Where to Find Seattle Christmas Lights in 2026

October 20, 2020

By Caitlin Kernan · Last updated: October 2026


Seattle does the holidays with a lot of light. From zoo lantern trails to a whole street that decorates together, here are the best places to see Christmas lights in Seattle and on the Eastside this season, with 2026 dates, locations, and a few tips to help you plan. We light hundreds of Seattle homes every season, so at the end we’ve also shared what our installers notice about the displays that really stand out.


Quick list: Seattle Christmas lights 2026


  • WildLanterns: Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle. Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027
  • Winterfest: Seattle Center. Nov 27 – Dec 31, 2026
  • Magic in the Market: Pike Place Market. Sat, Nov 28, 2026
  • Garden d’Lights: Bellevue Botanical Garden. Nov 28, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
  • Snowflake Lane: Bellevue Way, Bellevue. Nightly, Nov 27 – Dec 24, 2026
  • Redmond Lights: Downtown Park, Redmond. Kickoff Sat, Dec 5, 2026; through Jan 4, 2027
  • Christmas Ship Festival: Lake Union and Puget Sound. Nov 27 – Dec 23, 2026
  • Candy Cane Lane: NE Park Road, Ravenna. December (2026 dates to be announced)
  • ZooLights: Point Defiance Zoo, Tacoma. Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
  • Village of Lights: Leavenworth. Christmastown Nov 27 – Dec 24, 2026


Seattle’s biggest holiday light displays


WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo


WildLanterns fills Woodland Park Zoo with giant illuminated lanterns shaped like animals, from the rainforest to the savanna. It’s one of the most popular holiday light events in Seattle, especially for families.


  • Dates: November 13, 2026 through January 17, 2027, 4 to 9 p.m. Closed on a number of nights, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so check the calendar before you go.
  • Where: Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle
  • Tickets: On sale now at zoo.org/wildlanterns, with an early-purchase discount through October 31. Weekends sell out first.
  • Tip: Look for the themed nights: Night Owls (21+) on November 20, December 18 and January 2, and the Holiday Senior Stroll on November 22.


Downtown Seattle tree lighting


The Downtown Seattle Association’s Tree Lighting Celebration kicks off the season downtown. In 2025 it was held the Friday after Thanksgiving at Westlake Center. The 2026 date and location are to be announced at downtownseattle.org.

Pike Place Market: Magic in the Market


Pike Place Market’s iconic neon sign glows even brighter in December, with garland and lights through the arcades. The best day to go is Magic in the Market, the Market’s annual holiday celebration (its 31st year in 2026), with Santa, cookie decorating, and the Market lighting ceremony.


  • Date: Saturday, November 28, 2026, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Where: Pike Place Market, 85 Pike St, Seattle
  • Tip: Visit in the early evening, when vendors are still open and the lights have just come on.

Winterfest at Seattle Center


Seattle Center’s Winterfest is a free holiday tradition with a model train village, ice sculpting, and a campus full of lights below the Space Needle.


  • Dates: November 27 through December 31, 2026. Ice sculptors carve on Saturdays at noon, and the Winter Train & Village is in the Armory daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Where: Seattle Center, 305 Harrison St, Seattle
  • Tip: Pair it with the Seattle Christmas Market, which runs on the Seattle Center campus (see our Seattle Christmas markets guide).

Eastside holiday lights: Bellevue, Redmond and beyond


Garden d’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden


Lights shaped into flowers, plants and animals, set throughout the garden. It’s one of the most-loved holiday light displays on the Eastside.


  • Dates: November 28, 2026 through January 3, 2027 (closed Christmas Day)
  • Where: Bellevue Botanical Garden, 12001 Main St, Bellevue
  • Tickets: On sale now, online only, at bellevuebotanical.org. Tickets are for a 30-minute entry window, so book early. Kids 10 and under are free, and a few early-December weeknights are discounted.


Snowflake Lane in Bellevue


A free nightly parade of lights, drummers, dancers and “snowfall” along Bellevue Way. It’s a longtime Bellevue holiday tradition.


  • Dates: Nightly at 7 p.m., November 27 through December 24, 2026
  • Where: Bellevue Way NE between NE 4th and NE 8th St, Bellevue
  • Tip: Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early for a curbside spot.


Redmond Lights


Redmond’s free winter celebration lights up Downtown Park with art installations, a lantern trail, performances and snowfall effects.


  • Kickoff: Saturday, December 5, 2026, 4 to 8 p.m.
  • Where: Downtown Park, Redmond
  • After the kickoff: The lights stay up to visit through January 4, 2027.


Neighborhood gems: where locals go


Candy Cane Lane (Ravenna)


No Seattle holiday lights list is complete without Candy Cane Lane. For about 75 years, neighbors on NE Park Road have decorated together, and on select nights the street closes to cars so families can walk through.


  • When: Usually early December through New Year’s Day. The 2026 dates and pedestrian-only nights are to be announced on the Candy Cane Lane Facebook page.
  • Tip: Go on a weeknight before Christmas week, when it’s less crowded.


Madison Park and Capitol Hill


Tree-lined streets and historic homes with elegant, tasteful lighting. Take a slow drive or a walk around Volunteer Park and the side streets off Madison Street.


Queen Anne


The north side of Queen Anne mixes historic and modern homes, and the hilltop views of the city lights below make it feel extra festive.


Magnolia


Quiet, family-friendly streets with larger lots, which gives homeowners room for bigger displays.


West Seattle


Around Alki and the Admiral District, some homes near the water add a nautical touch. The view across Elliott Bay to the downtown skyline is a bonus.

Holiday lights on the water: the Christmas Ship Festival


Argosy Cruises’ Christmas Ship Festival is one of Seattle’s oldest holiday traditions. Decorated boats sail to waterfront parks with choirs on board.


  • Season: November 27 through December 23, 2026, starting with Opening Night from Pier 55
  • Parade of Boats: Friday, December 11, 2026, on Lake Union through the Fremont Cut
  • Grand Finale: Wednesday, December 23, 2026, with free viewing from Gas Works Park
  • Tip: You can ride along on a follow boat, or watch for free from a shore stop. The full 2026 schedule is posted at argosycruises.com.


Worth the drive


ZooLights at Point Defiance Zoo (Tacoma)


  • Dates: November 27, 2026 through January 3, 2027, 4:30 to 10 p.m. Closed December 24 and 25.
  • Tickets: Timed online tickets required at pdza.org. Peak nights sell out.


Village of Lights in Leavenworth


The whole Bavarian village lights up for the season, with Christmastown events on weekends.


  • Christmastown: November 27 through December 24, 2026
  • Lights: On from Thanksgiving through February
  • Tip: Check pass conditions on Stevens Pass before you drive.

What our installers notice: high-end vs. cheap


Our crews hang lights on hundreds of Seattle homes every season, and on every drive we see the same thing: the displays that stop you aren’t always the biggest. They’re the most carefully installed. Here’s what to look for while you’re out.


What makes a display look cheap


  • Mixed light colors. Warm white next to cool white, or warm white mixed with multicolor, on the same house.
  • Mixed bulb sizes along the same roofline.
  • Installation that isn’t meticulous. At night, every strand that drifts off its line and every loose clip shows.
  • Burnt-out bulbs left in place.
  • Department-store strands pulled out of a box and stretched to fit.


What makes a display look high-end


  • Outlined rooflines, windows and doors.
  • Lit trees, and lights along fences.
  • A color plan made for your home: its style, its paint color, and the holiday colors you love.
  • A design made for your house rather than whatever fits out of the box.



Make your home one of the best displays on the block


Inspired? Your home can be the house everyone slows down for this year.


Seattle Holiday Lights designs, installs, maintains, takes down and stores custom holiday lighting for more than 200 homes across Seattle and the Eastside every season. Here’s how it works:


  • Free design consultation. We plan a display around your home and how you want it to look from the street.
  • Custom-fit installation. Lights are fitted to your roofline with clips that are gentle on your home, with no dangling cords.
  • Season-long maintenance. If a light goes out, we fix it.
  • Takedown and storage. After the holidays we take everything down and store it until next year.
  • Leased lights. Nothing to buy and nothing to store in your garage.


We’ve been lighting Seattle homes since 2013, and we’re part of All Covered Painting, so our crew is licensed, insured, and backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.


Get a free quote or call or text (206) 682-7110.

Frequently asked questions


When do Christmas lights go up in Seattle?

Most big displays open between mid-November and the weekend after Thanksgiving. In 2026, WildLanterns opens November 13, Winterfest opens November 27, and Garden d’Lights opens November 28.


What are the best free Christmas lights in Seattle?

Candy Cane Lane in Ravenna, Winterfest at Seattle Center, Snowflake Lane in Bellevue, and Redmond Lights are all free. You can also watch the Christmas Ship Festival for free from shore.


Where can I see Christmas lights on the Eastside?

Garden d’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden, Snowflake Lane on Bellevue Way, and Redmond Lights at Downtown Park are the three biggest Eastside displays.


When should I book professional Christmas light installation in Seattle?

September and October give you the most choice of install dates. See When Should You Book Christmas Light Installation in Seattle?


Book your free design consultation today and secure your spot for the 2026 holiday season.

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