As winter brings snow and shorter days, nothing stokes the holiday spirit like being part of one of the many winter festivals and holiday events in Washington. Whether you’re marveling at interactive light displays, watching a lighted boat parade, riding a scenic Polar Express-style train, or browsing a Christmas market full of local vendors, there’s magic around every corner. Below are some of the top annual holiday events across Washington State.
Please note this is not a complete list. Many communities host parades, makers markets, tree lightings, and more throughout the season. Be sure to check Washington’s event calendar as well as local calendars for additional holiday events in Washington.
Winter Experiences & Holiday Events in Washington
Explore the Seattle Christmas Market
When & Where: Late November through December, Seattle Center.
Situated in the shadow of the iconic Space Needle, the Seattle Christmas Market brings the feel of European-inspired holiday markets to Washington.
What to Expect:
- Explore rows of artisan booths featuring local and international offerings.
- Enjoy live entertainment, stroll through Lovers Lane, walk under the lit Christmas tree, or ride the double-decker carousel.
- Sample seasonal food and drink (think mulled wine, sweety chimney cakes, and melty raclette sandwiches).
Travel Tip: Reserve your timeslot in advance and use public transit or ride shares, as nearby parking can be limited.
Also See: Indoor Fun for Families in Seattle
Discover a Magical Winterfest
When & Where: Various locations from late November through January.
Major winter festivals:
- Seattle Center Winterfest, Seattle (late November through December): Enjoy a robust lineup of activities and events throughout the Seattle Center campus. You’ll find live entertainment, the Seattle Christmas Market, ice sculpting, a Winter Train & Village, movie nights featuring holiday films, and more.
- Fairhaven Winterfest, Bellingham (late November through December): Located in the historic Fairhaven neighborhood, highlights include carriage rides, a lighted bicycle parade, and the Fairhaven Firelight Stroll.
- Spokane Nordic Winterfest Spokane (January): One of the most active winter festivals in Washington is a cross-country ski extravaganza on Mount Spokane with clinics, demos, and a treasure hunt.
- Lake Chelan Winterfest, Chelan & Manson (January): Enjoy ice carving, the state’s largest beach bonfire, family-friendly fun, local wine, and an impressive fireworks display.
Travel Tip: If heading over the Cascade Mountains, check pass conditions and chain requirements in advance.
Also See: Where to Buy Locally Made Gifts
Visit Bavarian Leavenworth’s Village of Lights
Head to the Bavarian-style town of Leavenworth in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains for back-to-back winter festivals in Washington. Here’s a brief look at what you can expect during each event.
Village of Lights: Christmastown
- When: Festivities run from the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve. Daily light displays continue through February.
- Highlights: Don’t miss the chance to see Leavenworth bedazzle itself with over half a million lights. Visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, enjoy carolers, or check out a gingerbread house exhibition.
Village of Lights: Winter Karneval
- When: Weekends in January
- Highlights: This celebration harkens back to a German tradition first recorded in the 13th century when people had a rollicking good time before Lent. Leavenworth’s interpretation features fire dancers, live ice carving, fireworks, and a masquerade pub crawl. While many events happen over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, the party lasts all month.
Travel Tips:
- Due to popularity, aim to visit during the week if visiting in December. January and February offer a quieter time to view the light displays.
- If traveling from the west side of the state, check weather and pass conditions before heading over the mountains. Passes can close due to snow, and vehicles are often required to use tire chains.
- Brush up on how to install chains before you depart; it’s never fun trying to figure it out on the side of a snowy road.
View Lighted Boat Parades and Christmas Ships
Argosy Cruises events:
- Christmas Ship™ Festival, various locations: Since 1949, Argosy Cruises’ has infused magic into the holiday season thanks to their lighted boats. The Spirit of Seattle glimmers with hundreds of white holiday lights and sails to 40 different Puget Sound waterfront communities (view schedule). On board, listen to a choir perform and enjoy a dramatic reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Sailings take place on select dates late November through December.
- Christmas Ship™ Parade of Boats, Seattle: This one-night event in December convenes brightly decorated boats in Lake Union for a journey west through the Fremont Cut. Be a part of the action on the water or gather at an onshore viewing party.
Christmas Ships Parade, Vancouver WA: Watch lighted boats cruise down the Columbia River from the Vancouver Waterfront Renaissance Trail or one of the many restaurants with great views of the river. Sailings take place throughout December.
Christmas Lighted Boat Parade, Tri-Cities: Head to this Wine Country destination to see vessels illuminate the waters with elaborate light displays and decorations during the Christmas Lighted Boat Parade. Boaters gather at Clover Island for a festive promenade up and down the Columbia River.
With so many waterways, it’s no surprise lighted boat parades are one of the most popular holiday events in Washington State. Other boat parades include:
- Tacoma Lighted Boat Parade
- Poulsbo Yacht Club Lighted Ships Parade
- Gig Harbor Lighted Boat Parade
- Bremerton Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade
- Bellingham Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade
- And more!
Enjoy a Themed Train Ride
All aboard! Every holiday season, a couple of Washington’s scenic railways bring the classic book The Polar Express to life. Tickets sell out fast, so be sure to book early.
- Where: Chehalis-Centralia Railroad & Museum
- When: Select dates from mid-November through December
- What to expect: Cruise by the pastures, riverbanks, and forests of the Chehalis River Valley. On board, watch live performances, listen to a reading of the famous book, and sip on hot chocolate.
- Where: Departs from Elbe near Mount Rainier on the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad
- When: Select dates late November through late December
- What to expect: Enjoy a 75-minute immersive theatrical experience in a vintage steam train. Santa and Mrs. Clause will be on hand to offer holiday cheer and serve hot cocoa as you ride through the forest.
Enjoy Immersive Light Displays
Washington has no shortage of stunning holiday light displays. Here are just a few to visit:
Enchant Christmas at T-Mobile Park, Seattle: Marvel at the world’s largest Christmas maze centered around the story of Santa’s Magic Timepiece. Visitors will navigate gigantic light sculptures, a dazzling ice skating rink, and a scavenger hunt for Santa’s missing watch fragments.
WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle: Fantastical light displays bring unicorns, mystical forests, and your favorite Northwest animals to life. In the evenings, adults can sip specialty cocktails among lanterns and meet animal ambassadors.
The Lights of Christmas, Stanwood: Head north of Seattle for a drive-thru display with over a million lights. The route includes two stops where visitors can get out and experience an interactive light maze. After touring through a light tunnel past Santa and his reindeer, snack on fresh mini donuts and hot drinks.
Tulalip Lights and Ice at Quil Ceda Village, Tulalip: A free event featuring an ice-skating rink, treats from local vendors, and a dazzling display of 7.8 million lights.
Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium, Tacoma: Stroll through a colorful display of more than a million lights complete with illuminated creatures like a giant Pacific octopus. Don’t miss the goats dressed in their holiday coats.
Wintertide Festival of Lights, Port Angeles: Located in the maritime city of Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula, you can stroll a forest path decorated with illuminated art, tinker with interactive glow-in-the-dark art stations, enjoy performances and music in the meadow, and peruse the artisan Markers Market.
Senske Holiday Light Show, Kennewick: For more holiday events in Washington, head east of the Cascades to the Tri-Cities. Held nightly in December, this light show dazzles attendees with 500,000 lights synced to a holiday soundtrack.
Catch the Parade on Snowflake Lane
For the ultimate holiday parade, head east from Seattle across Lake Washington to Bellevue’s Snowflake Lane. From the end of November through Christmas Eve, Bellevue Way between Lincoln Square and Bellevue Square becomes an all-out holiday celebration at 7 p.m. with a rollicking parade. People come from all over the region to enjoy elaborate floats, holiday lights, music, and dancers.
Tip: Go mid-week earlier in the season for a better chance at finding a good viewing spot. Parking is free at the Bellevue Collection parking garages.
About the Author
Ellee Thalheimer is a freelance writer and guidebook author based in the Pacific Northwest who has contributed to publications like Lonely Planet Guidebooks, Alaska Airlines Magazine, and Adventure Cyclist Magazine. When she can’t get outside, she writes fiction, drinks local IPAs, and perfects her handstands.
Featured image: Courtesy of the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce