Get ready for a festive season of adventure in Seattle! Discover all the exciting holiday events with our guide. Whether you're deeply connected to Seattle or just making connections, this guide illuminates your holiday path.
One highlight of the season is the Enchant Christmas Lights Experience, where dazzling light displays transform the venue into a winter wonderland. Featuring whimsical installations and winding pathways, this event invites visitors to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit. Another unique offering is Snowflake Lane, known for its enchanting nightly snowfall and vibrant live performances that bring the streets alive with holiday cheer. And the WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo is something you definitely don't want to miss, showcasing intricate lantern displays that depict various animals and festive scenes. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Seattle
- Enchant Christmas Lights Experience
- Leavenworth Tree Lighting (Leavenworth)
- WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo
- Snowflake Lane (Bellevue)
- Argosy Christmas Ship Festival
- Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker
- Holiday Pops by Seattle Symphony
- GeekCraft Expo Seattle Holiday Market
- Julefest: A Nordic Holiday Celebration
- Village of Lights (Leavenworth)
See these and even more events listed below!
Seattle Holiday Light Displays
Enchant Christmas Lights Experience
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday light maze with a story-driven quest.
Description:
Enchant Christmas features a World's Largest Christmas Light Maze, an ice skating trail, seasonal food and drink, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a Ferris Wheel offering a bird's-eye view of the dazzling lights.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Enchant Christmas Lights Experience
WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo
What to Expect:
Immersive lantern displays and interactive zones.
Description:
Woodland Park Zoo's WildLanterns features large-scale animal and nature scape lanterns, interactive zones, and themed areas, offering a unique holiday experience.
Where: Seattle | More Info: WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo
Leavenworth Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Extensive light display with live performances.
Description:
Leavenworth's Village of Lights features over half a million twinkling lights illuminating the Bavarian Alpine Village, accompanied by live entertainment, choirs, bands, and carolers.
Where: Leavenworth | More Info: Leavenworth Tree Lighting
Village of Lights
What to Expect:
Daily light display with over half a million lights.
Description:
Leavenworth Village of Lights features over half a million lights illuminating the Bavarian-themed town, with daily entertainment, photo opportunities, and festive activities.
Where: Leavenworth | More Info: Village of Lights
Hometown Holidays: GLOWS Festival
What to Expect:
Tree lighting ceremony with live music and festivities.
Description:
The GLOWS Festival is a vibrant holiday celebration in West Seattle featuring a tree lighting, light costume contest, holiday night market, and live performances.
Where: West Seattle | More Info: Hometown Holidays: GLOWS Festival
Seattle Holiday Markets and Shopping
Julefest: A Nordic Holiday Celebration
What to Expect:
Authentic Nordic holiday experience with live music and unique treats.
Description:
Julefest at the National Nordic Museum is a celebration of Nordic holiday traditions, featuring live music, unique treats, and community spirit. Visitors can wander through stalls filled with handcrafted gifts, traditional foods, and cozy Scandinavian apparel.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Julefest: A Nordic Holiday Celebration
GeekCraft Expo Seattle Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Curated market with handmade geek goods.
Description:
The GeekCraft Expo Seattle Holiday Market is a curated event showcasing handmade geek goods by local crafters and makers. It features a variety of unique, geek-themed items perfect for holiday shopping.
Where: Seattle | More Info: GeekCraft Expo Seattle Holiday Market
Giving Marketplace
What to Expect:
Unique gifts supporting various social causes.
Description:
The Giving Marketplace at the Gates Discovery Center offers unique gifts from dozens of vendors, with proceeds supporting immigrants, refugees, women and girls, global health, education, and the environment. Enjoy family-friendly activities and performances while discovering ways to take action on issues you care about.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Giving Marketplace
Seattle Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Snowflake Lane
What to Expect:
Complimentary nightly parade with falling snow and dazzling lights.
Description:
Snowflake Lane is a complimentary nightly holiday parade featuring toy drummers, dancers, festive music, and holiday floats. The event takes place on the sidewalks between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square along Bellevue Way, with nightly performances starting at 7 pm.
Where: Bellevue | More Info: Snowflake Lane
Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker
What to Expect:
Elaborate sets and costumes.
Description:
Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker is a classic ballet featuring Tchaikovsky's iconic score, stunning costumes, and impressive performances. The event includes a picture-perfect lobby, gorgeous scenery, and intricate choreography by George Balanchine.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker
Argosy Christmas Ship Festival
What to Expect:
Live choir performances broadcasted to shore.
Description:
The Argosy Christmas Ship Festival is a family-friendly holiday celebration where the Spirit of Seattle, decorated with hundreds of shimmery white lights, sails to various Puget Sound waterfront communities. Onboard, guests enjoy a 1.5-hour cruise, community choir performances, and a reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. The festival also includes a 21+ Follow Boat with a broadcasted choir performance and photo booth.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Argosy Christmas Ship Festival
Holiday Pops by Seattle Symphony
What to Expect:
Powerhouse pianist Chloe Flower joins the orchestra.
Description:
Join the Seattle Symphony for a dazzling holiday concert featuring powerhouse pianist Chloe Flower at Benaroya Hall.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Holiday Pops by Seattle Symphony
Black Nativity at Broadway Performance Hall
What to Expect:
Soulful retelling of the Christmas story with gospel music and community singing.
Description:
Langston Hughes' Gospel Song-Play, Black Nativity, returns to Intiman Theatre in a newly reimagined production. This holiday musical features a cast of over 30 actors, dancers, and vocalists, along with a live band and a rousing city-wide gospel choir. The show combines the poetry of Langston Hughes with gospel renditions of favorite carols, offering audiences the chance to sing along. It is a stirring experience for families of all backgrounds and beliefs, sharing the importance of hope and community.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Black Nativity at Broadway Performance Hall
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Mercer Island (6 miles)
- Bellevue (6 miles)
- Kirkland (8 miles)
- Bainbridge Island (9 miles)
- Inglewood-Finn Hill (9 miles)
- Burien (9 miles)
- Tukwila (10 miles)
- Renton (10 miles)
- Shoreline (10 miles)
- Redmond (11 miles)
- West Lake Sammamish (11 miles)
- SeaTac (11 miles)
- Kenmore (11 miles)
- Sammamish (12 miles)
- Bothell (12 miles)
- Mountlake Terrace (13 miles)
- City of Sammamish (14 miles)
- Des Moines (14 miles)
- Bremerton (14 miles)
- Edmonds (14 miles)
- Lynnwood (15 miles)
- Issaquah (15 miles)
- Cottage Lake (15 miles)
- East Hill-Meridian (15 miles)
- Kent (16 miles)
- North Creek (16 miles)
- Picnic Point-North Lynnwood (18 miles)
- Mill Creek (19 miles)
- Federal Way (20 miles)
- Silver Firs (20 miles)
- Maple Valley (20 miles)
- Auburn (21 miles)
- Eastmont (21 miles)
- Mukilteo (23 miles)
- Tacoma (25 miles)
- Everett (26 miles)
- University Place (28 miles)
- West Lake Stevens (29 miles)
- Puyallup (29 miles)
- Lake Stevens (31 miles)
- Lakewood (31 miles)
- Parkland (32 miles)
- Marysville (32 miles)
- South Hill (32 miles)
- Spanaway (35 miles)
- Graham (38 miles)