Winter is cold and dark, it's true, but who needs sunlight when you can bask in the glow of holiday light displays? This year promises plenty of great options, whether you want to take part in a long-held local tradition at West Seattle's Hometown Holidays Night Market and Tree Lighting, celebrate the first night of Hanukkah at Volunteer Park's Grand Menorah Lighting, or skate through a mischievous elf-filled winter wonderland at Enchant Christmas. Find them all below and on our holiday lights calendar.

NOVEMBER 22-DECEMBER 29

Enchant Christmas
Following a successful first year, Enchant Christmas will transform T-Mobile Park into a winter wonderland complete with an impressive light maze, light sculptures, a market curated by Urban Craft Uprising, and more. This year's theme is "Mischievous," so expect to see sly little elves roaming about.
Sodo

NOVEMBER 23-JANUARY 1

Fantasy Lights
Spanaway Park will be illuminated with dazzling light displays and scattered with food trucks for your strolling pleasure.
Spanaway

NOVEMBER 29

Downtown Holiday Tree-Lighting and Macys Star-Lighting Celebration
If you love holiday traditions and don't mind crowds, downtown is the place to be the day after Thanksgiving. Following the Macy's Holiday Parade, the longstanding department store will light up its gigantic star and fireworks will light up the sky after dark (weather permitting). In Westlake Park, where you'll likely be watching the show, there will also be a tree lighting and the reintroduction of the holiday carousel. 
Downtown

NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 22

Christmas at the Mansion
Per holiday tradition, visitors can marvel at Puyallup's historic Meeker Mansion decked out in Victorian-style Christmas decorations (with 21st-century LED lights).
Puyallup

NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 23

Christmas Ship Festival
The Puget Sound is filled with lights throughout the holiday season, but no vessel can compete with Argosy Cruises' Christmas Ship, which docks in 65 waterfront communities to serenade people onshore and onboard with its resident choir. Those who choose to board the ship will enjoy photos with Santa, a reading of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," and kids' activities. For a less family-oriented option, you can trail behind in a 21+ boat with rotating themes each week. It's also free to watch from the shore.
Various locations

NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 24

Snowflake Lane
Every year, downtown Bellevue turns into a winter wonderland not just for one night but for a whole dang month, with (fake) falling snow, jolly live music, and a nightly parade filled with dancers and toy drummers.
Bellevue

NOVEMBER 29-DECEMBER 29

The Lights of Christmas Festival
Meet Santa, have some snacks, hear stories and music, pay a visit to Baby J at the Nativity, shop, and pet friendly animals at "the largest holiday festival in the Northwest." 
Stanwood

NOVEMBER 29-JANUARY 5

WildLights
The zoo will light up with thousands upon thousands of (energy-efficient) LED lights that recreate wild scenes and creatures. You can also throw fake snowballs at your friends, get up close with certain animal residents, and sip hot chocolate.
Phinney

Zoolights
Holiday traditions don't get more classic than strolling through the zoo when it's transformed into a luminous wonderland of 3-D animal light installations. Displays from previous years have included hammerhead sharks and sea turtles, a majestic polar bear family, and a giant Pacific octopus.
Tacoma

NOVEMBER 29-JANUARY 6

Lumaze
This year, Santa is enlisting the help of young princes and princesses in helping him find six hidden presents. In addition to the prize-bearing hunt, this kid-oriented indoor festival will also have a gift market (complete with fresh produce and seasonal treats) and a light display.
Interbay

NOVEMBER 30

24th Annual Magic in the Market
For the 24th year, Magic in the Market brings a tree lighting, seasonal snacks and drinks, choirs, and photos with Santa to the already-magical Pike Place Market. You can even pick out a tree of your own to take home.
Downtown

74th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
This annual tradition—which has been going strong since World War II—kicks off the holiday season with carols, photos with Santa, and the lighting of a giant holiday tree in downtown Tacoma.
Tacoma

Annual Bridge Lighting Ceremony
Enjoy complimentary cookies, hot apple cider, and photos with Santa before marveling at a reindeer and fireworks show and the annual lighting of the bridge.  
Sumner

The Bravern Winter Illumination Holiday Lighting Ceremony
Seahawks dancers and Santa Claus will make special appearances at the Shops at the Bravern's holiday lighting ceremony. 
Bellevue

Edmonds Tree Lighting Ceremony
Welcome Santa and Edmonds' most glorious holiday tree at this lighting ceremony.
Edmonds

Lighting of Langley
Sing carols, sip cocoa, and visit with Santa as Langley lights up its holiday tree.
Langley

Pyramid Brewing Keg Tree Lighting and Donation Celebration
At this second annual family-friendly event, watch Pyramid illuminate their towering, 20-foot-tall keg tree made with 236 kegs—the tallest keg tree on the West Coast—and be the first to try their Snow Cap and Gingerbread Ale beers on draft. Hot cocoa and apple cider will be available for kids.
Sodo

NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 7

Barn and Tree Lighting/Holiday Sing-A-Long
This popular down-home holiday tradition invites you to make s'mores by a bonfire, sip hot drinks, and sing carols with Charity Osborn as the barn's Christmas tree comes aglow. 
Duvall

NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 30

Bright Nights in Burien
Burien Town Square Park will come aglow with twinkly lights every night of the season.
Burien

NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 31

Garden d’Lights
Whimsical flora and fauna, birds, animals, and cascading waterfalls get the holiday light treatment at Bellevue Botanical Garden's annual display. (To be clear, actual birds and animals will not be strung with lights.) Wander the grounds and take photos among the "half a million" bulbs.
Bellevue

NOVEMBER 30-JANUARY 1

Holiday Monkeys
Check out over 200 LED-lit monkeys (Phinney's definitive mascot) at WildLights and around neighborhood businesses throughout the holiday season. On opening night, enjoy free refreshments and a performance from OK Chorale at the Phinney Neighborhood Association. 
Phinney

DECEMBER 1

Bothell’s Tree Lighting Festival and Holiday Market
Imagine an old-timey community Christmas gathering, but replace goose vendors with local food trucks—that's what you can expect at this Bothell family affair, which also promises a visit from Santa, a tree lighting, and a holiday market. 
Bothell

Light up the Night
Light up your own body like a living, breathing holiday tree by wrapping yourself in battery-operated LED lights, twinkling ugly sweaters, and so on. You'll be an integral lumen of this annual parade on the beach. 
Issaquah

Salish Lodge & Spa Holiday Tree Lighting Event
The elegant Twin Peaks landmark's holiday tree lighting ceremony will include hot drinks and cookies, photos with Santa, carolers, and Country Store discounts.  
Snoqualmie

DECEMBER 1-24

Evergreen Lights 2019
Over half a million lights will dance around to live music every night of December. Watch the show from a heated viewing area and keep extra warm with cocoa and cookies. 
Bothell

DECEMBER 1-29

Seattle's Best Holiday Lights Tour!
A festively decorated mini-bus will cart you across the most twinkly-lit neighborhoods in town. Bring your own (non-alcoholic) beverages and sing along to holiday tunes.
Downtown 

DECEMBER 1-31

Maple Leaf Lights
Take some time to appreciate the lengths to which people have gone to illuminate their houses with impressive Christmas light displays.
Maple Leaf

DECEMBER 5

Extreme Christmas Tree Lighting
Sip hot cider and eat cookies while you watch thousands of twinkling lights (4,494 to be exact) illuminate a 185-foot Christmas tree. Santa and his reindeer will be there to enjoy the holiday festivities with you.
Puyallup

SAM Lights
Fight the gloom of night in the illuminated sculpture park, featuring luminarias, art-making activities, hot drinks and sweet treats for sale, and more.
Downtown

DECEMBER 6

Destination Des Moines Holiday Tree Lighting
Kick off the holiday season with hot cocoa, cookies, face painting, holiday music, and Santa photos at this annual community celebration.
Des Moines

Holiday Lights and Firehouse Munch
Enjoy classic holiday activities such as a tree lighting, caroling, arts and crafts, and photos with Santa, along with free drinks and treats served by the Mercer Island Fire Department.
Mercer Island

Light Up the Night Christmas Tree Lighting
This West Seattle tradition features the lighting of Seattle's tallest Christmas tree (allegedly), carols led by the Starry Crowns, hot cocoa and coffee. and snacks from the Knights of Columbus.
West Seattle

Mountlake Terrace Tree Lighting Ceremony
Keep warm with cocoa, coffee, and cookies as Santa makes his grand entrance on a fire truck and a water tower lights up with 1,800 LED bulbs.
Mountlake Terrace

Twinkle Twinkle
Forget the chestnuts—instead, roast some marshmallows on an open fire to make s'mores and sip on a cup of hot cocoa, while enjoying the beautifully illuminated Freeway Park and the sweet sounds of the Dickens Carolers.
Downtown

Very Merry Sammamish
This festive holiday celebration will feature two stages of performances by local school choirs and dance groups, booths with games and prizes, food trucks, crafting, face painting, and even a petting zoo, complete with twinkling lights and fake falling snow to amplify the wintery vibes.
Sammamish

DECEMBER 6-22

Christmas Lighting Festival
Holiday cheer abounds in Washington's own Bavarian-style village of Leavenworth, which celebrates the season with live Christmas music, visits from both St. Nickolaus and Santa Claus, sledding, and more—all culminating in glorious lighting ceremonies every Saturday and Sunday.
Leavenworth

DECEMBER 6-JANUARY 1

Clam Lights Presented by Ivar's Restaurants
Every night, Ivar's powers up the park with thousands of Christmas lights depicting various clammy characters. Is this where clams go to heaven after you eat them at Ivar's?
Renton

DECEMBER 6-JANUARY 19

Snow Day SLU
Denny Park's winter light display will provide a magical, twinkly respite with a light display, food trucks, a beer garden, live entertainment, and a winter market. Check out the Grand Opening Party for some extra fun.
South Lake Union

DECEMBER 7

Celebrate Woodinville Winterfest Tree Lighting 2019
Run or walk a 5 or 10K course before settling at DeYoung Park for holiday wreath-making, hot cocoa-sipping, cookie-decorating, and other festive activities culminating in a Santa procession and tree lighting. 
Woodinville

Federal Way Tree Lighting
The mayor of Federal Way will plug in the Town Square Park Christmas tree and Santa will make a special appearance.  
Federal Way

Gig Harbor Holiday Tree Lighting
Visit with Santa, meet the Tacoma Rainiers' mascot, Rhubarb, and enjoy some holiday tunes and cookies before the trees light up in Skansie Brothers Park.
Gig Harbor

Hometown Holidays Night Market and Tree Lighting
Kick off West Seattle's Hometown Holidays with a tree lighting ceremony. You can also look forward to Santa pictures, ornament-making, and an artisan night market.
West Seattle

Kent Winterfest
This annual celebration will return for a day of live seasonal music, inflatable decorations, free hot cider, hot cocoa, and popcorn, holiday story time, a Christmas tree lighting, and, of course, a visit from Santa.
Kent

Lighted Santa Parade
Santa will make his grand entrance on one of Puyallup's oldest fire engines at this annual parade, which also features a holiday market and tree lighting. 
Puyallup

Lakewood Parade of Lights
Stand on the sidelines as all manner of luminous holiday floats go by in a cheery procession. The parade will culminate in a Christmas tree lighting.
Lakewood

Snoqualmie Winter Lights
Santa will pay a visit to his favorite logging town, Snoqualmie, to welcome the holiday season with a tree lighting in the park. Attendees can also enjoy cocoa and cider, horse-drawn wagon rides, and an heirloom winter market.
Snoqualmie

DECEMBER 7-8

Redmond Lights
Get in the holiday spirit at Redmond City Hall with a tree lighting, crafts, and live entertainment. Then, keep the merriment going with a light-filled stroll down the Redmond Central Connector to the Redmond Town Center, where you'll be met with a live ice sculptor, a carousel, and more live performances.
Redmond

DECEMBER 7-JANUARY 1

Candy Cane Lane Holiday Lights Festival
1920s-era Tudor homes in Ravenna have been boasting impressive light displays every holiday season since 1949. Stroll along Northeast Park Road taking in Nutcracker-themed havens complete with sleighs, reindeer, sugar plum fairies, and blow-up candy canes galore.
Ravenna

DECEMBER 13

Google Lights
The Google Kirkland campus will turn on their 25,000-light display for a holiday light show synchronized to music. There will also be free hot chocolate and cookies for the first 2,000 people. 
Kirkland

DECEMBER 14

Green Lake Pathway of Lights
Every year, the Green Lake Park circuit illuminates its pathway with thousands of candles. You can walk through it, hear holiday music, and warm up with treats. 
Green Lake 

DECEMBER 22

Giant Menorah lighting & Gelt Drop in Ballard
The first night of Hanukkah will be met with a menorah lighting, traditional treats like latkes, jelly doughnuts, and chocolate coins (which will rain down from an extended fire ladder in a "Great Gelt Drop"), and kids' activities.
Ballard

Grand Menorah Lighting at Kirkland Marina Park
A human dreidel on stilts will shower you with Gelt on the first night of Hanukkah—can't get more festive than that. Also on the docket: a giant menorah lighting and live music.
Kirkland

Grand Menorah Lighting at Volunteer Park
Join Chabad of Capitol Hill for a menorah lighting on the first night of Hanukkah.
Capitol Hill

Light up the Night - Burger Fest
Spend the night before Hanukkah witnessing Westlake Park's giant menorah lighting, eating gourmet burgers, latkes, and doughnuts, sipping hot beverages, and learning about Judaism from a Mitzvah tank.
Downtown

THROUGH DECEMBER 23

Holiday Parade of Lights Dinner Cruise
Stay warm with hot cider and winter cocktails aboard a ship adorned with holiday lights. The cruise liner will be one of many decked-out vessels on the water. 
Fremont