Benefits

Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics

PLAN AHEAD Law enforcement agencies host plunge in Lake Union to benefit Special Olympics Washington, 10 a.m. Feb. 9, South Lake Union Park, Seattle; free to participate, donations encouraged; T-shirts for all who raise $75 or more (www.specialolympicswashington.org).

Biking

Theo’s Chocolate and Zoo Rose Garden

SAT Easy pace, 7 mile ride with stop for chocolate samples and rose garden, all ages and riding skill levels welcome, 2 p.m. Saturday from North 42nd Street and Densmore Avenue North, Seattle; free (206-547-9569 or www.cascade.org).

Sunday rides

SUN Cascade Bicycle Club 25 mile, leisurely paced ride with some hills, stop at Swedish Club for pancake breakfast ($9), 10 a.m. Sunday from Gas Works Park, Seattle; and 26 mile, leisurely paced ride to Three Tree Point with lunch stop, 10 a.m. Sunday from Jack Block Park, 2130 Harbor Ave. S.W., Seattle; steady rain cancels rides (www.cascade.org).

Birding

Birding at the Seward Park Audubon Center

SAT Birding 101, field identification, walk through the park to spot and ID birds; recommended ages 10 and up, 8 a.m. Saturday, $3-$5 (www.brownpapertickets.com/event/310406); Family Bird Walk outdoor bird scavenger hunt through the forest for families with children ages 5 to 12, 1 p.m. Saturday, free (www.brownpapertickets.com/event/310404), Seward Park Audubon Center, 5902 Lake Washington Blvd. S., Seattle; preregister (206-652-2444).

Snow Geese & Trumpeter Swans in La Conner

ONGOING See populations of bald eagles, snow geese, and trumpeter and tundra swans in the La Conner area. Through March; free bird maps available, La Conner Visitor Information Center, 511 Morris St., La Conner (360-466-4778 or www.lovelaconner.com).

Boating

Seattle Boat Show

FRI-SUN Display and sale of boats, accessories, seminars, Splash aerial acrobatic performances and Kids’ Aqua Paddlers, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, CenturyLink Field Event Center, 800 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle; and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, South Lake Union, Seattle; $5-$12, ages 10 and younger free (www.seattleboatshow.com).

Dance

Skandia Vinterdansen

FRI Light meal, 6:15 p.m., dance to live music, 8 p.m. Friday, Cedar Valley Grange, 20526 52nd Ave. W., Lynnwood; $12-$15, kids free (www.skandia-folkdance.org).

Emerald City Contra Dance

FRI Beginner’s dance workshop, 7 p.m., dance, no partner necessary, all dances taught, don’t wear cologne, perfume or other scented products, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle; $5-$8 (206-440-9839 or seattledance.org/contra/emerald.city.html).

Seattle Balkan Dancers

FRI Dance lesson, 7:30 p.m., Balkan line dancing, 8:30-11 p.m. Friday, Russian Community Center, 704 19th Ave. E., Seattle; $5-$12 (425-883-0332 or www.seattlebalkandancers.org).

Saturday Night Tango Social Dance

SAT Tango lesson, 8:30 p.m.; social dance 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dance Underground, 340 15th Ave. E., Seattle; $15 (206-781-9553 or www.seattletango.com).

Scandinavian dance workshop

SAT Skandia Folkdance Society first-time beginners class, no partner needed, for ages 12 to adults of all ages, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Cedar Valley Grange, 20526 52nd Ave. W., Lynnwood; free, preregistration requested, not required (206-784-8959 or www.skandia-folkdance.org).

Dancin’ at the Barn

SAT Dance lesson, 7 p.m., dancing to rock/pop, country, swing, Latin music for ages 18 and older with the Dancin’ DJ; 8 p.m. Saturday, Rockin’ Horse Dance Barn, 11820 150th Ave. S.E., Renton; $15/lesson and dance, $12/dance only (425-255-9211).

Sno-King International Folk Dance Club

SAT Request dancing, folk dance lesson, international folk dancing: 7 p.m. Saturday, Cedar Valley Grange, 20526 52nd Ave. W., Lynnwood; $5-$7 (425-385-2088 or sno-king.org).

Lake City Contra Dance

FEB. 7 Beginners’ dance workshop, 7:30 p.m., dance to live band with caller, 8 p.m. Feb. 7, Lake City Community Center, 12531 28th Ave. N.E., Seattle; $7-$9, students and first-time dancers free (206-525-0932 or seattledance.org/contra/lakecity).

Dance Day

PLAN AHEAD Half-hour dance lessons in nine styles of dance, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 9, Century Ballroom, 915 E. Pine St., Seattle; $5/all day (www.centuryballroom.com/home/events/dance-day).

Fairs/Festivals

Enumclaw Wine and Chocolate Festival

FRI-SAT Twenty eight wineries, 15 chocolatiers, gift vendors, food, massage demonstrations, music, wine and food pairing information; 4 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Porsche Club of America PNWR display Saturday only, Enumclaw Expo Center, 45224 284th Ave. S.E., Enumclaw; $15/advance, $20/at the door (360-829-7500 or www.enumclawchocolatefestival.com).

GroundFrog Day

SAT Frog Snohomih Slew makes his prediction for weather for the rest of winter after making a grand entrance with kids’ activities, entertainment, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, downtown Snohomish (www.groundfrogday.org).

Food events

Downtown Issaquah Wine Walk

FRI Music, art events, wine tasting at several locations on Front Street, bring your own glass, all ages welcome, 5 p.m. Friday, Hailstone Feed store (historic Shell Station), 232 Front St., Issaquah; $20-$25 includes 10 tastes (425-391-1112 or www.downtownissaquah.com).

Red Wine and Chocolate Festival

FRI-SUN Taste red wines with gourmet chocolates, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Carpenter Creek Winery, 20376 E. Hickox Road, Mount Vernon; $5 (360-848-6673 or www.carpentercreek.com).

Swedish Pancake Breakfast

SUN Pancakes, ham, beverages, music and folk dancing, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Sunday, Swedish Cultural Center, 1920 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle; $5-$9, ages 4 and younger free (206-283-1090 or www.swedishculturalcenter.org).

I Love Belltown Dishcrawl

WED Food at four neighborhood restaurants, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Seattle; $45 by reservation (www.dishcrawl.com/belltown).

Gardening

Wild Rhododendron

SAT Rhododendron Species Foundation on using native rhododendrons in your yard, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, 15416 S.E. 16th St., Bellevue; free (425-485-5942).

Garden photography

SAT Class on point-and-shoot garden photography, 11 a.m. Saturday, Christianson’s Nursery, 15806 Best Road, Mount Vernon; $5, reservations required (360-466-3821 or www.christiansonsnursery.com).

Sky Nursery events

SAT-SUN General pruning, 11 a.m. Saturday; How to grow orchids at home, 1 p.m. Sunday, Sky Nursery, 18528 Aurora Ave. N., Shoreline; free (206-546-4851 or www.skynursery.com).

Washington Native Plant Society speaker

FEB. 7 Dr. Elizabeth Van Volkenburgh, Professor of Biology at the University of Washington, on plant movement, 7 p.m. Feb. 7, Center for Urban Horticulture, 3501 N.E. 41st St., Seattle; free (206-527-3210 or www.wnps.org).

Hiking

Issaquah Alps Trails Club

SUN Weowna Beach 4.5 mile Bellevue park walk, 9:30 a.m. Sunday; Dogs welcome 5-6 mile moderate hike with 800-1,600-ft. elevation gain, 10 a.m. Sunday; water, food, daypack, hiking footwear required, Issaquah Alps Trail Club clubhouse, 175 Rainier Blvd. S., Issaquah (www.issaquahalps.org).

Hobbies

Photographer Suzi Eszternas

FRI Wildlife conservation photographer discusses her work with wild animals, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle; $5 (townhallseattle.org).

NW Model Train Show & Marketplace

SAT-SUN Instructional workshops, displays, vendors, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Evergreen State Fairgrounds, 14405 179th Ave. S.E., Monroe; $6-$8, ages 9 and younger free (www.unwclub.org/unwshow.html).

Museum events

BAM Free Day

FRI Free admission 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Artist Open House activities noon-6 p.m. Friday, Bellevue Arts Museum, 510 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue; 425-519-0770 or www.bellevuearts.org.

Railroad Lecture Series

FRI Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association lecture, 6:30 p.m. Friday, White River Valley Museum, 918 H St. S.E., Auburn; $4-$5 (253-288-7433 or www.wrvmuseum.org/events.html).

Ocean Career Day

SAT Presentations on marine science careers for middle school, high school and college students; teachers and parents welcome, 9 a.m. Saturday, The Seattle Aquarium, 1483 Alaskan Way, Pier 59, Seattle; $9-$11 (www.seattleaquarium.org/ocean-career).

Lunar New Year, The Wing

SAT Opening celebration of the Year of the Snake with games, crafts, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Lion Dance 11 a.m. Saturday, Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, 719 S. King St., Seattle; $8.95-$12.95 (206-623-5124 or www.wingluke.org).

Year of the Snake Family Day, SAM

SAT Family craft activity to make snake prints, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; 1942 live action film “Jungle Book,” 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave., Seattle; $11-$17, ages 12 and younger free (206-654-3100 or www.seattleartmuseum.org).

First Saturdays for Families, first Thursday, Seattle Asian Art Museum

SAT, FEB. 7 Free admission for families, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; free admission for all, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 7, Seattle Asian Art Museum, 1400 E. Prospect St., Volunteer Park, Seattle (206-684-3100 or www.seattleartmuseum.org).

Black History Month at Museum of Flight

SAT Black History Month presentation, former astronaut Capt. Robert L. Curbeam, Jr. speaks on his experience flying on three Space Shuttle missions, 2 p.m. Saturday, Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle; $9-$17 (206-764-5720 or www.museumofflight.org).

I DO! Wedding Invitation Workshop

SAT Learn calligraphy techniques to address or create own wedding invites, 1 p.m. Saturday, White River Valley Museum, 918 H St. S.E., Auburn; $40, registration required (253-288-7439 or www.wrvmuseum.org/events.html).

Black History Month Family Film Series

SUN Family film “Akeelah and the Bee,” 2 p.m. Sunday, Northwest African American Museum, 2300 S. Massachusetts St., Seattle (206-518-6000 or www.naamnw.org).

Short Takes on Plastics

TUE Ten experts in six-minute, 20 slides presentations on a range of topics related the Burke Museum’s current display on plastics, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Neptune Theatre, 1303 N.E. 45th St., Seattle; $5 (206-543-5590 or www.burkemuseum.org/events/browse/short_takes_plastics).

Free first Thursday, NAAM

FEB. 7 Free admission, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 7, Northwest African American Museum, 2300 S. Massachusetts St., Seattle (206-518-6000 or www.naamnw.org).

Free first Thursday, the Burke

FEB. 7 Featuring “Plastics Unwrapped,” how culture was changed by plastics, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Feb. 7, Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Seattle; free (206-543-5590 or www.burkemuseum.org).

Free first Thursday, MOHAI

FEB. 7 Free admission 10 a.m.-8 p.m., guided tours on the half-hour, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7, MOHAI (Museum of History & Industry), 860 Terry Ave. N., Lake Union Park, Seattle (206-324-1126 or www.mohai.org).

Free first Thursday, SAM

FEB. 7 Free admission, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Feb. 7, Seattle Art Museum, 1300 First Ave., Seattle (206-654-3100 or www.seattleartmuseum.org).

Free first Thursday, The Wing

FEB. 7 Free admission, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Feb. 7, Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience, 719 S. King St., Seattle (206-623-5124 or www.wingluke.org).

Free first Thursday, Museum of Flight

FEB. 7 Free admission 5-9 p.m. Feb. 7, Museum of Flight, 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle (206-764.5720 or www.museumofflight.org).

Park events

Lewis Creek Park Ranger Hike

SAT Two-mile walk to learn park history, look for signs of local wildlife, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Lewis Creek Park and Visitor Center, 5808 Lakemont Blvd. S.E., Bellevue; free (425-452-4195).

Lake Hills Greenbelt Ranger Walk

SAT Guided 1-3 mile tour to learn park history, discover local wildlife, 2 p.m. Saturday, Lake Hills Greenbelt, 15416 S.E. 16th St., Bellevue; free (425-452-7225).

Mercer Slough Nature Walk

SAT Guided one-mile walk to learn about slough history, plants and animals, 2 p.m. Saturday, Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center, 1625 118th Ave. S.E., Bellevue; free (425-452-2565).

Arboretum walk

SUN February walks feature the Witt Winter Garden flowering trees and shrubs, scents and winter barks, 1 p.m. Sunday, Graham Visitor Center, 2300 Arboretum Dr. East, Seattle; free (206-543-8800 or www.uwbotanicgardens.org).

Performances

Jazz Vespers

SUN Jay Thomas Quartet with vocalist Kelley Johnson casual, all-ages concert, 6 p.m. Sunday, First Baptist Church, 1111 Harvard Ave., Seattle; free, donations for musicians collected (www.seattlejazzvespers.org).

Venice is Sinking: A Venetian Masked Carnivale Ball

PLAN AHEAD Masquerade Ball with live music performances and entertainers, 8 p.m. Feb. 9, Bell Harbor International Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66, Seattle; $75-$140 (206-909-8382 or www.carnivalseattle.com).

Snow sports

Guided snowshoe walks, Snoqualmie Pass

FRI-SUN Forest Service guided 90 minute walks to learn about the winter ecosystem, wildlife on one-mile loop walk through old-growth forest, snowshoes provided, no experience necessary; 10 and 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays; half-day hikes, 9 a.m. Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays; winter photography outings for photography enthusiasts of all abilities on 4-5 hour outings, 9:30 a.m. Saturday and Feb. 16; March 2, 16, 31; Kids in the Snow 90 minute walk to learn about tracking, crawl into a snow-cave, 1 p.m. Saturdays, Snoqualmie Pass; $10/youth, $15/adult donation requested; $25/photography and half-day outings; reservations required for all events (425-434-6111 or www.fs.usda.gov/mbs).

Big Four Ice Cake Snowshoe Walk

SAT Strenuous four-mile snowshoe hike for ages 16 and older and in good shape, 8:30 a.m. Saturdays through March 2, Verlot Public Service Center, 33515 Mountain Loop Highway, Granite Falls; $20 suggested donation (360-436-1155 or www.fs.usda.gov/mbs).

Snowshoeing, Stevens Pass

SAT-SUN Introductory snowshoeing, learn about local history, the winter ecosystem and wildlife on 90-minute walk, 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Feb. 24, reservations recommended, drop-ins welcome; Junior Snow Ranger snowshoeing activity for ages 6-12 to learn about the winter ecosystem and wildlife, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays through Feb. 24, reservations required, Skykomish Ranger District Forest Service Guard Station, Hwy. 2, Skykomish; suggested donation $10/youth, $15/adult (360-677-2233 or www.fs.usda.gov/mbs).

Snowshoe walks, Mt. Baker Ranger District

SUN Snowshoe walk to learn about winter in the national forest, 10 a.m. Sunday, Glacier Public Service Center, Mt. Baker Highway 542, Glacier; suggested donation $15/adults, $10/ages 16 and younger; reservations required (360-599-9572).

Special interest

Go Red at Alderwood mall

SAT Macy’s fashion show, mini-massages, learn keys to preventing heart disease with health screenings and other resources, 11 a.m. Saturday, Alderwood mall, 3000 184th St. S.W., Lynnwood; free (206-632-6881 or www.pugetsoundgoesred.org).

Seattle Public Library Sunday opening

SUN All Seattle Public Library branches open 1-5 p.m. Sundays; special celebration Sunday, NewHolly Library, 7058 32nd Ave. S., Seattle (206-386-1905 or www.spl.org).

UW Medicine Mini-Med School

TUE Lecture series on education, research and clinical care at UW Medicine, 7 p.m. Tuesdays Feb. 5 through March 12; seating limited, registration deadline Jan. 31, University of Washington, Seattle; free (206-685-9420 or www.uwmedicine.org/minimed).

Historic Seattle Arts & Crafts Film Night

FEB. 7 Films on Arts & Crafts style architecture in California, 7 p.m. Feb. 7, 14, 21, Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave., Seattle; $5-$15/per night or $15-$35/series (www.historicseattle.org).

Travel events

Rick Steves Europe travel class

SAT Packing Light and Right, 10 a.m. Saturday, Edmonds Theater, 415 Main St., Edmonds; free, preregistration required (425-771-8303 or www.ricksteves.com).

Travel seminars

SAT Tigers and Palaces of India, 10 a.m. Saturday; Volunteer Tourism-travel with a purpose, 1 p.m. Saturday, Savvy Traveler, 112 Fifth Ave. S., Edmonds; free, reservations required (425-744-6076 or www.savvytravelerstore.com).

Workshops

Preserving Your Past

SAT Issaquah History Museums information and demonstrations on preserving and storing family heirlooms and photos, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Issaquah Train Depot, 50 Rainier Blvd. N., Issaquah; $15-$20, preregister (www.issaquahhistory.org).

Sound Waters

SAT Keynote by Dr. Cliff Mass, 60 classes and presentations about the natural world and the Puget Sound region, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oak Harbor High School, 950 N.W. 2nd Ave., Oak Harbor; $25-$40 (360-678-7837 or beachwatchers.net/soundwaters).

Audition workshop

SUN Essential skills for a successful audition, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Seattle Musical Theater, 7400 Sand Point Way N.E., Bldg 47, Magnuson Park, Seattle; $75, preregister (www.seattlemusicaltheatre.org).