Dazzling Holiday Light Displays Around Seattle, the Eastside and South Sound

Candy Cane Lane, Seattle

Dates: Candy Cane Lane lights are on from Dec. 6, 2025, through Jan. 1, 2026. Hours are 4–9:30 p.m., Sunday–Thursday, and 4–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday.
Cost: Free; food drive donations encouraged.
Location: Candy Cane Lane, Northeast Ravenna Boulevard and Park Road Northeast, Seattle

An old-school neighborhood light display, Candy Cane Lane lights up Northeast Park Road off of 21st Avenue Northeast and Ravenna Boulevard. Crowds form every year to view these homes that residents have been decorating since the 1940s. Drive through, or park and walk to avoid a wait. Note that some nights are exclusively for pedestrians. 

WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo, Seattle

Dates: WildLanterns opened Nov. 14, 2025, and runs through Jan. 18, 2026. The show is closed Nov. 17–20, 24 and 27; Dec. 1, 8, 15 and 24–25; and Jan. 5–7 and 12–14. Daily open hours are 4–9 p.m.; last entry is 8:30 p.m.
Cost: Timed-entry tickets for adults and teens (ages 13 and older) cost $32.45–$40.95; children’s timed-entry tickets (for ages 3–12) cost $28.45–$35.95. Toddlers ages 2 and younger enter free, but still need a ticket. Book tickets online. Daytime admission to Woodland Park Zoo is not included with WildLanterns tickets.
Location: Woodland Park Zoo, 5500 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle

Woodland Park Zoo’s popular holiday light show, WildLanterns, is back for its sixth year. Guests can walk the zoo paths, which are lined with huge and colorful lanterns in the shapes of animals from across the zoo and the globe. Journey into different themed zones featuring insects, bears, flowers and more. New this year: the Interactive Zone, with unique activities and surprising ways for kids to engage with the lanterns (prepare for loud noises and flashing lights). There’s also a sneak peek of the Forest Trailhead exhibit, opening in 2026.

Seattle Center Winterfest Lights, Seattle

Dates: Open daily, Nov. 20–Dec. 31, 2025
Cost: Free
Location: Seattle Center International Fountain, 305 Harrison St., Seattle

Seattle Center will once again light its campus with holiday lights for community enjoyment during Winterfest 2025 activities. Don’t miss the Train & Village Display, ice sculpting, and free performances in the Armory.

Olympic Manor, Seattle

Dates: 2025 details coming soon, check the Facebook page for updates.
Cost: Free
Location: Olympic Manor, 8500 23rd Ave. N.W., Seattle

Midcentury architecture and lots of holiday spirit draw huge crowds to the annual holiday light display in Olympic Manor, a neighborhood of gently curving streets in northwest Seattle. Drive carefully — cars are creeping along and drivers are sometimes looking at the lights rather than the road — better to park and walk through the neighborhood.

A Very Merry Downtown, Seattle

Dates: Nov. 28–Dec. 21, 2025
Cost: Free
Location: Downtown Seattle

The Downtown Seattle Association hosts this long-running festival with holiday haps taking place in several downtown Seattle locations. See the illuminated tree at Westlake Park and admire light installations along the Pine Street corridor. There are also family-friendly activities at Pioneer Park, Bell Street Park, Pacific Place and Occidental Square — there’s even a free pop-up ice skating rink during one special week!

Kerry Park Viewpoint, Seattle

Dates: Early December through the end of the year
Cost: Free
Location: Kerry Park, 211 W. Highland Dr., Seattle

A driving tour through the picturesque, historic homes of the Queen Anne neighborhood is always a treat, but it is particularly striking when the holiday lights are on display. Residents put on some spectacularly sparkly shows. Top it off with a stop at the Kerry Park Viewpoint for an iconic view of downtown.

Menashe House, West Seattle

Dates: Typically starting Dec. 1, the lights stay on through the holidays from 4:30–11:30 p.m. every day.
Cost: Free; donations for the West Seattle Food Bank are encouraged.
Location: Menashe House, 5605 Beach Dr. S.W., Seattle

This charming home goes overboard with a holiday light display that includes more than 150,000 lights, an oversized Santa sculpture, festive reindeer and more. The gigantic tree in front of the house is beautifully lit, too. Previous years have had a model train running and large inflatables. It’s a local favorite, and you can expect to see and chat with other families in the community if you walk up to admire the display.

Next up: Eastside light displays