Christmas: What's Open, What's Closed

Christmas as a federal holiday is being observed Tuesday. Here's what you need to know to get around during the week.

If you are traveling this weekend, check out the Washington State Department of Transportation web pages to plan your route. Be sure to check traffic and weather conditions along Interstate 90 at Snoqualmie Pass, US 2 at Stevens Pass, Interstate 5 near the U.S./Canadian border and I-5 between Olympia and Tacoma.

There are still family activities over the holidays. The Magic Season Ice Arena is open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in nearby Bellevue until 6 p.m. Garden d'Lights at the Bellevue Botanical Garden is open both days as well. You can purchase the $5 tickets online.

Here is a list of what’s open and what's closed:

Mercer Island City Hall is closed Tuesday, Dec. 25. It will reopen Wednesday, Dec. 26.

Mercer Island School District is on winter break and will return on Wednesday, Jan. 2.

King County government: Closed Tuesday, Dec. 25.

Mercer Island US Post Office & South-end Branch: Closed Tuesday, Dec. 25.

Mercer Island Library is closed Monday, Dec. 24, and Tuesday, Dec. 25.

King County Metro transit: Reduced weekday service on Monday and will operate on a Sunday schedule on Tuesday. Transit also will be on reduced weekday service during the “winter holiday period” Dec. 26-28. Routes to the University of Washington are closed during winter break.

Sound Transit: Express buses will operate on regular weekday schedule on Monday, Dec. 24, and Sunday service on Tuesday, Dec. 25. Sounder trains will run on a reduced weekday schedule on Monday with no service on Tuesday. Tacoma Link will operate on a Sunday schedule on Monday and Tuesday. Central Link will run on a Saturday schedule Monday and Sunday schedule on Tuesday. Sounder will run special event service to the 5:20 p.m. Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers game on Sunday, Dec. 23. For a schedule of Sounder game day service, please go to www.soundtransit.org/seahawks.

State of Washington: Closed Tuesday.

Washington State Ferries: Routes will operate on revised and holiday schedules.

Federal government: Closed Tuesday.

Banks: Many, if not most, will be closed Monday and Tuesday. Check your local branch.

Garbage and Recycling: Garbage and recycling will be on its regular schedule on Mercer Island on Monday. There will be no collection Tuesday.

Grocery Stores: QFC will close at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve; the North Mercer QFC (Town Center) will be open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Day. 

Shopping: Stopsky's Delicatessen will be open on Monday, Christmas Eve from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. and on Tuesday, Christmas day from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (brunch menu only). All three Starbucks stand-alone locations on Mercer Island will be open on Christmas Day, and the Drive-Thru and Sound-end locations are advertising 24-hour service on Christmas Day. McDonalds will also be open on a regular schedule.