Enjoy the festive season in Issaquah with our ultimate holiday guide. From those who wake up to Issaquah views to those just dreaming of them, our guide brings holiday wishes to life.
One highlight of the holiday season is the enchanting Zoolights, where the Woodland Park Zoo transforms into a stunning display of twinkling lights and festive decorations. Another beloved attraction is Winterfest, showcasing local artisans and seasonal treats amidst a vibrant community atmosphere. And the timeless classic, Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker, is something you definitely don't want to miss with its whimsical performance capturing the magic of the season. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Issaquah
- Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker (Seattle)
- Winterfest (Seattle)
- Zoolights (Tacoma)
- Enchant Christmas (Seattle)
- The Lights of Christmas (Stanwood)
- Legally Blonde: The Musical
- Village of Lights (Leavenworth)
- Fantasy Lights (Spanaway)
- Issaquah Reindeer Festival
- Magic in the Market (Seattle)
See these and even more events listed below!
Issaquah Holiday Light Displays
Zoolights
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting with over a million lights.
Description:
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium transforms into a colorful display of over a million lights, featuring classic holiday favorites and new displays. Enjoy festive treats, hot chocolate, and a private animal encounter with playful goats.
Where: Tacoma | More Info: Zoolights
The Lights of Christmas
What to Expect:
Drive-thru holiday light display with creative activities.
Description:
The Lights of Christmas is a drive-thru holiday event in Stanwood, WA, featuring over a million lights, creative displays, and two activity stops. Enjoy fun Christmas music while driving through the event route, and stop to enjoy yummy snacks and exciting activities.
Where: Stanwood | More Info: The Lights of Christmas
Enchant Christmas
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday light maze with a story-driven mission to save Christmas.
Description:
Enchant Christmas is an award-winning holiday light maze experience featuring stunning, custom-designed light sculptures and unique ice skating experiences. Explore the maze, glide along the ice skating trail, savor seasonal food and drink, visit Santa and Mrs. Claus, and take in a bird’s-eye view of the dazzling lights from the Ferris Wheel.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Enchant Christmas
Village of Lights
What to Expect:
Bavarian-inspired holiday lights and entertainment.
Description:
Leavenworth's Village of Lights features over half a million twinkling lights, live music, and festive activities like gingerbread house exhibitions and strolling carolers.
Where: Leavenworth | More Info: Village of Lights
Fantasy Lights
What to Expect:
Drive-through holiday light display with digital animations and festive atmosphere.
Description:
Fantasy Lights is a drive-through holiday display featuring nearly 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights along a 2-mile route at Spanaway Park. The event is open daily from 5:30-9:00 PM, with special discount nights available.
Where: Spanaway | More Info: Fantasy Lights
Issaquah Holiday Markets and Shopping
Winterfest
What to Expect:
Late 19th-century model train and village display.
Description:
Seattle Center's Winterfest is a five-week celebration featuring a late 19th-century model train and village, a European-inspired outdoor Christmas market, live performances, and festive light displays.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Winterfest
Magic in the Market
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with Santa, cookie decorating, and festive shopping.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Pike Place Market with a variety of exciting activities and festive attractions. Meet Santa, decorate cookies, sip eggnog, and shop for loved ones. The event culminates in the famous Market lighting ceremony.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Magic in the Market
Gilman Village Annual Winter Fest
What to Expect:
Wine tasting with 12 one-ounce drink tokens and Santa visits.
Description:
Gilman Village Annual Winter Fest is a festive evening where you can sip, shop, and stroll through the village while visiting local wineries and enjoying snacks and live music.
Where: Issaquah | More Info: Gilman Village Annual Winter Fest
Native Art Market and Gift Fair
What to Expect:
Showcase of local Indigenous arts and jewelry.
Description:
The Duwamish Longhouse and Cultural Center hosts the Native Art Market and Gift Fair, featuring local Indigenous arts, jewelry, and more, perfect for the holiday season.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Native Art Market and Gift Fair
GeekCraft Expo SEATTLE 2024 Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Curated market with 120+ local crafters and makers.
Description:
GeekCraft Expo SEATTLE 2024 Holiday Market is a curated market featuring handmade geek goods by local crafters and makers. The event showcases a variety of unique, geek-themed items, providing a platform for local artisans to display their specialized crafts.
Where: Seattle | More Info: GeekCraft Expo SEATTLE 2024 Holiday Market
Julefest: A Nordic Holiday Celebration
What to Expect:
Authentic Nordic holiday experience with local artisan vendors.
Description:
Julefest at the National Nordic Museum is a traditional Nordic holiday celebration featuring live music, unique treats, and community spirit. Wander through stalls filled with handcrafted gifts, traditional foods, and cozy Scandinavian apparel.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Julefest: A Nordic Holiday Celebration
Issaquah Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker is a timeless ballet featuring Tchaikovsky's classic score, stunning costumes, and impressive performances. The event includes a picture-perfect lobby and a 25-minute intermission.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker
Legally Blonde: The Musical
What to Expect:
Upbeat comedy that humorously skewers stereotypes and features an infectious score and dazzling dances.
Description:
Legally Blonde: The Musical follows Elle Woods as she charms her way into Harvard Law, proving the power of being legally blonde. With an infectious score, dazzling dances, and a hilarious script, this musical humorously skewers stereotypes and takes you on a fun-filled journey from the sorority house to the halls of justice.
Where: Issaquah | More Info: Legally Blonde: The Musical
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Lost Christmas Eve
What to Expect:
Technologically enhanced holiday rock opera with pyrotechnics and lasers.
Description:
Trans-Siberian Orchestra brings their all-new "The Lost Christmas Eve" tour to Climate Pledge Arena, featuring powerful rock music, classical elements, stunning visuals, and a heartwarming story.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Lost Christmas Eve
Camelot
What to Expect:
Intimate adaptation focusing on the legendary love triangle.
Description:
Lerner and Loewe’s Camelot is a timeless musical about King Arthur, Queen Guenevere, and Sir Lancelot, featuring iconic songs like "If Ever I Would Leave You" and "The Lusty Month of May."
Where: Issaquah | More Info: Camelot
Issaquah Other Holiday Activities
Issaquah Reindeer Festival
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
The Issaquah Reindeer Festival at Cougar Mountain Zoo offers a unique holiday celebration with Santa visits, reindeer encounters, and festive activities for all ages.
Where: Issaquah | More Info: Issaquah Reindeer Festival
Astra Lumina
What to Expect:
Immersive night walk with astral energy and celestial visions.
Description:
Astra Lumina is a one-mile-long night walk through the Seattle Chinese Garden, featuring projections, lighting, and music that transform the garden into a celestial pathway, connecting visitors to the stars and the vast world around them.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Astra Lumina
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- West Lake Sammamish (5 miles)
- City of Sammamish (5 miles)
- Sammamish (8 miles)
- Renton (9 miles)
- Mercer Island (9 miles)
- Maple Valley (10 miles)
- Bellevue (10 miles)
- East Hill-Meridian (11 miles)
- Redmond (11 miles)
- Tukwila (11 miles)
- Kirkland (13 miles)
- SeaTac (13 miles)
- Kent (14 miles)
- Seattle (15 miles)
- Cottage Lake (15 miles)
- Burien (15 miles)
- Inglewood-Finn Hill (16 miles)
- Des Moines (16 miles)
- Auburn (18 miles)
- Bothell (18 miles)
- Kenmore (19 miles)
- Federal Way (19 miles)
- North Creek (21 miles)
- Shoreline (21 miles)
- Mountlake Terrace (22 miles)
- Bainbridge Island (24 miles)
- Silver Firs (24 miles)
- Lynnwood (24 miles)
- Mill Creek (24 miles)
- Edmonds (25 miles)
- Picnic Point-North Lynnwood (26 miles)
- Eastmont (26 miles)
- Puyallup (27 miles)
- Tacoma (27 miles)
- Bremerton (28 miles)
- South Hill (29 miles)
- Mukilteo (31 miles)
- University Place (32 miles)
- Parkland (32 miles)
- Everett (32 miles)
- West Lake Stevens (32 miles)
- Lake Stevens (34 miles)
- Lakewood (34 miles)
- Spanaway (35 miles)
- Graham (35 miles)
- Marysville (37 miles)