Federal Way's Holiday Festival Has a New Name This Year, and Most of December Happens on One Block

The free holiday festival at the Federal Way Performing Arts and Event Center has a new name this year. On Saturday, Nov. 28, the event that used to be the PAEC Annual Holiday Festival will run as the Jeanne Burbidge Holiday Festival. It goes from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 31510 Pete von Reichbauer Way S.

The name fits because of what happens on that block for the rest of the season. Burbidge helped start the Federal Way Arts Commission and Arts Foundation Federal Way. Those two groups now help pay for the festival, sponsor the tree lighting next door and run a youth program that has its own show on the PAEC calendar in December. From the Saturday after Thanksgiving through the Dec. 18–20 run of The Nutcracker, most of Federal Way's holiday calendar happens within a few hundred feet of the PAEC lobby.

Who Jeanne Burbidge Is to This Stretch of Pete von Reichbauer Way

Burbidge served 20 years on the Federal Way City Council, including terms as mayor and deputy mayor. The Federal Way Mirror reported that her council service ended Dec. 31, 2017. The same Mirror story lists her arts work: a seat on the city's first Arts Commission and board roles with the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, Centerstage Theatre and the King County Arts Commission. She also told the paper that the PAEC was a source of pride.

Her role didn't end when she left the council. Arts Foundation Federal Way lists her as its vice-president and credits her with helping establish the Federal Way Arts Commission. In September, the foundation held its annual Make an ImPAECt fundraiser at the PAEC and recognized Burbidge, a founding member, for her contributions to local arts and culture. The city's Sept. 28 Citywide News reported that the money raised that night goes to the foundation's Arts4Youth program and to local artists.

About two months after that dinner, her name is on the event that starts the PAEC's holiday season.

How Nov. 28 Runs, Hour by Hour

The PAEC credits Arts Foundation Federal Way with making the festival possible. Free admission is supported by the foundation and 4Culture. The Kid's Market youth craft vendors are back, Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be there, and there will be face painting and seasonal craft tables. The PAEC's posted schedule:

1. 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: The Kids Market, arts and crafts and bounce houses run the whole time.
2. Around 11:50 a.m.: The RSVP raffle winner is announced. To be eligible, you have to RSVP and then check in at the welcome table.
3. 12 p.m.: First screening of Rudolph.
4. 1:30 p.m.: Second screening of Rudolph.
5. 2:20 p.m.: The snowstorm finale in the lobby.

Since the raffle happens before the first movie, families who want a shot at it need to be checked in before noon. The RSVP form is linked from the PAEC event page. If the movie is the main goal for your family, the 1:30 screening ends close to the 2:20 snowstorm, so you can see both without much waiting in between.

The Same Groups Show Up Again All December

After the festival, the PAEC's December calendar fills up with local ensembles. One of the dates is an Arts 4 Youth show, from the program the September fundraiser supports. Here's what remains at 31510 Pete von Reichbauer Way S as of publication:

Most of the December shows come from Federal Way's own community ensembles: the Federal Way Symphony, the youth orchestra, the Federal Way Chorale, the Jet Cities Chorus and the Children's Dance Theater Foundation. The Chorale's two Yuletide dates cover a weeknight and a weekend afternoon, which helps if you're juggling work and kids' schedules. The full calendar with ticket links is on the PAEC event calendar.

Dec. 5 Puts Two Events Side by Side

The busiest day of the season is Dec. 5. The Federal Way Symphony plays A Very Vintage Christmas inside the PAEC at 2:30 p.m. Next door at Town Square Park, 31600 Pete von Reichbauer Way S, the city's free Holiday Tree Lighting runs from 4 to 5 p.m. The listing promises a visit from Santa, live holiday music, hot cocoa and cookies, and the mayor's annual tree lighting. The sponsors are Fatbeam Fiber, Dick's Drive-In and the Federal Way Arts Commission, the commission Burbidge helped establish.

The tree-lighting page calls Dec. 5 a Friday, but Dec. 5, 2026 is a Saturday, the same afternoon as the symphony matinee.

The next afternoon, Sunday, Dec. 6, the youth orchestra plays its winter concert at 2 p.m. in the same building. That's also one year to the day since Sound Transit started light rail service to Federal Way. Federal Way Downtown Station is at the Federal Way Transit Center, 31621 23rd Ave S. Sound Transit puts both the PAEC and Town Square Park about 0.3 mile from the station. This is the first full holiday season with trains running there, so relatives coming from up the 1 Line can ride straight to the block.

Where to Eat Between Shows

Federal Way's food scene already has a tie to this block. In September, the Federal Way Farmers Market held Taste of Federal Way on the market grounds next to the PAEC. Judges picked Mama Stortini's as first place overall, visitors voted East India Grill People's Choice, and Poverty Bay won Best Decorated Booth. All three are a short trip from the PAEC:

• Mama Stortini's, 1911 S 320th St. The restaurant describes this as its Commons location, a few blocks from the PAEC. It won fine dining and Italian cuisine in the Federal Way Mirror's Best of Federal Way 2026.
• East India Grill, 31845 Gateway Center Blvd S. The Federal Way Mirror's October profile reports that owner Kabal Gill opened it in Federal Way in 2009. It also won the Mirror's 2026 Indian cuisine category.
• Poverty Bay Café, 1108 S 322nd Pl. It won Best of Federal Way 2026 in bakery and desserts, breakfast, coffee shop or stand, and lunch, so it fits a morning before the festival opens.
• Dave's Hot Chicken, 1701 S Commons, Suite M7G. The Federal Way Mirror covered its grand opening at The Commons on Feb. 6, 2026, so this is its first holiday season here.
• Honey Bear Vietnamese Sandwich, 1640 S 318th Pl. It won the banh mi category in the Mirror's 2026 awards.

Sound Transit's guide to the new South King County stations also lists a row of quick spots on S 320th St, each about 0.2 mile from the station: Bibim Express, Seoul Hot Dog, Ezell's Famous Chicken, Ivar's Seafood Bar and El Rinconsito. That guide came out in December 2025, so check current hours before you go, especially on festival day and Dec. 5.

If you can walk to Town Square Park, or you're thinking about what it would be like to live near this block of Federal Way, I can walk you through the Town Center area and how it fits your plans. Reach out to Amy Le to Schedule a Consultation.