Travelers can meet fanciful characters, enjoy music & fun enroute at Sea-Tac

Live music and costumed characters will help travelers ring in the holidays at Sea-Tac Airport this month.  The highlight will be a daily parade as Frosty the Snowman, Sugar Plum Fairies, Santa and their pals march from the D Concourse to the Central Terminal.

The parade will be from Dec. 16 to 24 starting at 9:30 a.m. Characters also will roam through the airport, giving gifts to kids and other travelers, courtesy of the Merchants at Sea-Tac. Santa, his elves and other holiday favorites will mingle from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Dec. 23, and until noon on Dec. 24.

For traditional holiday music, carolers will perform throughout the airport. Harp, steel drum and other musicians will be in the Central Terminal.

In addition, USO volunteers are expected to wrap gifts for a nominal donation to help fund improvements to their airport facility, such as a new accessibility ramp.

Meditation Room a respite for diverse airport community

Passengers and Sea-Tac Airport employees seeking a quiet place to reflect, decompress or pray, now have a dedicated space. The nondenominational Meditation/Quiet Room recently reopened on the mezzanine level, above checkpoint 3, pre-security.

Port of Seattle staff collaborated closely with the local religious community on amenities in the room, which is open 24 hours daily.

Representatives included Spencer Francis Barrett, Pacific Northwest Conference, African Methodist Episcopal Church; Steve Wilhelm, Northwest Dharma Association; Andrew Conley-Holcom, United Church of Christ; Airport Managing Director Lance Lyttle; Yohanna Kinberg, Congregation Kol Ami; Linda Clifton, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle; Mahood Khadeer, Muslim Association of the Puget Sound; George Draffan, Northwest Dharma Association; Mary Mitchell, Seattle University School of Theology Interfaith Advisory Committee; and Port Interim Executive Director Dave Soike.

“There are going to be individuals traveling who either had some moment of distress in their lives, or they lost someone and need time to pray or to meditate. I’m so happy this will be here for people,” said Wilhelm, who played a key role in the facility reopening.

“We have a diverse passenger base that comes with this airport, from all parts of life, all parts of the world, all backgrounds and all different religions,” said Lyttle. “We think, as an international hub, we need a facility like this to accommodate their needs.”

– Northwest Seaport Alliance