Where to see holiday lights around Seattle: 6 fun outings in 2024

When it gets dark around 4 p.m., you can grumble all you want. Or embrace it, by enjoying holiday lights.

It’s as easy as admiring decked-out houses in your neighborhood, thermos of hot cocoa in hand. Or take a bigger trip to see some of the fantastic light events in the Greater Seattle area. Here are six outings, centered on light displays — to which we’ve added neighborhood gems to explore, turning your outings into mini adventures.

West Seattle: Out-of-this-world lights, small-town vibe

West Seattle essentially functions as an island, and you’re never more than 15 minutes from one destination to another. Start at Lincoln Park to find the Thomas Dambo troll before it gets dark. Next stop: Paper Boat Booksellers, a terrific indie bookstore, to knock out your holiday shopping list.

Heading north, you’ll enter the Junction, West Seattle’s business district with a year-round Sunday farmers market. Get ice cream at Husky Deli, then browse the vinyls at Easy Street Records and cue ’90s nostalgia.

Your light destination is Astra Lumina, back in Seattle for its second year. Walk through nine star-themed installations, synced with ethereal music and surrounded in fog.

Astra Lumina takes place at the Seattle Chinese Garden at South Seattle College. Now that you know where it is, make a bookmark to come back in spring when the garden is free. The courtyard is one of my favorite photo shoot locations because it is stunning.

Refuel at Pho Aroma on Delridge Way Southwest, a no-frills spot for fragrant Vietnamese noodle broth. Then head to 5605 Beach Drive S.W. to gawk at the extravagant Christmas lights at the Menashe house. 

If you go to Astra Lumina: Tickets range from $21 to $41, less expensive on weeknights and toward closing. Timed entries from 4:45 to 8 p.m. Open daily through the rest of December, then shifts to a Thursday-Sunday or Friday-Sunday schedule through Jan. 31. 5640 16th Ave. S.W., Seattle. Buy tickets online: astralumina.com/seattle

Tacoma: Top-notch museums, parks and zoo

Tacoma is cool. There, I said it.

Tacoma has ah-MAZE-ing museums and outdoor spaces, and a zoo and aquarium that outshine Seattle’s.

If it’s wet out, hit the museums. Tacoma Art Museum is small but mighty, and admission is free every Thursday 5-8 p.m. Take a look at the Chihulys on the pedestrian overpass outside. Kids will love the model train festival at the Washington State History Museum, Dec. 20 to Jan. 1. The history museum, plus the Museum of Glass, are free to visit in the evening on the third Thursday of each month (that’s Dec. 19 this month).

Here’s one we don’t have in Seattle: LeMay — America’s Car Museum. It’s that funny-looking silver tube next to the Tacoma Dome. Car enthusiasts young and old will love the zigzagging four levels of galleries. Take a photo with Santa on a classic car Dec. 14 and 15.

Outdoors, Melanie’s Park is a wild new playground on the waterfront near the Museum of Glass. Try the 20-foot-high twisty tube slide if you dare. Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance Park is an impressive park built over a Superfund site. Nearby, check out the series of six slides and stairs by the Wilson Way bridge. It’s a real-life Chutes and Ladders!

You could easily spend an entire day at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. PDZA’s two aquariums close when Zoolights begins at 4:30 p.m., so go visit them during the day. For an extra thrill, you can even swim with the sharks.

If you go to Zoolights at PDZA: Online timed tickets are required: $20 for everyone ages 3 and older, members are half-price. Open 4:30-10 p.m. through Jan. 5, closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 5400 N. Pearl St., Tacoma. pdza.org/event/zoolights

Bellevue: Nature-themed lights and retail therapy

Go to Garden d’Lights if you want a holiday light experience that is charming and not too expensive. Bellevue Botanical Garden glows with more than half a million lights. Download the scavenger hunt map ahead of time and see who can find all the animals first.

Conveyor-belt sushi is not for sushi snobs, but nearby Kura Revolving Sushi Bar is fun and family-friendly. Best of all, drinks arrive by robot delivery.

Between Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square and The Bravern, Bellevue is a shopping mecca. Bring your patience for parking garage traffic. After you score a parking spot, reward yourself with soup dumplings at the gorgeous and newly expanded Din Tai Fung in Lincoln Square.

Catch the free Snowflake Lane on Bellevue Way Northeast between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square. The performance runs nightly at 7 p.m. through Christmas Eve. There are toy soldiers and dancers and swirling fake snow.

A word of caution to parents of littles: The sidewalks get very crowded. Get there early to snag a spot and be prepared to defend it. You could, alternatively, plan for dinner at a restaurant overlooking Bellevue Way Northeast and luck out on a window seat.

If you go to Garden d’Lights: $8 per person ages 11 and older; ages 10 and younger are free. 4:30-9 p.m. through Dec. 31; closed Christmas Day. 12001 Main St., Bellevue. Buy tickets online: bellevuebotanical.org/garden-dlights

Bothell: Swimming, treats and free light shows

It might be chilly outside, but it’s always 88 to 90 degrees at the North Shore Lagoon, a full-size saltwater swimming pool at McMenamins Anderson School. At $7.50 per adult, the tiki-themed pool is an affordable tropical getaway.

The line at T55 Patisserie is usually out the door, for good reason. The pastries are works of art. Try the kouign-amann!

At 6 p.m., head to the free Evergreen Christmas Light Show. Enter through a light tunnel to see a giant light show projected across Evergreen Church. Indoors, there are homemade cookies, a short animated nativity movie, photos with Santa and a holiday train setup. All of it free, free, free.

Finally, drive through Keener’s Christmas, which runs 6-10 p.m. until Dec. 31, weather permitting. The Keeners are a Bothell couple famous for over-the-top Christmas lights. Find their display at 16504 112th Pl. N.E., and bring money and food donations for charity.

If you go to the Evergreen Christmas Light Show: Free. 6-9 p.m. through Christmas Eve. 3429 240th St. S.E., Bothell. christmasatevergreen.com

Seattle Center: The heart of Seattle, dressed up for the holidays

Chihuly Garden and Glass mostly draws out-of-towners, but us in-towners should enjoy the glass art, too. When you enter through the turnstile, the first piece on the right is an installation that looks like an enormous cluster of icicles. “Winter Brilliance” was originally commissioned for the Barneys New York flagship store in 2015. Through Feb. 28, you’ll see “Winter Brilliance” as it was originally displayed in the holiday window, with a background of classical music and soft pastel lights washing over it.

Grab a quick and easy bite next door in the Armory. Skillet Counter and MOD Pizza are both great local options. Seattle Center’s Winterfest runs through Dec. 31; check out the model train village and frequent performances on the Armory stage.

If your party includes toddlers and preschoolers, the Seattle Children’s Museum is a must. It’s downstairs in the Armory and currently has adorable winter-themed exhibits. Try the photo op in a ski lift, roast pretend s’mores and go sock-skating.

You can’t overlook the fencing enclosing Seattle Center from Fisher Pavilion to the International Fountain. That would be the Seattle Christmas Market, now in its second year. Inside you’ll find booths selling crafts and food and drink, live musical performances and an all-you-can-ride double-decker carousel.

If you go to Chihuly Garden and Glass: Buy tickets online; $29-$37.50 for regular admission. Through Dec. 31, buy a $78 combo ticket for Chihuly Garden and Glass, the Space Needle and the Christmas Market. 305 Harrison St., Seattle. chihulygardenandglass.com/holidays

Phinney Ridge: Animal lanterns, hot cocoa from a gas pump

WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo is a treat we look forward to all year. It’s a brand-new show each year with custom-made lanterns in the shapes of animals and plants. The zoo’s new Reptile Realm building is open 4-7 p.m. during WildLanterns. Check out the larger-than-life Timor python lantern, then step inside to see the real thing. Bonus: Through Jan. 19, get 40% off a daily admission ticket when you buy a WildLanterns ticket. Visit during the day to see your favorite animals awake.

Uneeda Burger, a few blocks south in Fremont, offers a true Seattle unicorn: a classic burger for $7. It doesn’t skimp, either. Spend the extra 50 cents and upgrade your fries to sweet potato fries. You’re welcome.

Just north of the zoo on Aurora Avenue North, drink hot cocoa from a gas pump and play unlimited games at Kringle’s Filling Station. At this Santa-themed gas station/arcade, classic games get a holiday twist, like ski ball and nutcracker foosball. Owner Gary Wichansky is a local dad who wanted to bring holiday cheer to Aurora. Mission accomplished.

If you go to WildLanterns: 4-9 p.m. through Jan 19. Prices start at $27.45 for kids ages 3 to 12, $31.45 for 13 and older. The cheapest tickets are nonpeak weekdays. The zoo has two main entrances: 5500 Phinney Ave. N. and 750 N. 50th St., Seattle. zoo.org/wildlanterns