Are you excited for Christmas? It’s only a couple of weeks away, and there’s nothing that will get you more in the spirit than an extravagant light display! Many are cheap or even free to attend, and all of our local setups in Washington are sure to blow you away. If you’re feeling festive, here are 12 of the most amazing displays in the Northwest to light up your holiday season:
- Zoolights, Tacoma
South Sound Talk You’ll never experience anything quite like this event at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. It runs until January 2nd and features several 3-D animal displays, as well as one of the iconic Mount Rainier and Tacoma Narrows Bridge. There are also lots of other activities to check out from a magical carousel to a camel ride surrounded by twinkling lights. 5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407, USA
- Christmas Lighting Festival, Leavenworth
Ian McKay / Flickr The first three weekends in December are full of half a million lights and holiday cheer at this event in our state’s Bavarian village! While you’re out visiting this magical Christmas town this winter, be sure to browse through Kris Kringl, Washington’s premiere Christmas store. Leavenworth, WA 98826, USA
- Senske Light Show, Kennewick
Robert D. Marple Residents near the Tri-Cities can celebrate a very merry Christmas at this animated display coming up in December. This open event will last the entire month. And the best part of it all? It’s absolutely free to attend! Tri-Cities, WA, USA
- Wildlights, Seattle
Denis Charles / Flickr If you’re near the big city, this event at the Woodland Park Zoo is definitely one of the most exciting ones to check out this season. They’ll be showcasing 600,000 energy-efficient LED lights to re-create animals along the zoo’s pathways, as well as a carousel and a fantastic Holiday Beer and Wine Garden. This family favorite event will be open until January 23, from 5:30-8:30pm. 5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
- The Lights of Christmas, Stanwood
The Lights of Christmas More than a million Christmas lights will twinkle at Warm Beach Camp this holiday season! The Lights of Christmas Festival is the largest holiday light display in the entire Pacific Northwest and will be going on November 25-27, December 1-4, 8-11, 14-23, and 26-31. Stanwood, WA 98292, USA
- Garden D’Lights, Bellevue
anupamsrivastava / Flickr If you think our state’s botanical gardens are lovely during the regular season, wait until you see them covered in dozens of lights for the holidays! This dazzling display can be viewed at the Bellevue Botanical Garden until December 31, 2022. 12001 Main St, Bellevue, WA 98005, USA
- Keener’s Christmas, Bothell
Facebook / Keener’s Christmas This holiday set-up features thousands of lights and unique vintage displays! Visitors will be able to enjoy a magical experience while driving through the acre-and-a-half property on a 300-foot circular driveway. It was open everyday at 16504 112 Place NE in Bothell from 6pm till 10pm until New Year’s Eve! (Keener’s Christmas has been discontinued)Here’s a sneak peak of the magic: Bothell, WA, USA
- Winter Glow Spectacular, Spokane
Facebook / Winter Glow Spectacular Spokane’s premiere holiday lighting event can be found here at Riverfront Park! The area’s transformed into a total winter wonderland full of music, spectacular lighting, and plenty of Christmas cheer. They’ll be celebrating everyday from 5 to 9pm until January 1. Spokane, WA, USA
- The Lights at Ken Lake, Olympia
The Lights At Ken Lake/Facebook You might have seen our state’s waterfalls before, but have you ever seen one made out of Christmas lights? This one-of-a-kind display in our state’s capital is sequenced to music for the ultimate holiday experience. The show ran from 5pm-10pm on weekdays and 5pm-11pm on weekends until December 27th, located at 2228 Lakemoor Dr SW. (Lights At Ken Lake has been discontinued) Olympia, WA, USA
- Fantasy Lights, Spanaway
Potjie / Flickr This event in Spanaway Park is the largest holiday drive-through display in the Northwest! They’ll be featuring nearly 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights on a two-mile drive along Spanaway Lake, up until January 1st. 14905 Bresemann Blvd S, Spanaway, WA 98387, USA
- Christmas In Color, Federal Way
Wild Waves / Facebook You may have been to this theme park during the summer, or stopped by their Frightfest event for Halloween - but this attraction puts on a wonderful event this time of year as well! Admission is only about $10 to see dozens of twinkling lights, not to mention the chance to get on some of your favorite rollercoaster rides during the winter. 36201 Enchanted Pkwy S, Federal Way, WA 98003, USA
- Ivar’s Clam Lights, Renton
jpchamberland / Flickr This classic display of lights decorates dozens of trees and shrubs along a walkable path in Gene Coulon Memorial Park and is completely free of charge to see! The exciting event’s already kicked off for the season and will be open every night from 5 to 9pm until January 1. 1201 Lake Washington Blvd N, Renton, WA 98056, USA
For the absolute best Christmas experience, be sure to visit the town of Leavenworth, which is Washington’s most iconic Christmas town! Where else can you see a dazzling light display in Washington this holiday season? Add to this list below!
South Sound Talk
You’ll never experience anything quite like this event at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. It runs until January 2nd and features several 3-D animal displays, as well as one of the iconic Mount Rainier and Tacoma Narrows Bridge. There are also lots of other activities to check out from a magical carousel to a camel ride surrounded by twinkling lights.
5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma, WA 98407, USA
Ian McKay / Flickr
The first three weekends in December are full of half a million lights and holiday cheer at this event in our state’s Bavarian village! While you’re out visiting this magical Christmas town this winter, be sure to browse through Kris Kringl, Washington’s premiere Christmas store.
Leavenworth, WA 98826, USA
Robert D. Marple
Residents near the Tri-Cities can celebrate a very merry Christmas at this animated display coming up in December. This open event will last the entire month. And the best part of it all? It’s absolutely free to attend!
Tri-Cities, WA, USA
Denis Charles / Flickr
If you’re near the big city, this event at the Woodland Park Zoo is definitely one of the most exciting ones to check out this season. They’ll be showcasing 600,000 energy-efficient LED lights to re-create animals along the zoo’s pathways, as well as a carousel and a fantastic Holiday Beer and Wine Garden. This family favorite event will be open until January 23, from 5:30-8:30pm.
5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
The Lights of Christmas
More than a million Christmas lights will twinkle at Warm Beach Camp this holiday season! The Lights of Christmas Festival is the largest holiday light display in the entire Pacific Northwest and will be going on November 25-27, December 1-4, 8-11, 14-23, and 26-31.
Stanwood, WA 98292, USA
anupamsrivastava / Flickr
If you think our state’s botanical gardens are lovely during the regular season, wait until you see them covered in dozens of lights for the holidays! This dazzling display can be viewed at the Bellevue Botanical Garden until December 31, 2022.
12001 Main St, Bellevue, WA 98005, USA
Facebook / Keener’s Christmas
This holiday set-up features thousands of lights and unique vintage displays! Visitors will be able to enjoy a magical experience while driving through the acre-and-a-half property on a 300-foot circular driveway. It was open everyday at 16504 112 Place NE in Bothell from 6pm till 10pm until New Year’s Eve! (Keener’s Christmas has been discontinued)Here’s a sneak peak of the magic:
Bothell, WA, USA
Facebook / Winter Glow Spectacular
Spokane’s premiere holiday lighting event can be found here at Riverfront Park! The area’s transformed into a total winter wonderland full of music, spectacular lighting, and plenty of Christmas cheer. They’ll be celebrating everyday from 5 to 9pm until January 1.
Spokane, WA, USA
The Lights At Ken Lake/Facebook
You might have seen our state’s waterfalls before, but have you ever seen one made out of Christmas lights? This one-of-a-kind display in our state’s capital is sequenced to music for the ultimate holiday experience. The show ran from 5pm-10pm on weekdays and 5pm-11pm on weekends until December 27th, located at 2228 Lakemoor Dr SW. (Lights At Ken Lake has been discontinued)
Olympia, WA, USA
Potjie / Flickr
This event in Spanaway Park is the largest holiday drive-through display in the Northwest! They’ll be featuring nearly 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights on a two-mile drive along Spanaway Lake, up until January 1st.
14905 Bresemann Blvd S, Spanaway, WA 98387, USA
Wild Waves / Facebook
You may have been to this theme park during the summer, or stopped by their Frightfest event for Halloween - but this attraction puts on a wonderful event this time of year as well! Admission is only about $10 to see dozens of twinkling lights, not to mention the chance to get on some of your favorite rollercoaster rides during the winter.
36201 Enchanted Pkwy S, Federal Way, WA 98003, USA
jpchamberland / Flickr
This classic display of lights decorates dozens of trees and shrubs along a walkable path in Gene Coulon Memorial Park and is completely free of charge to see! The exciting event’s already kicked off for the season and will be open every night from 5 to 9pm until January 1.
1201 Lake Washington Blvd N, Renton, WA 98056, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Washington Is A Winter Holiday Wonderland October 12, 2022 William Suphan What are the best Christmas towns in Washington? As one of the greenest and most beautiful states, Washington has many towns that are perfect settings for holiday cheer. Kennewick casts lighted reflections on the Columbia River with their Christmas Lighted Boat Parade, where you can see a different kind of Christmas float. Leavenworth does Christmas in a traditional Bavarian style where the entire downtown is lit up and shops are bursting with holiday crafts and food. Stanwood’s Warm Beach Camp holds a Lights of Christmas Festival where over one million lights are on display. For Christmas on the coast, head over to Anacortes where you can enjoy the spectacular Nutcracker Holiday Gift Show. What are the best holiday festivals in Washington? Washington has some absolutely lovely holiday happenings. The Winter Glow Spectacular in Spokane starts with fireworks and hosts a film festival along with booths full of delicious food and amazing crafts. Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah hosts a Reindeer Festival where visitors can interact with reindeer, send letters to Santa at Santa’s Post Office, and ride on the Grand Traveling Sleigh. Lake Chelan Winterfest has ice sculptures, wine tasting, lots of activities for the kids and some wonderful live music. It’s been a tradition for 30 years! What are some ways that holidays in Washington are special? There are many reasons that Washington is such a wonderful place to be during the holidays. The state is known for its apples, and they make the most scrumptious apple cider to warm up those winter nights. Some of the best eggnog around comes from the Lynden creamery. If you love train rides, there are several Polar Express trains. The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad hosts a truly magical one as it chugs along through the evergreen wintery landscape.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Washington Is A Winter Holiday Wonderland
October 12, 2022
William Suphan
What are the best Christmas towns in Washington? As one of the greenest and most beautiful states, Washington has many towns that are perfect settings for holiday cheer. Kennewick casts lighted reflections on the Columbia River with their Christmas Lighted Boat Parade, where you can see a different kind of Christmas float. Leavenworth does Christmas in a traditional Bavarian style where the entire downtown is lit up and shops are bursting with holiday crafts and food. Stanwood’s Warm Beach Camp holds a Lights of Christmas Festival where over one million lights are on display. For Christmas on the coast, head over to Anacortes where you can enjoy the spectacular Nutcracker Holiday Gift Show. What are the best holiday festivals in Washington? Washington has some absolutely lovely holiday happenings. The Winter Glow Spectacular in Spokane starts with fireworks and hosts a film festival along with booths full of delicious food and amazing crafts. Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah hosts a Reindeer Festival where visitors can interact with reindeer, send letters to Santa at Santa’s Post Office, and ride on the Grand Traveling Sleigh. Lake Chelan Winterfest has ice sculptures, wine tasting, lots of activities for the kids and some wonderful live music. It’s been a tradition for 30 years! What are some ways that holidays in Washington are special? There are many reasons that Washington is such a wonderful place to be during the holidays. The state is known for its apples, and they make the most scrumptious apple cider to warm up those winter nights. Some of the best eggnog around comes from the Lynden creamery. If you love train rides, there are several Polar Express trains. The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad hosts a truly magical one as it chugs along through the evergreen wintery landscape.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
As one of the greenest and most beautiful states, Washington has many towns that are perfect settings for holiday cheer. Kennewick casts lighted reflections on the Columbia River with their Christmas Lighted Boat Parade, where you can see a different kind of Christmas float. Leavenworth does Christmas in a traditional Bavarian style where the entire downtown is lit up and shops are bursting with holiday crafts and food. Stanwood’s Warm Beach Camp holds a Lights of Christmas Festival where over one million lights are on display. For Christmas on the coast, head over to Anacortes where you can enjoy the spectacular Nutcracker Holiday Gift Show.
What are the best holiday festivals in Washington?
Washington has some absolutely lovely holiday happenings. The Winter Glow Spectacular in Spokane starts with fireworks and hosts a film festival along with booths full of delicious food and amazing crafts. Cougar Mountain Zoo in Issaquah hosts a Reindeer Festival where visitors can interact with reindeer, send letters to Santa at Santa’s Post Office, and ride on the Grand Traveling Sleigh. Lake Chelan Winterfest has ice sculptures, wine tasting, lots of activities for the kids and some wonderful live music. It’s been a tradition for 30 years!
What are some ways that holidays in Washington are special?
There are many reasons that Washington is such a wonderful place to be during the holidays. The state is known for its apples, and they make the most scrumptious apple cider to warm up those winter nights. Some of the best eggnog around comes from the Lynden creamery. If you love train rides, there are several Polar Express trains. The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad hosts a truly magical one as it chugs along through the evergreen wintery landscape.
