Washington Christmas lights worth the drive

A covered real ice rink in the middle of the lights. Skating is extra.

From Salish Lodge into the historic downtown. Tree lighting Sat Dec 5. Parking is free.

Now mostly a walk. Drive through only nights are Dec 3, 10 and 17, $20 a car. Buy tickets ahead; none are sold at the gate.

Opening night celebration Fri Dec 4, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Christmas Ship stops here Dec 4 at 8:20 p.m.

One of two nights a year the museum opens after dark. Bring a flashlight and come early: the free hot chocolate ran out last year.

The tree lights at Centennial Plaza, 5th and Bell, 3 to 5 p.m., with Santa at 4. The free trolley runs 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and comes by every 30 minutes, so hop on and off around downtown.

Tacoma City Theaters lights the tree, with a free open house in the Pantages lobby. New this year: a low sensory Santa visit.

Skate under more than 35,000 lights at the county's ice rink. Pair it with Fantasy Lights next door at Spanaway Park.

The old railroad bridge over the Dungeness River, lit up for seven weeks.

Light art in the woods of the sculpture park. Wintertide lantern night is Dec 12, tickets required.

The Port Angeles Waterfront District lights the downtown tree on Small Business Weekend. Light Art in Webster's Woods is lit the same evening, so make it a double.

Main Street's season starts on Small Business Saturday, with lights and decorations downtown all winter. The community tree is lit during Mega Merriment; its 2026 date isn't posted yet.

The free Holiday Lighting Ceremony on the 7 Cedars Hotel patio Nov 21 has live music and carolers. 90 minute light tours run twice daily Nov 26 to Dec 30 with cocoa and a keepsake; tickets go on sale Nov 1 on the 7 Cedars website only.

Part of Mason County's Festival of the Firs. Shelton set a Guinness record for the most lit Christmas trees in 2019.

Nordic Market from 10 a.m. and Taste of Norway from 11. At dusk, usually 5 to 6 p.m., Vikings parade with torches, Lucia comes ashore by boat and the bonfire is lit. Parking fills up, so come early.

Holiday markets from 3 to 8 p.m., free photos with Santa 3 to 6, lighted boat displays at the marina and an evening holiday march. A shuttle runs from Port Orchard Ford.

Boats leave the yacht club at 5, pass downtown Poulsbo about 5:15, Keyport about 5:55 and Suquamish Dock about 7:25, and are back by 8:50. From Nov 27 to Dec 11 you can request a Santa greeting, shouted from the water to someone on shore. Weather can cut the route short.

Boats have left the yacht club around 6 p.m. in past years. Many are lit on one side only, so watch from the east side as they head north.

Opening night brings lighted vehicles, activity booths, food vendors, a holiday petting zoo and Santa, and the Candy Cane Switch lights the park at 5:30. After that the lights stay on nightly, with a show synced to your car radio.

Lights, an ice rink and free rides, including the Wonder Wheel.

Santa rides in on an antique fire engine about 1:30, the tree lights at 4:45, and the Lighted Tractor Cruise leaves Sequim High School at 5.

Times and the evening lineup are still to come from the city parks department.

Festivities start at 5 near Reflection Plaza, the parade rolls down Main Street at 6, and the tree lighting follows.

Tree lighting Sun Dec 6 at 5 p.m.; the lighted parade is Sat Dec 5. Last year it ended with fireworks.

A tree stacked from about 160 crab pots. Fireworks last year, and it stays lit through New Year's.

The town tree lighting kicks off the season on the peninsula.

Opens Thursday, Dec 10 with a walk through only night, then drive through every night after. More than a mile of displays, right off I-5.

The 17th annual festival has a parade, a tree lighting, Santa photos and food, a few minutes off I-5.

A daytime parade, then the tree lighting right after at the Lewis County Historical Museum.

Arrive early for parking. Pair it with Borst Park's drive through.

Cash only.

A night parade in the Gorge. Pair it with the Skamania Lodge light walk.

Carolers, the tree lighting, Santa photos and alpacas, plus the Sip and Sparkle wine walk on Sat Dec 5, 4 to 7 p.m. ($35 presale).

Decorated homes stay lit until after 10 p.m. Soup and cocoa after at the old Masonic Lodge.

The tree lighting caps Ridgefield's Hometown Celebration, held the first Saturday of December.

Lit with the Columbia Chorale on Holiday Kickoff weekend. Holiday market Nov 27 to 29, and Santa arrives at noon Saturday.

Choir at 6, Santa arrives at 6:15 and the lights come on about 6:20. Santa's Village runs until 8.

The tree is lit about 5 p.m., with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Always the first Saturday of December.

A lighted parade, then the tree lighting at City Park with cocoa and carols.

Lighted Christmas trucks about 6, then Santa, live entertainment and free hot cocoa as downtown lights its big tree.

Started by a Girl Scout in 2021. Park at Browns Park.

The program starts at 6. Santa, cocoa and cookies, then storytime in the library.

Tree lighting and fireworks downtown.