Last updated: November 11, 2024
Get excited for the holidays in Lakewood! Our guide has everything you need for a festive season. For those who call Lakewood home and those just visiting, this guide showcases the city's festive charm.
Popular events abound in Lakewood during the holiday season. One notable attraction is the enchanting Fantasy Lights, where dazzling displays illuminate the night. In addition, the Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker captivates audiences with its timeless story and breathtaking choreography. And don’t forget, Enchant Christmas brings a whimsical experience with its stunning light maze and holiday market that are bound to delight visitors of all ages. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
Contact information and details below.
Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium transforms into a colorful winter spectacle with over a million LED lights, featuring giant animals, tunnels of lights, and festive treats. Enjoy a stroll through the illuminated zoo, meet playful goats in holiday coats, and experience the classic holiday tradition.
Where: Tacoma | More Info: Zoolights
Largest drive-through holiday light display in the Northwest.
Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park features nearly 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights along a 2-mile drive, creating a memorable holiday experience for all ages.
Where: Spanaway | More Info: Fantasy Lights
Dazzling light art installations and live performances.
The Tacoma Light Trail is a free winter festival of light art in downtown Tacoma, featuring outdoor performances, dragon parades, lumens concerts, a lighted bike ride, and illuminated art throughout the city.
Where: Tacoma | More Info: 2023 Tacoma Light Trail
Annual parade with over 7,000 attendees viewing holiday-themed floats.
The Holiday Parade of Lights in Lakewood Towne Center features holiday floats constructed by local businesses, clubs, and organizations. Visitors can view Christmas lights, holiday decorations, costumes, and props. The event includes Santa photos, food trucks, and roaming entertainment starting at 4 p.m.
Where: Lakewood | More Info: Holiday Parade of Lights
Story-driven light maze with interactive elements.
Enchant Christmas is an award-winning holiday light maze experience featuring stunning, custom-designed light sculptures, unique ice skating experiences, and various festive attractions. The event includes light mazes based on original holiday stories, an ice skating trail, seasonal food and drink, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and more.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Enchant Christmas
Unique holiday shopping experience with local vendors.
A Victorian Country Christmas is a holiday event featuring unique shopping, festive entertainment, and a variety of musical acts. Attendees can find unique gifts, holiday decor, and handmade arts and crafts. The event includes a Santa area where children can meet Santa Claus and take a first-class picture. It also supports local businesses with an interactive vendor list.
Where: Puyallup | More Info: A Victorian Country Christmas
Diverse selection of local artisan crafts and community-driven activities.
The PhinneyWood Winter Festival & Crafts Fair is a vibrant celebration of creativity, featuring over 140 local vendors showcasing artisan crafts, jewelry, pottery, and home goods. This event is more than just shopping; it's about building connections and fostering community while supporting local artists and nonprofit initiatives.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Winter Festival & Crafts Fair
Unique, handmade geek goods by local crafters and makers.
GeekCraft Expo Seattle Holiday Market is a curated market featuring handmade geek goods by local crafters and makers. It offers a unique shopping experience with a wide variety of unique, handmade items that are perfect for geeks and fans of superheroes, gaming, and other geeky interests. The event includes free kids' crafting activities and encourages cosplay.
Where: Seattle | More Info: GeekCraft Expo Seattle Holiday Market
Unique gifts supporting various causes with family-friendly activities.
The Giving Marketplace at the Gates Discovery Center offers unique gifts from dozens of vendors, with proceeds supporting immigrants and refugees, women and girls, global health, education, and the environment. Enjoy family-friendly holiday activities and performances while discovering ways to take action on issues you care about.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Giving Marketplace
Embrace darkness and connect with nature through seasonal festivities.
Celebrate the Winter Solstice at Lakewold Gardens with live music, dramatic readings, art activities, and warm beverages in the festively decorated Wagner House.
Where: Lakewold Gardens | More Info: Solstice Lights
World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
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 and dazzling scenery, making it a highlight of the holiday season.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Pacific Northwest Ballet's The Nutcracker
Powerhouse pianist Chloe Flower joins the orchestra for a dazzling holiday program.
Join the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall for a dazzling holiday concert featuring pianist Chloe Flower. This special program promises an unforgettable evening of music and celebration.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Holiday Pops
Immersive Christ-centered experience with over 500 crèches and daily live musical performances.
The Bellevue Festival of the Nativity is a free, Christ-centered celebration featuring hundreds of crèches from around the world, live musical performances, children’s activities, and a life-size replica of the inn at Bethlehem.
Where: Bellevue | More Info: Festival of the Nativity
Soulful retelling of the Christmas story with a city-wide gospel choir and audience sing-along.
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, accompanied by a live band and a city-wide gospel choir. The show combines Hughes' poetry with gospel renditions of beloved carols, offering audiences the chance to sing along.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Black Nativity
Guided snowshoe walks with park rangers.
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
Designer holiday trees benefiting pediatric patient care and autism services.
The Festival of Trees Display at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel features beautifully designed holiday trees, each with an inspiring story of a Seattle Children's patient. Visitors can view the trees and learn about the beneficiaries, including the Uncompensated Care Fund and the Autism Center at Seattle Children's Hospital.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Festival of Trees Display
Fundraising event supporting arthritis research.
The Jingle Bell Run is a charity event where participants wear holiday gear and run to raise funds and awareness for arthritis research. It includes various distances and activities, such as a 12K run, 5K timed and untimed runs, a 1-mile walk, and a kids' fun run.
Where: Seattle | More Info: Jingle Bell Run
