Create your festive itinerary in Kent with our guide. Discover all the best holiday events and activities. Whether Kent is your home or your holiday stop, this guide ensures you experience all the festive magic.
Popular events in the area include the enchanting Leavenworth Tree Lighting, where the town is transformed into a winter wonderland adorned with twinkling lights. For a unique experience, the Enchant Christmas Lights Experience captivates attendees with its breathtaking light displays and interactive activities. And the Seattle Center New Year’s Eve celebration is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks show to ring in the new year. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Kent
- Seattle Center New Year’s Eve (Seattle)
- Leavenworth Tree Lighting (Leavenworth)
- Pacific Northwest Ballet’s The Nutcracker (Seattle)
- Enchant Christmas Lights Experience (Seattle)
- Village of Lights in Leavenworth (Leavenworth)
- Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton Grand Seattle (Seattle)
- WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo (Seattle)
- Argosy Christmas Ship Festival (Seattle)
- Christmas Ship Festival (Seattle)
- Snowflake Lane (Bellevue)
See these and even more events listed below!
Kent Holiday Light Displays
Enchant Christmas Lights Experience
What to Expect:
Interactive light maze with a story-driven adventure.
Description:
Enchant Christmas in Seattle features a World's Largest Christmas Light Maze, an ice skating trail, Santa and Mrs. Claus, nightly caroling, mainstage entertainment, a shopping village, seasonal food and drink, and a children's play place. The event is set against the backdrop of a captivating original story, Santa's Magic Timepiece, where visitors search for the missing fragments of the key ingredient to Santa's magical journey.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Enchant Christmas Lights Experience
WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo
What to Expect:
Immersive holiday light display with interactive zones.
Description:
Woodland Park Zoo presents WildLanterns, an immersive holiday event featuring over 300 large-scale animal and nature scape lanterns, including interactive zones and themed areas like the Land of Winter Wonders, Finely Feathered Friends, and Fantastical Folklore Realm.
Where: Seattle | More Info: WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo
Leavenworth Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Spectacular light display with live performances and festive activities.
Description:
Leavenworth's Village of Lights features over half a million twinkling lights adorning the town's buildings and trees, creating a breathtakingly beautiful display. The event includes live performances at the Gazebo, strolling carolers, and fun activities in the Leavenworth Festhalle, such as a gingerbread house exhibition and crafts for kids.
Where: Leavenworth | More Info: Leavenworth Tree Lighting
Holiday Tree Lighting & Parade - Kent Town Square Park
What to Expect:
Community tree lighting and festive parade.
Description:
The Holiday Tree Lighting & Parade at Kent Town Square Park features a festive tree lighting ceremony and a family-friendly parade, celebrating the holiday season with community spirit.
Where: Kent | More Info: Holiday Tree Lighting & Parade - Kent Town Square Park
Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
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 classic displays like the giant Pacific octopus and Flame Tree, along with festive treats and animal encounters.
Where: Tacoma | More Info: Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
The Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach Camp
What to Expect:
Spectacular drive-thru light display with creative activities.
Description:
The Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach Camp features over a million lights, creative displays, and two activity stops, making it a memorable holiday experience for all ages.
Where: Stanwood | More Info: The Lights of Christmas at Warm Beach Camp
Village of Lights in Leavenworth
What to Expect:
Daily light display with live entertainment and festive activities.
Description:
Leavenworth's Village of Lights features over half a million lights illuminating the Bavarian Alpine Village, accompanied by live music, choirs, carolers, and festive activities like gingerbread house exhibitions and Santa photos.
Where: Leavenworth | More Info: Village of Lights in Leavenworth
Kent Holiday Markets and Shopping
Pike Place Market Holiday Festival
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with live music and handmade crafts.
Description:
The Pike Place Market Holiday Festival is a vibrant celebration featuring holiday music, artist demos, and best handmade gift shopping, creating a memorable holiday experience.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Pike Place Market Holiday Festival
Luminary Walk - City of Kenmore
What to Expect:
Community-driven holiday market with live music and charitable food drive.
Description:
The Luminary Walk in Kenmore features a holiday market with local vendors, live music performances by local school groups, and a food drive to support local families. Enjoy free hot cider while shopping and bring non-perishable items for donation.
Where: Kenmore | More Info: Luminary Walk - City of Kenmore
Giving Marketplace at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
What to Expect:
Unique gifts supporting diverse causes with family-friendly activities.
Description:
The Giving Marketplace at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation offers unique gifts from dozens of vendors, supporting various causes like immigrants, refugees, women, 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 at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Kent Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Snowflake Lane
What to Expect:
Complimentary holiday parade with falling snow and dazzling lights.
Description:
Snowflake Lane is a complimentary nightly parade featuring toy drummers, dancers, and holiday floats, accompanied by dazzling lights and falling snow. The event takes place on the sidewalks between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square, with nightly performances at 7 pm.
Where: Bellevue | More Info: Snowflake Lane
Christmas Ship Festival
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday cruise with live choir performances and festive decorations.
Description:
The 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, a community choir performance, and a reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. The event also includes a full-service bar with specialty cocktails and local beverages.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Christmas Ship Festival
Polar Express at Mt. Rainier Railroad
What to Expect:
Classic children's book adaptation with live performances and Santa's visit.
Description:
Embark on a nostalgic journey to the North Pole aboard the Polar Express, where children and adults alike will relive the classic story through live performances, hot chocolate, and a special visit from Santa.
Where: Chehalis | More Info: Polar Express at Mt. Rainier Railroad
Seattle Center New Year’s Eve
What to Expect:
High-energy live music and a unique Fountain of Light show.
Description:
Seattle Center's New Year's Eve celebration features live music by the Blue Wave band, a Fountain of Light dance party with DJ Baby Van Beezley, and a pyrotechnic extravaganza at the Space Needle. The event offers entertainment and festivities across the grounds, including food and event services at the Armory.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Seattle Center New Year’s Eve
Argosy Christmas Ship Festival
What to Expect:
Family-friendly holiday cruise with onboard choir performances and festive decorations.
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, a community choir performance, and a reading of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. The event also includes a full-service bar with specialty cocktails and local beverages.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Argosy Christmas Ship Festival
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 intricate lighting design by James F. Ingalls.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Pacific Northwest Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Kent Other Holiday Activities
Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton Grand Seattle
What to Expect:
Unique gingerbread creations by local architects and chefs.
Description:
The Sheraton Grand Seattle's Gingerbread Village features 6ft tall gingerbread structures crafted by top local architecture firms and Sheraton chefs, benefiting type 1 diabetes research.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Gingerbread Village at the Sheraton Grand Seattle
Ice-Skating at Bellevue Downtown Park
What to Expect:
Unique outdoor ice-skating experience with themed nights and free skate lessons.
Description:
The Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink is an outdoor ice-skating arena featuring over 9,000 square feet of real ice, themed nights, on-site concessions, and free parking. Visitors can enjoy free skate lessons for all ages on select evenings, making it a perfect memory-making activity for families and friends.
Where: Bellevue | More Info: Ice-Skating at Bellevue Downtown Park
Festival of Trees - City of Mill Creek
What to Expect:
Interactive holiday experience with hidden 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. Find all four critters—Olive the Owl, Betula the Bunny, Sal the Squirrel, and Rata the Reindeer—to enter a contest for fantastic prizes.
Where: Mill Creek | More Info: Festival of Trees - City of Mill Creek
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Auburn (5 miles)
- Federal Way (5 miles)
- Renton (7 miles)
- Burien (8 miles)
- Tacoma (13 miles)
- Bellevue (16 miles)
- Seattle (16 miles)
- South Hill (17 miles)
- Sammamish (19 miles)
- Lakewood (20 miles)
- Kirkland (21 miles)
- Redmond (21 miles)
- Shoreline (26 miles)
- Lacey (37 miles)
- Olympia (39 miles)
- Everett (41 miles)