacred Pause: A Conversation with KD Hall.” “Sacred Pause” is Hall’s first book as an author that explores and chronicles her journey with grief and a midlife crisis, inviting readers into her 30-day sabbatical of reflection, rest, and healing following her mother’s passing. 

On a recent episode of The Day with Trae, host Trae Holiday welcomed Franklin Johnson, an actor in Acts on Stage’s upcoming production Detroit '67. Playing the character Lank after a few years off from acting, Johnson discussed his journey on stage and offered a glimpse into the magic of the upcoming production.

The transformative healing arts studio A Space Inside recently hosted an open mic at River Seattle, hosted by Deaunte Damper, where local artists and marginalized creative voices could find solace and safety in the community’s undying support. Despite closing its doors earlier this year, A Space Inside’s permeates through the people it has touched, remaining a vital community hub for healing, expression, and unwavering support. 

Actor Michael Ling Jr. joined hosts Besa Gordon and Curtis Delgardo II, aka Cuddy, on a recent episode of Almost The Weekend! to discuss his role in the Acts on Stage production of Detroit '67, his acting journey, and his commitment to inspiring meaningful dialogue through theater. 

Spokane, WA - The Inland Northwest’s largest multimedia art and music festival, Terrain, recently celebrated its “sweet 16” with its annual art festival in the heart of Spokane, Washington. This creative mecca brought together nearly 500 artists from the region showcasing close to 900 pieces, and connected them with an audience of over 10,000 people.

On a recent episode of The Day With Trae, host Trae Holiday sat down with Brian J. Carter, the Executive Director of 4Culture, to discuss how the grant-making agency ensures that arts and culture stay thriving in Seattle and King County. 

Are you looking for something to do tonight in Seattle? Here’s what Erik Kalligraphy captured at the Pioneer Square Art Walk last month. This community event, which occurs every first Thursday of each month, brings together creatives and business owners across the Emerald City, from musicians, painters, and clothing designers, to share their work and shed light on one of Seattle’s most historic neighborhoods.

Earlier this week, Trae Holiday sat down with Shelley Washington, a stager for the Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB), on The Day With Trae to discuss her long-standing career at the acclaimed dance company and commitment to mentoring the next generation of artists. 

Acts On Stage is bringing “Detroit ‘67” to Seattle! From her award-winning stage trilogy, Dominique Morisseau delivers “Detroit ‘67” as a two-story dramedy that chronicles a family having a house party while the city is on fire. The metaphor sits on the backbeat of a country dancing to the new sound of Motown as it simultaneously finds itself in the dust of one of the most explosive moments in American history: the 1967 Detroit riots. It’s all coming together while falling apart.

In a rapidly changing Central District, Wa Na Wari strives to bridge the gaps between artistic expression, residential permanence, and physical activity with its annual art festival Walk the Block. Last month, the festival took over Seattle’s Central District with the strength of Black creativity on full display in the historic Seattle neighborhood that has marked the grounds of the city’s Black community for generations.