Nothing gets us in the holiday mood quite like a festive light display. Whether you’re excited to celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or simply trying to ward off the long dark nights of a PNW winter, you’ll love these holiday light displays in Seattle. The best part is that many of them are free!
Read on for where you can find the most festive holiday light displays in Seattle this season:
1. WildLanterns at the Zoo
Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo is already lit up at night for winter cheer! You can go to the zoo almost any evening after 4:00 p.m. (except for Mondays) to see animal and nature-themed lanterns and more festive light displays. This is a particularly kid-friendly activity but it’s truly fun for all ages. See more details and get tickets on the zoo website.
When: November 11, 2022 to January 22, 2023, 4:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Woodland Park Zoo
2. Tree Lighting Celebration at Westlake Park
If your thoughts immediately turn to Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, you’ll want to head over to Westlake Park in downtown Seattle to catch the tree lighting celebration. The free event starts at 3:00 p.m. with live music, but make sure you’re there by 5:00 p.m. to get a good view of the tree lighting.
When: November 25, 2022
Where: Westlake Park in downtown Seattle
3. Magic in the Market
In addition to live entertainment, shopping, and free photos with Santa, Magic in the Market will have a lighting ceremony at 5:00 p.m. The exterior of Pike Place Market will be lit up with festive holiday lights. Read all about Magic in the Market. And if you miss the event, you can visit Pike Place Market all throughout the holiday season to see the lights.
When: November 26, 2022
Where: Pike Place Market
4. Seattle Center Winterfest
On the Friday after Thanksgiving you can head to Seattle Center for the opening day of their season-long Winterfest celebration. There will be a countdown to the lighting of their Campus Luminata at 5:00 p.m., followed by more festive light shows throughout Seattle Center. See more details about Seattle Center Winterfest.
When: November 25 to December 31, 2022
Where: Seattle Center
5. Holiday Lights & Delights
Downtown Seattle and the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood both come alive for the holidays with festive lights and free activities. See more on the Holiday Lights & Delights event page.
When: November 26, 2022 to January 7, 2023
Where: Westlake Park (downtown) and Occidental Square (Pioneer Square)
6. Christmas Ship Festival
You can view the lit-up Argosy Cruises Christmas Ship Festival from the shore or even participate on one of the boats. The official Christmas ship is the Spirit of Seattle, which will be lit up with hundreds of festive lights for its grand finale on Lake Union on December 23. Read all about the various festival events on the Argosy Cruises website.
When: November 25 to December 23, 2022
Where: multiple locations
7. Twinkle Twinkle at Freeway Park
This free holiday event in Freeway Park will have live carolers, a bonfire, and treats available while you enjoy a festive light display. See more details on the event page.
When: December 2, 2022
Where: Freeway Park
8. Tinsel Town at Shelter Lounge
All ages are welcome at this immersive holiday experience at Shelter Lounge. In addition to miles of garlands and tens of thousands of holiday lights, the restaurant will have various themes and events throughout the holiday season, and kids under the age of 10 get free hot cocoa. Get the full schedule of events and more details on the Shelter Lounge website.
When: November 17, 2022 to January 1, 2023
Where: Shelter Lounge
9. Pathway of Lights at Green Lake
Make the dark winter season feel more festive with a stroll around Green Lake during the annual Pathway of Lights event that is free for all. The walking path and docks will be decked out with thousands of candles. There will also be complimentary refreshments, holiday music, and even hot air balloons.
When: December 10, 2022 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Green Lake
10. Garden d’Lights
If you’ve exhausted all the holiday light displays in Seattle, you can make the short drive over to neighboring Bellevue for their Garden d’Lights display in the Bellevue Botanical Garden. Tickets are $8 (children age 10 and under are free) and the display is all outdoors, rain or shine. Get more info on the Garden d’Lights event webpage.
When: November 26 to December 31, 2022 (closed on Christmas Day) from 4:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Bellevue Botanical Garden
11. Holiday Magic by the Washington State Fair
If you want to make a day trip out of it, you can head to Puyallup—where the famous Washington State Fair takes place—to see the fairgrounds transformed for the holidays. In addition to festive light displays there will be food, a holiday market, and ice skating. There will also be a tree lighting ceremony on December 1. See more details and get tickets on the fair website.
When: December 1-4, 8-11, 15-18, and 20-23 from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Puyallup, WA
12. Seattle neighborhood holiday light displays
Finally, a free and easy way to enjoy holiday lights is to simply drive or stroll around Seattle neighborhoods that are known for going all-out this time of year. We recommend exploring Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood (especially near Kerry Park), Crown Hill (look for Olympic Manor and the Nutcracker House in particular), and the famous Candy Cane Lane in Ravenna.