2017 Golden Teddy Awards — Out + About

Winner: Woodland Park Zoo’s WildLights

Now in its fifth year, Woodland Park Zoo’s WildLights draws visitors to its annual holiday lights show, which features wild animals and exotic destination scenes illuminated by more than 600,000 LED lights. It’s one-stop shopping for holiday memories. Readers also love live reindeer and the crazy snowballs at the Snowmazium.

Finalists

Rat-a-tat-tat! The Snowflake Lane at The Bellevue Collection holiday show fires up every season on the Friday after Thanksgiving and runs until Christmas Eve, with free nightly performances that are truly magical: giant snowflakes, live holiday music, toy soldiers, girls with tambourines and live toy drummers on stilts. 

One of the region’s most beloved displays, Zoolights at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium comprises more than half a million LED lights, with scenes ranging from a flame tree and huge roaring tiger to newer scenes such as the happy polar bear family and giant Pacific octopus. Don’t forget the camel and carousel rides!

It’s free and open 24/7: Every year, the Seattle Sheraton’s lobby hosts the Sheraton Seattle Gingerbread Village, an architect- and chef-designed masterpiece of sweetness. Recent years have drawn record numbers, with themes that have included Star Wars and Harry Potter; what will next year’s themes be? 

Holiday fun abounds at Swansons Nursery Reindeer Festival including live reindeer and a camel, a holiday model train set, a Santa set-up and festive decorations galore. A café is on site for fueling up, and kids will also enjoy looking at the koi pond.