Stroll Down Ravenna’s Candy Cane Lane: Seattle’s Sweetest Street

For 11 months out of the year, you might walk right by Northeast Park Road and not suspect a thing. But come December, the quiet street tucked away in Seattle’s Ravenna neighborhood undergoes a magical transformation.

Residents of the 23 charming Tudor-style houses get to work just ahead of the holiday season — not unlike the elves in Santa’s workshop — stringing up lights and bringing festive cheer to their front yards. Before long, Northeast Park Road becomes Candy Cane Lane. 

The charming history of Candy Cane Lane 

The tradition has been going strong for 75 years. It’s a tale as old as time — or as legend has it, a tale as old as a neighborhood taking on a “Seattle Times” holiday cheer competition in the 1940s. The neighborhood went all out with decorations, establishing its reputation and a festive tradition. By the mid-1950s, the “Candy Cane Lane” moniker had stuck. While there is no longer a contest crown to win, the residents carry on the tradition year after year. 

The magic of simple holiday traditions 

As far as holiday light displays go, Candy Cane Lane runs on simplicity with a sprinkle of nostalgia. You won’t find laser light shows or over-the-top decorations (besides perhaps a few inflatable characters) here. Instead, string lights and vintage decorations turn the street into a life-size gingerbread village, while the soft hum of holiday music floats through the air. 

While each house shines bright, there is a large carousel in the roundabout that often steals the show. Six different themes are rotated throughout the years, with the Angel Chimes theme being the first to debut in 1961 (a nod to the traditional Christmas decoration with candles at its base, and trumpet-holding angels turning above). This year's theme is Winter Sports, a nod to the upcoming Winter Olympics. 

The carousel is large enough that multiple houses are responsible for storing parts of it throughout the year, coming together to assemble it around the holly bush as the holidays near. With the surrounding decorations, it takes up nearly all of the roundabout known as Park Home Circle, one of Seattle’s smallest public parks. 

Many families have made visiting Candy Cane Lane an annual holiday tradition. Despite living in the Greater Seattle area for more than a decade, I went for the first time with my family last year. My toddler was just beginning to appreciate the magic of the season, and seeing her little face filled with wonder as we passed each house made our visit that much sweeter. 

To walk or to drive, that is the question 

There are two ways to experience Candy Cane Lane: driving or walking. While I understand the temptation of staying in your warm, comfortable car on a frigid winter night, I urge you to choose the walk. Strolling along the sidewalk, you’ll be able to stop at each house and admire the small details and extra magic that each homeowner puts into their decorations. 

You’ll see more than one candy cane decoration on your stroll — each house has a 6-foot-tall metal candy cane made from old pipes, and many choose to honor the street’s nickname with other red-and-white striped adornments. Look closely and you’ll notice white signs with painted red words — each reads ”peace” in a different language — displayed proudly at each home to honor the area’s diversity. 

The rest of the decorations are a fantastic mix of old and new. Classic decor, from oversized nutcrackers to reindeer statues and evergreen wreaths, adds to the charm. Illuminated woodland creatures, snowmen and even flamingos come to life on front lawns. There’s also an adorable wooden elf holding a scroll with the names of the children on Candy Cane Lane, all of whom made it onto Santa’s nice list. 

My daughter was enthralled by the twinkling lights and the familiar faces of the inflatable characters (she gasped when she saw the Grinch!). 

During the season, Candy Cane Lane is a one-way street, with entrance and exit signs that direct drivers and pedestrians to follow the same direction. The street will host four pedestrian-only nights this year, including opening night. There are also special events to look forward to throughout the season, including marching band and jazz band performances. We’ve even heard that Santa himself sometimes makes an appearance. 

Tips for parents 

As with any holiday excursion, you’ll want to prepare for the weather, traffic and crowds. Keep these tips in mind when planning your visit to Candy Cane Lane: 

• Go early. If you’re hoping to avoid the holiday rush (and the traffic), make a plan to visit Candy Cane Lane earlier in the season. Decorations are usually up by the second week of December, but more families tend to go closer to Christmas. If you can, visit on a weeknight instead of during the busy weekends.
• Bring canned goods. Candy Cane Lane is free to visit, but the neighborhood collects donations for the University District Food Bank. Support a good cause during the holiday season with nonperishable food items, which can be dropped off in the bins at the exit.
• Bundle up. There’s no denying the event will be chilly (and that walk is extended if you have to park a few blocks away). Bundle the kids up with warm, cozy layers and tuck hand warmers into their coat pockets. Even if you’re just driving through, you’ll want your windows down to peek out at the houses and listen to the holiday music, so wrap up for the car ride too.
• Warm up with a hot cocoa or apple cider. Just across the street from Candy Cane Lane’s entrance, you’ll find Seven Coffee Roasters, a hidden-gem café.
• Plan for extra festivities. Whether you walk or drive through, visiting Candy Cane Lane likely won’t take up too much of your evening. Make a day of it with holiday shopping at University Village or other nearby Seattle festivities.