Christmas Lights in Vancouver, WA: 2026 Displays, Dates and Cocoa Stops

Top photo courtesy Christmas Ships Parade.

Last verified: October 28, 2026. Every date below was checked against the organizer or a current listing, and anything not yet posted for 2026 says so. We recheck through December.

Clark County doesn’t have a big ticketed light park. What it has is better spread out: the Christmas Ships on the Columbia, two blocks of Franklin Street where 14 homes light 300,000 bulbs, a snowfall machine in downtown Camas, and a city run map of Battle Ground’s best decorated homes. Most of it is free.

The trouble is that the pages that come up first mix in Vancouver, British Columbia, lead with Portland, or still carry last year’s dates. This one is the Washington side, 2026 edition: where the lights are, when, what it costs, and where to get something hot afterward. Dates marked 2026 come from the organizer. Where an organizer hasn’t posted yet, we give last year’s schedule and say so, and we’ll update this page as dates land.

The short version

• The opening night: the Vancouver Community Tree Lighting, Friday, Nov 27, 2026, when the Christmas Ships escort Santa’s tugboat to the waterfront.
• The Christmas Ships from the Washington shore: nine nights between Dec 3 and Dec 18, 2026, all free.
• The neighborhood show: Christmas on Franklin, 4616 NW Franklin St, lights and music nightly Nov 28 to Dec 30, 5 to 10 p.m.
• Small town nights: Washougal Dec 3, Camas and Battle Ground Dec 4, Ridgefield Dec 5.
• A real light walk: Skamania Lodge in Stevenson, about 45 minutes east, free and nightly from Nov 27.

Vancouver

Vancouver Community Tree Lighting

The Rotary Club of Vancouver’s tree lighting is Friday, Nov 27, 2026, per the Christmas Ships schedule and Visit Vancouver USA. Santa arrives at the waterfront by tugboat with the Christmas Ships as escort, a lighted vehicle parade carries him to Esther Short Park, and the tree is lit. Esther Short Park activities start at 3 p.m., and the Vancouver Holiday Market opens inside the Hilton on 6th Street. Santa and Mrs. Claus land at the waterfront by the AC Marriott at 5:45, the light parade leaves at 6, and the tree is lit at 6:30. There are carriage rides on 6th Street, and ASL interpretation on the main stage. It’s free; some city lots near the park ask a $5 parking donation.

Christmas on Franklin

On two blocks of NW Franklin Street, 14 homes put up 300,000 lights with music. It runs nightly Nov 28 to Dec 30, 5 to 10 p.m. The main house is at 4616 NW Franklin St, an address the owners publish themselves. There are snowfall nights and Santa visits on December weekends. It’s free, with a donation bin on the fence, and the display has run a food drive for FISH of Vancouver.

Park on the neighborhood streets or in the school lot on Franklin after school hours. If you’re driving by, pull over to look rather than stopping in the street.

More in Vancouver

• Grand Menorah Lighting: the Chabad Jewish Center lights a 19 foot menorah at the Vancouver Waterfront, with ice carving and gelt dropped for kids. Hanukkah runs Dec 4 to 12 this year, so the date moves from last year’s Dec 14; the 2026 lighting isn’t posted yet. Free.
• Uptown Village Tree Lighting: at Main St Church, 1812 Main St, with a “Biker Santa” and the Northwest Harmony Chorus. The 2026 date isn’t posted.
• Christmas lights on 96th Street: an east Vancouver home show synced to music on 89.7 FM, promoted by its owners on Facebook.

The Christmas Ships from the Washington side

The Christmas Ships Parade is an all volunteer flotilla of decorated boats on the Columbia and Willamette. It’s free to watch, and the organizer has already posted 2026. These are the nights that pass the Washington shore:

Date (2026)	Route	Time
Fri, Nov 27	Santa escort to the Vancouver Waterfront (Grant Street Pier)	4 to 5 p.m.
Thu, Dec 3	Combined fleet, Gleason Boat Ramp to the Vancouver Waterfront	7 to 9 p.m.
Sat, Dec 5	Combined fleet at Camas and Washougal, then back along the Washington side	6 to 8:30 p.m.
Mon, Dec 7	Columbia fleet to Washington Shores and Wintler Park	7 to 9 p.m.
Tue, Dec 8	Columbia fleet, staying on the Washington side to I-205, Steamboat Landing and SE 164th	7 to 9 p.m.
Fri, Dec 11	Columbia fleet to the Vancouver Waterfront and Hayden Bay	7 to 9 p.m.
Sat, Dec 12	From St. Helens City Docks to Columbia City and the Washington shoreline	6 to 8 p.m.
Wed, Dec 16	Columbia fleet to the Vancouver Waterfront and Hayden Bay	7 to 9 p.m.
Thu, Dec 17	Columbia fleet to I-205, Steamboat Landing and 164th	listed 7 to 8 p.m.
Fri, Dec 18	Columbia fleet to Washington Shores and Wintler Park	7 to 9 p.m.

On Dec 11 the organizer estimates the boats at Surprise Beach about 7:30, Grant Street Pier about 7:50, the Holiday Inn about 8:15 and Hayden Bay about 8:30.

Where to watch: Rotary Way west of I-5; for Dec 5, the Port of Camas Washougal at 24 S A St, Washougal Waterfront Park or Steamboat Landing Park. If you’d rather be warm, The Cove, Hotel Indigo on the waterfront and McMenamins on the Columbia are viewing spots the organizer names.

Weather, debris and river traffic can change the schedule. One 2025 night was canceled for debris, so check the Christmas Ships site the afternoon you go.

Camas and Washougal

• Washougal Lighted Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting: Thursday, Dec 3, 2026, at Reflection Plaza, 1703 Main St. Festivities at 5 p.m., the parade at 6, the tree lighting right after, then carols with the high school choir. Free cookies and cocoa. Santa has pet allergies, so leave the dog home for the photo line.
• Camas Hometown Holidays: Friday, Dec 4, 2026, 5 to 8 p.m., downtown on NE 4th Avenue. The tree is lit at 5, then machine made snow falls on the street. Last year there were live reindeer and free shuttles from nearby lots. Shops stay open late.

Battle Ground, Ridgefield and the north county

• Battle Ground Holiday Tree Lighting: Friday, Dec 4, 2026, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Battle Ground Event Center, 912 E Main St. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at 6 with the fire district and police, and the tree is lit at 6:15. This is its 37th year. Free.
• Battle of Lights: Battle Ground’s home decorating contest, with a city published map for a self guided driving tour. The 2026 contest hasn’t opened yet.
• Ridgefield Hometown Celebration: Saturday, Dec 5, 2026, with the tree lit at Overlook Park at 4:30 p.m. Last year the day also had a vendor market, Santa at the Old Liberty Theater and a free hayride. The Lions’ Circle of Trees stays lit in the park afterward.
• Candy Cane Lane, Ridgefield: the Bella Noche neighborhood on N 34th Court decorates 34 homes. Last year’s featured night was a Sunday in early December, 5 to 8 p.m. Free.
• La Center Christmas Festival: Dec 4 to 6, 2026, with the lighted parade Saturday, Dec 5 (time to come) and the tree lighting Sunday, Dec 6, at 5 p.m. Last year it was the only Clark County tree lighting we found that ended with fireworks: the lighted parade was Saturday, Dec 6, and the festival Sunday, Dec 7, with the tree and fireworks at 5 p.m.
• Hockinson Community Tree Lighting: Santa arrives by fire truck at Hockinson Community Church. Last year it was Friday, Dec 5, with the tree lit at 6:30 p.m.
• Yacolt Tree Lighting: at Town Square, with free cocoa, cider and cookies. Last year it was Saturday, Dec 6.

Worth the drive

• Skamania Lodge Holiday Light Walk, Stevenson: a free light trail that winds through the Douglas firs, into the meadow and past the Treehouse Village. No tickets or reservations. In 2026 it runs nightly from Friday, Nov 27, 5 to 9 p.m.; the end date isn’t posted yet. Last year it had a light up Sasquatch. It’s the closest true light walk to Clark County.

Across the river

If you’re willing to cross into Oregon: ZooLights at the Oregon Zoo runs Nov 20, 2026 to Jan 3, 2027, with tickets sold in advance. Winter Wonderland at Portland International Raceway is the drive through, Nov 27 to Dec 31, 2026, priced per car. Peacock Lane in Southeast Portland lights up Dec 15 to 31, 2026, with walking only nights on Dec 15 and 16.

Where to get something hot afterward

Call ahead in December, because holiday hours change.

• After the tree lighting or the waterfront: Brewed Cafe and Pub, 603 Main St, four blocks from Esther Short Park, open until 9 p.m. Thursday to Saturday.
• After Franklin Street: Latte da Coffeehouse and Wine Bar, 205 E 39th St, about five minutes away, open until 9 p.m. daily.
• After Camas: Camas Market and Bakery, 2940 NE Everett St, a few minutes north of downtown, open until 7 p.m.
• After Battle Ground: Pink Cloud Creamery, 602 E Main St, three blocks from the Event Center, open until 8 p.m. (closed Sunday).
• After La Center: The Sweet Collective, 103 E 4th St, right on the festival street.

Which Clark County spot does your family go to after the lights? Tell us. Readers have already named over 450 independent Washington businesses they want to see on the EWS Card.

Seeing lights beyond Vancouver this season? Our 2026 Washington Holiday Lights Map puts the best displays in every corner of the state on one page, region by region. For the rest of your trip, start with our Vancouver guide.

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