In late September, Arts Foundation Federal Way held its annual Make an ImPAECt fundraiser at the Performing Arts and Event Center. The Decatur High School jazz band played, and former mayor Jeanne Burbidge was honored for her work in Federal Way's arts and culture scene. The city's Citywide News noted that she was a founding member of the foundation.
Two months later, her name is on the PAEC's biggest free family event of the year. The 2026 Jeanne Burbidge Holiday Festival, which used to be called the PAEC Annual Holiday Festival, runs Saturday, November 28, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at 31510 Pete von Reichbauer Way S. The festival anchors a December in which most of downtown Federal Way's holiday calendar happens on one block, with the PAEC on one side of S 316th Street and Town Square Park on the other.
What She Said the Building Was For
Burbidge first ran for Federal Way City Council in 1998 and served five four-year terms. When she stepped down at the end of 2017, she was the longest-serving council member in the city's history. She served as mayor in 2002 and 2003, back when the council picked the mayor from among its own members. She spent her last four years as deputy mayor.
Her work in the arts started before she held office. She sat on the boards of the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, Centerstage Theatre and the King County Arts Commission, which later became 4Culture. After Federal Way incorporated in 1990, she served on the city's first arts commission. Today 4Culture and Arts Foundation Federal Way are the two groups the PAEC credits with keeping her festival free. Arts Foundation Federal Way lists her as its vice-president.
The PAEC opened in 2017, her final year on the council. She told the Federal Way Mirror that the city's investment in parks and the arts, the PAEC included, was what she was proudest of. She also described the moment she valued most:
"People tend to come to those performances about a half hour early, so they gather in the lobby. To see the interaction of the people and the opportunity for people to meet each other and socialize and have a cup of coffee and to go into a performance they enjoy, that has been very satisfying."
Most of the holiday festival takes place in exactly those lobby and gathering spaces.
November 28: A Lobby Day From Start to Finish
The festival lands on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and costs nothing to attend. An RSVP form on the PAEC event page enters you in a raffle, as long as you check in at the welcome table. Here's the published schedule:
- 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The festival runs all day, with the Kid's Market, arts and crafts, and bounce houses.
- About 11:50 a.m. The RSVP raffle winner is announced.
- Noon. First screening of Rudolph.
- 1:30 p.m. Second screening of Rudolph.
- 2:20 p.m. The snowstorm finale in the lobby.
Mr. and Mrs. Claus are scheduled to visit, and there will be face painting and seasonal craft stations. The Kid's Market is coming back with its youth craft vendors, so the children are the ones doing the selling. If you're there for holiday shopping, go early, before the first movie draws the crowd into the theater. The day ends at 2:20 with the PAEC's signature snowstorm in the lobby, which makes it the one moment when nearly everyone is in the same room.
December 5: One Afternoon, Both Sides of S 316th
The festival fills the building. A week later, the season spills out the door and across the street.
On Saturday, December 5, the Federal Way Symphony performs A Very Vintage Christmas at the PAEC at 2:30 p.m. The program features standards like "White Christmas" and Mel Tormé's "The Christmas Song," and the PAEC says the city tree lighting will follow immediately after the concert. The concert is ticketed. The tree lighting is free.
According to the Federal Way Community Center listing, the Holiday Tree Lighting runs from 4 to 5 p.m. at Town Square Park, 31600 Pete von Reichbauer Way S. It includes a visit from Santa, live holiday music, hot cocoa and cookies, and the mayor's annual lighting of the tree. Sponsors are Fatbeam Fiber, Dick's Drive-In and the Federal Way Arts Commission.
- 2:30 p.m. The symphony takes the PAEC stage.
- Before 4:00 p.m. If you're skipping the concert, this is your window to park and walk over.
- 4:00 p.m. The tree lighting begins across S 316th Street at Town Square Park.
- 5:00 p.m. The tree lighting wraps up, and dinner options start a few blocks south.
The arts commission Burbidge helped launch in the early 1990s is now a sponsor of the city's tree lighting, held right across the street from the building she named as a high point of her years in office.
The Rest of the Season on the Same Stage
The festival and the tree lighting are the free headliners. The PAEC's calendar keeps going through most of December.
| Date | Show | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Sat., Nov. 21 | Sisters Christmas Catechism: The Mystery of the Magi's Gold | 3 p.m. |
| Sat., Nov. 28 | Jeanne Burbidge Holiday Festival | 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Federal Way Symphony: A Very Vintage Christmas | 2:30 p.m. |
| Sun., Dec. 6 | FWYSO Winter Concert: Holiday Music Through the Ages | 2 p.m. |
| Thu., Dec. 10 | A Very Merry Christmas Show | 7 p.m. |
| Fri., Dec. 11 | Federal Way Chorale: Yuletide 2026 "Brightest and Best" | 7:30 p.m. |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Federal Way Chorale: Yuletide 2026 "Brightest and Best" | 4 p.m. |
| Sun., Dec. 13 | Holiday music with Jet Cities Chorus and Quartets | 2 p.m. |
| Dec. 18 to 20 | Children's Dance Theater Foundation: The Nutcracker | Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.; Dec. 19 at 1 and 7 p.m.; Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. |
A lot of these are hometown ensembles: the symphony, the youth symphony, the chorale and a local children's dance company. Many of them are performing on the same stage within the same three weeks.
Getting There This Year
The biggest change from earlier holiday seasons is how you can get downtown. Link light rail opened at Federal Way Downtown station on December 6, 2025, so this is the first full holiday calendar with the station running. The station is at the Federal Way Transit Center. The 1 Line runs between Lynnwood and Federal Way. The PAEC says it's just up 21st Avenue S from the Transit Center. If you're coming with a stroller or a wheelchair, check the station page for elevator alerts before you leave.
If you're driving, the PAEC's FAQ lists its own lot, which includes ADA and low-emission vehicle spaces, plus overflow parking at Hillside Plaza Shopping Center and at the Transit Center on weekends. Both December 5 events and the November 28 festival are on Saturdays. Sound Transit lists 1,192 spaces in the Transit Center garage at 31621 23rd Ave. S.
Before the Movie, After the Tree
The PAEC points visitors to The Commons, across S 320th Street, for food. The Commons directory includes Gyro's House, Taco Maria, Yummy Sushi Burrito and Panera Bread. For something sweet after the cocoa runs out, there's Mae Mee Bakery, Snowy Village, Happy Lemon, Todo En Dulce and Wetzel's Pretzels. The newest big name in the mall is Dave's Hot Chicken at 1701 S. Commons, Suite M7G. The Federal Way Mirror reported that it held its grand opening on February 6, 2026.
One of the tree-lighting sponsors also serves a late dinner. Dick's Drive-In is at 32048 Pacific Hwy. S. and lists hours of 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, so it's still open long after the tree is lit. If you'd rather sit down, Jack's BBQ is at 31254 Pacific Highway S., north of The Commons and west of the light rail station.
All of it is close together. A family can watch Rudolph in the PAEC theater, take the light rail home, and come back a week later for the symphony, the tree and a burger without ever leaving the few blocks around S 316th and S 320th.
AMP Properties Group NW is based right here in Federal Way, and we'll be watching the same tree get lit on December 5. If you live near downtown and want to know what your home is worth now that the Link station has been open for nearly a year, ask us for an instant home valuation. If you need to sell quickly before the new year, ask about our cash offer.
