Seattle does the holidays best after dark: lantern-lit zoo paths, a Christmas market under the Space Needle, boats strung with lights on the water, and toy-soldier parades through downtown Bellevue.
Every listing below comes from our events calendar, checked against the organizer’s own site. Most of the big light shows sell timed tickets and the best nights go fast, so book ahead for weekends and the week before Christmas.
Updated November 2026
Lights, markets and holiday outings
On stage this season
From The Nutcracker to Handel’s Messiah, here’s what’s playing.
Planning tips
- Book timed tickets early. WildLanterns, Garden d’Lights and Zoolights sell entry by time slot, and weekends sell out first.
- Go on a weeknight. Crowds thin out and some venues offer lower prices early in the season.
- Dress for drizzle. Most of the lights are outdoors, rain or shine.
Hosting a holiday market or event we should add? Tell us about it. See everything on our holiday events page.
