Celebrate the season with the Kirkland community! Discover all the festive happenings in our guide. From Kirkland old-timers to fresh faces, our guide is your key to unlocking holiday cheer.
Popular Events: One exciting attraction you’ll find is Enchant Christmas, a dazzling display of light sculptures and festive installations that create a magical holiday experience. Another highlight is the renowned Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker, featuring stunning performances that bring the classic tale to life. And the Winterfest is something you definitely don't want to miss, offering a variety of family-friendly activities and entertainment throughout the season. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Kirkland
- Enchant Christmas (Seattle)
- Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker (Seattle)
- Winterfest (Seattle)
- Zoolights (Tacoma)
- The Lights of Christmas (Stanwood)
- Magic in the Market (Seattle)
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Lost Christmas Eve (Seattle)
- Fantasy Lights (Spanaway)
- WildLanterns (Seattle)
- Festival of Trees (Mill Creek)
See these and even more events listed below!
Kirkland Holiday Light Displays
Enchant Christmas
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday light maze with a story-driven quest.
Description:
Enchant Christmas features a world's largest Christmas light maze, ice skating trail, Santa visits, and a holiday marketplace with local artisans and seasonal food.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Enchant Christmas
Zoolights
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Description:
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium transforms into a colorful winter spectacle with over a million LED lights, featuring giant octopuses, tiger faces, and festive goats in holiday coats.
Where: Tacoma | More Info: Zoolights
The Lights of Christmas
What to Expect:
Drive-thru holiday celebration with over a million lights and creative displays.
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
Fantasy Lights
What to Expect:
Animated light displays along a 2-mile drive.
Description:
Fantasy Lights is a drive-through holiday display featuring nearly 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights along a two-mile route at Spanaway Park.
Where: Spanaway | More Info: Fantasy Lights
WildLanterns
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday light display with interactive zones.
Description:
Woodland Park Zoo's WildLanterns features over 300 lanterns in various animal and nature themes, including interactive zones and special events.
Where: Seattle | More Info: WildLanterns
Kirkland Holiday Markets and Shopping
Winterfest
What to Expect:
Interactive late 19th-century model train village display.
Description:
Seattle Center's Winterfest is a season-long family-friendly festival featuring seasonal decor, a winter train village, live performances, and a European-inspired outdoor Christmas market with local and international vendors.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Winterfest
Magic in the Market
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday celebration with Santa meet-and-greets and cookie decorating.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at Pike Place Market with a variety of activities, including meeting Santa, decorating cookies, and sipping eggnog. The event features a wide range of exciting activities and festive attractions across all 9 acres of the market.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Magic in the Market
Kirkland 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 production includes a picture-perfect lobby, gorgeous scenery, and a 25-minute intermission. It is a highlight of the holiday season, showcasing George Balanchine's iconic choreography.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Lost Christmas Eve
What to Expect:
High-energy performance with a blend of storytelling and iconic rock music.
Description:
Trans-Siberian Orchestra presents The Lost Christmas Eve, a rock opera celebrating 20 years with an all-new show featuring pyrotechnics, lasers, and powerful storytelling.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Lost Christmas Eve
Polar Express Train Ride
What to Expect:
Vintage train ride with live performances and Santa's visit.
Description:
Embark on a nostalgic train ride to the North Pole, where children listen to the classic children's book, sip hot chocolate, and receive a special visit from Santa.
Where: Chehalis | More Info: Polar Express Train Ride
Kirkland Other Holiday Activities
Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Interactive scavenger hunt with woodland creatures.
Description:
The Festival of Trees is an interactive holiday experience featuring adorable woodland creatures hidden among snowy scenes on Main Street in Mill Creek Town Center. Participants can find Olive the Owl, Betula the Bunny, Sal the Squirrel, and Rata the Reindeer and enter a contest to win fantastic prizes.
Where: Mill Creek | More Info: Festival of Trees
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Inglewood-Finn Hill (3 miles)
- Redmond (4 miles)
- Bellevue (5 miles)
- Kenmore (5 miles)
- Bothell (6 miles)
- Sammamish (7 miles)
- Cottage Lake (7 miles)
- Mercer Island (8 miles)
- Seattle (8 miles)
- Shoreline (8 miles)
- Mountlake Terrace (9 miles)
- West Lake Sammamish (9 miles)
- City of Sammamish (10 miles)
- North Creek (10 miles)
- Lynnwood (11 miles)
- Edmonds (12 miles)
- Mill Creek (12 miles)
- Silver Firs (13 miles)
- Picnic Point-North Lynnwood (13 miles)
- Issaquah (13 miles)
- Renton (14 miles)
- Tukwila (15 miles)
- Eastmont (15 miles)
- Bainbridge Island (15 miles)
- Burien (16 miles)
- SeaTac (17 miles)
- Mukilteo (19 miles)
- East Hill-Meridian (19 miles)
- Des Moines (20 miles)
- Everett (21 miles)
- Kent (21 miles)
- Bremerton (21 miles)
- Maple Valley (21 miles)
- West Lake Stevens (22 miles)
- Lake Stevens (24 miles)
- Federal Way (25 miles)
- Marysville (26 miles)
- Auburn (26 miles)
- Tacoma (32 miles)
- Puyallup (35 miles)
- University Place (35 miles)
- South Hill (37 miles)
- Parkland (38 miles)
- Lakewood (38 miles)
- Spanaway (41 miles)
- Graham (44 miles)