6 Holiday Events Near Seattle You Should Add To Your Christmas List This Year

It’s the most magical time of the year—holiday season! Washington comes alive with twinkling lights, festive displays, and cheerful holiday traditions that brighten even the greyest of days. While driving through neighborhoods to admire Christmas lights is always a classic, nothing beats the charm and wonder of annual light displays that have become treasured traditions for so many families (including mine!).

Here are some of our favorite light displays across Washington, each offering its own unique dose of holiday magic. And if we’ve missed one of your go-to spots, let us know—we’re always looking to add more sparkle to our holiday season!

#6 Pt Defiance Zoo Lights

In our family, this is a yearly treat that we all enjoy. It’s not ranked 5 because it’s not good, it’s just that the others on the list have other factors that rank them above Zoo Lights, in my opinion.

• Pt Defiance Zoo is located in Tacoma
• Zoolights begins Nov 29 and runs through Jan 5.
• Hours are 4:30 pm – 10 pm. Nightly, except for a two-night closure on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.
• Parking is free
• Timed entry and advance ticket reservations are necessary

Zoo lights cost:

• Range from $14-20
• 2-years-old & younger are free.

Pt Defiance Zoo does a great job lighting up the zoo with colorful lights everywhere. There are the favorites of Mt Rainier, the ice skating puffins, a giant octopus, and a few new additions each year. My favorite is the tunnel of lights because, at heart, I’m 5 years old, and walking through a tunnel of lights makes me happy.

Along with the lights, you can ride the carousel, visit the kid’s zone, and grab a snack from the plaza cafe. The aquarium is closed, and you can’t see any animals except for penguins swimming around sometimes.

For more information and to grab your zoo lights tickets, click here.

#5 Fantasy Lights

Fantasy Lights in Spanaway is such a fun holiday light display! Dubbed the largest drive-through light display in the NorthWest, this incredible show has nearly 300 displays and 2.2 miles of sparkling Christmas magic.

The best part? You don’t have to leave your car! For people who can sometimes be a bit antisocial and also who like to complain about the cold weather (this is me I’m talking about here), a drive-through display can be the perfect way to celebrate the holidays and what leaps this above zoo lights for me on my list.

• Located at Spanaway Park
• Fantasy Lights begins Nov 29 and runs through Jan 5.
• Hours are 5:30 -9 pm nightly.
• Admission is charged by vehicle
• Advanced reservations are necessary

Fantasy lights cost

• $15 per vehicle up to 24 passengers
• $20 per vehicle up to 24 passengers
• $40 per bus
• $10 discount nights December 26-Jan 5
• Military Discounts available

This is a 2-mile slow drive through the park. Grabbing some hot cocoa and listening to Christmas Carols while driving through the lights is fun. You can get your advanced tickets here.

#4 Wild Lanterns Woodland Park Zoo

I absolutely love Wild Lanterns at Woodland Park Zoo. It’s an incredible way to spend the evening. The reason it’s not ranked higher on my list is the cost. While I am glad that all the money goes back into caring for the animals, and I think zoos are essential for education and preservation, I think this activity will be out of reach for many families, which is unfortunate.

If you can only choose one “zoo” activity, I’d pick Woodland Park if you can afford it.

• Located at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle
• Nov 15- Jan 19
• Closed Mondays EXCEPT Dec 16, 23 and 30.
• CLOSED Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve
• Advanced ticket and time slot reservations are necessary

Wild Lanterns Cost

$35.95 for Adults (Ages 13+)
$31.45 for Children (Ages 3-12)
Toddlers (Ages 2 and under) are free

Wild Lanterns is a beautiful experience. Walking through the zoo to the many displays, you’ll be amazed at the incredible sights before you. The lanterns are HUGE! The colors are beautiful.

Some of the lanterns are animated, which is super fun. They also have quite a few interactive displays.

There are snacks and food available. The carousel is open, as are the zoo shops. This year, there are more special events, including senior events, adult-only events, and low-sensory events; you can read about those here.

Get tickets for Woodland Park Wild Lanterns Here.

#3 Enchant Seattle

Enchant Seattle is back after a 4-year hiatus, bringing the holiday magic to T-Mobile Park! If you’ve never been, prepare to be wowed by Santa’s Magic Timepiece, a stunning Christmas light maze that is officially the world’s largest.

The maze isn’t just about wandering through lights (although that’s magical enough). You’ll be on a quest to help Santa find his missing stars so he can save Christmas. Along the way, you’ll pass through illuminated tunnels, walk beneath towering Christmas trees, and discover dazzling photo ops at every turn.

• Ice Skating: Glide across the figure-eight ice rink surrounded by twinkling lights.
• Ferris Wheel: Get the best view of the maze from above—it’s worth it for the Instagram shot alone!
• Christmas Market: Shop for unique holiday gifts at the festive booths.
• Food & Drinks: Indulge in festive treats like dumplings, crepes, and edible cookie dough (try the gingerbread maple flavor—it’s holiday bliss in every bite).

Dates & Times

• Dates: November 24 – December 31, 2024
• Times: Entry is timed, with slots available from 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Once inside, you can stay as long as you like.

Enchant Seattle is perfect for families, date nights, or a festive girls’ night out. The holiday magic is everywhere—whether ice skating under the lights or warming up with a hot cocoa, you’ll leave glowing with Christmas cheer. Don’t miss the chance to make this one of your favorite traditions!

Get Your Tickets Here, or Click Here To Read More about Enchant.

#2 Bellevue Snowflake Lane

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, Snowflake Lane returns to Bellevue, transforming the city into a winter wonderland from November 29 through December 24, 2024.

This complimentary nightly parade features falling snow, dazzling lights, festive music, and a cast of over 175 performers, including toy drummers, dancers, and holiday characters.

• Location: Bellevue Way, between NE 4th and NE 8th Streets, adjacent to Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square.
• Time: Nightly at 7:00 p.m.
• Parking: Free parking is available at Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square, and Bellevue Place.

Falling Snow: Experience the magic of snowflakes descending during the parade.

Live Performances: Enjoy festive music and performances by a talented cast, including toy drummers, dancers, and holiday characters.

Spectacular Floats: Marvel at the beautifully decorated holiday floats parading Bellevue Way.

Snowflake Lane is a cherished holiday tradition that brings joy to visitors of all ages. Whether starting a new tradition or continuing an old one, this festive parade will create lasting memories.

For more information, visit the official Snowflake Lane website.

#1 Leavenworth

Yep, the whole town. If you haven’t been to Leavenworth at Christmas time…WHY NOT? Seriously. Go. Unless you don’t like feeling like you’ve stepped into a Hallmark movie set surrounded by charm, incredibly scenic mountains, and a billion sparkling lights. But you wouldn’t be reading this if you felt that way, so go to Leavenworth!

Leavenworth sits in the Cascade Mountains right in the middle of the most beautiful road trip in Washington. Its Bavarian theme and idyllic setting make it gorgeous any time of year, but it comes to life at Christmastime!

The town is decked out in lights, with an enormous Christmas Tree at the center. Here, you’ll hear carolers and find visits with Santa. Be sure to have a pretzel and a local beer or mulled wine while you are there!

Hotels and airbnbs nearby book up early each year but don’t hesitate to look in nearby towns such as Wenatchee.

Did you know you can also visit a reindeer farm while in Leavenworth? See, I told ya, Christmas magic.