Experience the thrill of the holidays in Lacey! Our guide highlights all the top festive events and activities. For both locals and visitors, our guide unlocks the festive spirit of Lacey.
Kick off the season with the Olympia Christmas Parade, a parade featuring festive floats and performances that ignite the holiday spirit. Discover unique crafts and gifts at the Thurston County Holiday Bazaar, offering handcrafted treasures perfect for gift-giving. And the Yelm Christmas in the Park is something you definitely don't want to miss, with family-friendly activities and holiday cheer. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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The Top Christmas Events in Lacey
See these and even more events listed below!Lacey Holiday Light Displays
Lacey Lighted Parade
What to Expect:
Combines parade with tree lighting and fireworks
Description:
Lacey's Lighted Parade illuminates the night with a procession of glowing floats and costumed performers. The event crescendos with the lighting of the city's grand Christmas tree, followed by a spectacular fireworks display. Spectators line the streets, their faces aglow with the passing lights. You can warm up with hot cocoa from local vendors as you watch the show. This relatively new tradition, started in the early 2000s, has quickly become a cornerstone of Lacey's holiday celebrations, uniting the community in a dazzling display of seasonal spirit.
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Lacey Holiday Markets and Shopping
Thurston County Holiday Bazaar
What to Expect:
Showcases local artisans and craftspeople
Description:
The Thurston County Holiday Bazaar spotlights the region's talented artisans and craftspeople. Stalls brim with handcrafted jewelry, pottery, textiles, and seasonal decorations, offering a treasure trove of unique gifts. The air fills with the aroma of freshly baked goods and local delicacies. Visitors can participate in craft demonstrations to learn traditional techniques. This event has roots in the area's rich history of supporting local makers, dating back to the early 20th century. The bazaar embodies the community's commitment to preserving and celebrating local craftsmanship.
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Thurston County Holiday Bazaar
Lacey Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Focuses on international holiday traditions and goods
Description:
Lacey's Holiday Market celebrates global holiday traditions, offering a unique shopping experience. Stalls feature handcrafted goods and traditional foods from various cultures, reflecting the area's diverse community. The air hums with multilingual holiday greetings and international music. Visitors can participate in workshops on global holiday customs, from making Swedish straw ornaments to folding Japanese origami decorations. This market, established in the early 2000s, has grown to become a celebration of Lacey's multicultural heritage, fostering understanding and appreciation among community members.
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Lacey Holiday Giving Opportunities
Festival of Trees
What to Expect:
Combines tree decorating competition with gala fundraiser
Description:
The Festival of Trees elevates holiday decorating to an art form. Local designers and organizations compete to create the most stunning and innovative tree displays, pushing the boundaries of traditional decor. Visitors marvel at the intricate details and creative themes adorning each tree. You can vote for your favorite in the people's choice competition. The event culminates in a black-tie gala and auction, where the trees are sold to raise funds for local charities. This festival, a tradition for over two decades, has become a premier holiday event, blending creativity with community support.
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Nearby Events
Olympia Christmas Parade (Olympia)
What to Expect:
Largest holiday parade in the state capital
Description:
Olympia's streets transform into a dazzling spectacle during the state capital's largest holiday parade. Elaborately decorated floats, marching bands, and costumed characters wind through downtown, captivating spectators with their vibrant displays. You can join the crowd in singing classic carols as the procession passes by. This beloved tradition dates back to 1948, showcasing the community's enduring holiday spirit. The parade culminates with Santa's grand arrival, heralding the official start of the season in Olympia.
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Yelm Christmas in the Park (Yelm)
What to Expect:
Small-town charm with a focus on community togetherness
Description:
Yelm's Christmas in the Park embodies small-town charm and community spirit. The event transforms the local park into a cozy gathering place, complete with twinkling lights and rustic decorations. Families huddle around fire pits, sharing stories and roasting marshmallows. You can join in creating ornaments at the craft station, using materials sourced from local forests. This celebration harkens back to Yelm's logging town roots, honoring its heritage while fostering new holiday memories for generations to come.
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Tumwater Christmas Tree Lighting (Tumwater)
What to Expect:
Combines tree lighting with historical brewery tour
Description:
Tumwater's Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony intertwines holiday cheer with local history. The event kicks off with a guided tour of the historic Olympia Brewing Company site, illuminating the town's brewing legacy. As dusk falls, attention shifts to the towering evergreen, adorned with thousands of lights. The switch flips, bathing the area in a warm glow. Visitors can sample local craft beers inspired by century-old recipes. This unique celebration pays homage to Tumwater's past while embracing its present, creating a truly distinctive holiday experience.
Website:
Tumwater Christmas Tree Lighting
Capital High School Winter Concert (Olympia)
What to Expect:
Showcases student talent across multiple musical genres
Description:
Capital High School's Winter Concert showcases the diverse musical talents of its students. The program spans classical orchestral pieces to contemporary pop arrangements, demonstrating the breadth of the school's music education. Audience members are treated to the soaring voices of the choir and the precise harmonies of the jazz ensemble. You can marvel at the students' skill during solo performances. This annual event has launched many musical careers since the school's founding in 1975, serving as a stepping stone for young artists in the Olympia community.
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Capital High School Winter Concert
Jingle Bell Run (Olympia)
What to Expect:
Combines fitness with fundraising for arthritis research
Description:
The Jingle Bell Run in Olympia merges holiday cheer with fitness and philanthropy. Participants don festive attire and jingle bells as they dash through a 5K course, raising funds for arthritis research. The sound of jingling bells fills the air as runners make their way through the city streets. You can join in the "Reindeer Games" warm-up exercises before the race. This event, part of a nationwide series, has been uniting the Olympia community in the fight against arthritis for over a decade, embodying the spirit of giving during the holiday season.
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Olympia Farmers Market Holiday Swag (Olympia)
What to Expect:
Focuses on locally sourced, sustainable holiday decorations
Description:
The Olympia Farmers Market Holiday Swag event celebrates sustainable, locally sourced holiday decorations. Vendors offer handcrafted wreaths, garlands, and centerpieces made from materials gathered in nearby forests and farms. The scent of fresh pine and cedar permeates the air. Visitors can learn eco-friendly decorating techniques from local artisans. This event reflects Olympia's long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship, a value that has shaped the community since the early environmental movement of the 1970s. The market transforms into a hub of green holiday cheer, promoting conscious celebration.
Website:
Olympia Farmers Market Holiday Swag
Christmas Forest (Olympia)
What to Expect:
Combines tree display with silent auction for charity
Description:
The Christmas Forest event transforms a local venue into a grove of uniquely decorated trees. Each tree, adorned by local businesses and organizations, tells a story through its ornaments and theme. Visitors meander through the display, admiring the creativity and craftsmanship. You can bid on your favorite trees in a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting local charities. This event, running for over three decades, has become a cornerstone of holiday philanthropy in the area. The Christmas Forest embodies the community's spirit of giving, turning holiday decor into a force for positive change.