Plan your festive adventure in Parkland with our ultimate event guide. Whether Parkland is your backyard or a new adventure, our guide highlights the best holiday events.
This season, immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Christmas at Enchant Christmas, where a dazzling light maze awaits visitors of all ages. With its stunning displays and festive atmosphere, Fantasy Lights creates a magical drive-through experience filled with twinkling light sculptures. And the beloved Nutcracker by Pacific Northwest Ballet is something you definitely don't want to miss, showcasing a captivating blend of classic dance and festive spirit. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Parkland
- Enchant Christmas (Seattle)
- Fantasy Lights (Spanaway)
- The Nutcracker by Pacific Northwest Ballet (Seattle)
- The Lights of Christmas (Stanwood)
- A Victorian Country Christmas (Puyallup)
- Issaquah Reindeer Festival (Issaquah)
- Holiday Pops by Seattle Symphony (Seattle)
- The Percussion: Jingle Bell Bash (Seattle)
- Giving Marketplace (Seattle)
- A PLU Christmas (Tacoma)
See these and even more events listed below!
Parkland Holiday Light Displays
Enchant Christmas
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday light maze with original stories and larger-than-life sculptures.
Description:
Enchant Christmas is an award-winning holiday light maze experience featuring stunning, custom-designed light sculptures, unique ice skating, and festive attractions. 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
Fantasy Lights
What to Expect:
Drive-through holiday light display with over 300 animated displays.
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 and military discounts available.
Where: Spanaway | More Info: Fantasy Lights
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 for yummy snacks and exciting activities.
Where: Stanwood | More Info: The Lights of 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 lights, featuring whimsical animal scenes, festive treats, and a private goat encounter.
Where: Tacoma | More Info: Zoolights
Winter Glow Spectacular
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday light display with free admission.
Description:
Winter Glow Spectacular is a free community event featuring extensive holiday lights and displays at Orchard Park in Liberty Lake, Washington. The event aims to bring back the holiday spirit with various light displays and activities.
Where: Liberty Lake | More Info: Winter Glow Spectacular
Parkland Holiday Markets and Shopping
A Victorian Country Christmas
What to Expect:
Unique holiday shopping and entertainment experience with local vendors.
Description:
A Victorian Country Christmas is a holiday event at the Washington State Fair Events Center featuring unique vendors, live entertainment, and festive attractions. Attendees can shop for handmade crafts, enjoy seasonal beverages and bites, and visit the classic Victorian-style carousel or Santa Claus.
Where: Puyallup | More Info: A Victorian Country Christmas
Giving Marketplace
What to Expect:
Unique gifts supporting diverse causes with live performances and family-friendly activities.
Description:
The Giving Marketplace at the Gates Discovery Center offers unique gifts from dozens of vendors supporting various causes, including immigrants and refugees, women and girls, global health, education, and the environment. Enjoy family-friendly activities and live performances while discovering ways to take action on issues you care about.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Giving Marketplace
Parkland Holiday Shows and Entertainment
The Nutcracker by Pacific Northwest Ballet
What to Expect:
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
Pacific Northwest Ballet presents George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, featuring Tchaikovsky's classic score, stunning costumes and scenery, and impressive performances. This beloved holiday tradition promises a delightful experience with its picture-perfect lobby and intricate ballet.
Where: Seattle | More Info: The Nutcracker by Pacific Northwest Ballet
Holiday Pops by Seattle Symphony
What to Expect:
Dazzling holiday concert with Chloe Flower.
Description:
Join the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall for a dazzling holiday concert featuring powerhouse pianist Chloe Flower.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Holiday Pops by Seattle Symphony
The Percussion: Jingle Bell Bash
What to Expect:
Interactive musical games and percussion play.
Description:
The Percussion: Jingle Bell Bash features interactive musical games, stories, and songs by Seattle Symphony musicians. Pre-concert activities include a xylophone orchestra, reading station, percussion play area, and concert-specific craft in the Samuel & Althea Stroum Grand Lobby.
Where: Seattle | More Info: The Percussion: Jingle Bell Bash
Next Fest NW
What to Expect:
Experimental contemporary dance performances exploring chaos and order.
Description:
Next Fest NW is an experimental new works festival celebrating contemporary dance and movement-based artists innovating in the Pacific Northwest. This year's festival features new works by Stasia Coup, Symone Sanz, Hannah Krafcik, and Emily Jones, each responding to the theme of Total Chaos. The event explores cacophony, grief, order, and purpose through innovative performances.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Next Fest NW
A PLU Christmas
What to Expect:
Collaborative performance by PLU's music faculty and students.
Description:
Pacific Lutheran University's A PLU Christmas concert features the Choir of the West, University Chorale, and University Symphony Orchestra performing traditional carols and seasonal favorites, including John Rutter's setting of Gloria, under the direction of Brian Galante, Tiffany Walker, and Asieh Mahyar.
Where: Tacoma | More Info: A PLU Christmas
Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Lost Christmas Eve
What to Expect:
Multi-platinum rock group celebrating 20 years with pyrotechnics and charity support.
Description:
Trans-Siberian Orchestra returns to Spokane Arena for a spectacular performance of their beloved rock opera "The Lost Christmas Eve," celebrating 20 years of this holiday tradition. The show features iconic Christmas songs like "The First Noel" and "O Come All Ye Faithful," with pyrotechnics and a sonic assault on holiday classics.
Where: Spokane | More Info: Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Lost Christmas Eve
Parkland 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
Snowshoeing at Mount Rainier
What to Expect:
Guided snowshoe walks to learn about winter adaptations.
Description:
Explore Mount Rainier's winter trails on snowshoes, guided by park rangers who will teach you about the unique adaptations of plants, animals, and people in challenging winter conditions.
Where: Ashford | More Info: Snowshoeing at Mount Rainier
Santa @ River Park Square
What to Expect:
Santa's arrival and tree lighting ceremony.
Description:
Santa Claus returns to River Park Square, where he will be stationed at the foot of a show-stopping 50-foot tree. The event includes Family Festivities from 3-5 PM on November 23, culminating in Santa's Arrival and Tree Lighting at 5 PM.
Where: Spokane | More Info: Santa @ River Park Square
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Spanaway (4 miles)
- Lakewood (4 miles)
- Tacoma (7 miles)
- Puyallup (7 miles)
- South Hill (8 miles)
- University Place (8 miles)
- Graham (10 miles)
- Federal Way (13 miles)
- Auburn (14 miles)
- Des Moines (18 miles)
- Kent (18 miles)
- Lacey (20 miles)
- SeaTac (21 miles)
- East Hill-Meridian (21 miles)
- Burien (22 miles)
- Olympia (23 miles)
- Tukwila (23 miles)
- Maple Valley (24 miles)
- Renton (25 miles)
- Bremerton (30 miles)
- Mercer Island (30 miles)
- Seattle (32 miles)
- Issaquah (32 miles)
- Bainbridge Island (33 miles)
- West Lake Sammamish (33 miles)
- Bellevue (33 miles)
- City of Sammamish (36 miles)
- Sammamish (37 miles)
- Kirkland (38 miles)
- Redmond (39 miles)
- Inglewood-Finn Hill (40 miles)
- Shoreline (42 miles)
- Kenmore (43 miles)
- Bothell (43 miles)
- Cottage Lake (44 miles)
- Mountlake Terrace (44 miles)