TL;DR: The biggest Christmas lights in Seattle for 2026 are WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo (November 13, 2026 to January 17, 2027), Garden d’Lights in Bellevue (November 28 to January 3) and Seattle Center Winterfest (November 27 to December 31). From North Capitol Hill, light rail and the Route 10 bus make most of them an easy evening out, and the Volunteer Park Conservatory’s winter holiday display is a 13 minute walk from 15th Ave E.
- Book timed tickets early for WildLanterns and Garden d’Lights; both sell date and time specific tickets online.
- Save free nights for Seattle Center, where Winterfest’s train display, ice carving and Friday movies cost nothing.
- Ride Link one stop from Capitol Hill to Westlake for downtown, then take the Monorail to Seattle Center.
- Watch the Christmas Ship from shore for free on December 11 in Fremont or December 23 at Gas Works Park.
- Check the 2026 schedule for the downtown tree lighting and Candy Cane Lane, which had not posted dates by late October.
The Holidays on the North End of Capitol Hill
The closest holiday display to 605 15th Ave E is inside the Volunteer Park Conservatory, about a 13 minute walk north. Its Seasonal House changes six times a year, and one of those displays is the winter holiday show. The Conservatory is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and admission is free on the first Thursday of the month, which falls on December 3 in 2026.
The Friends of the Conservatory also hold a popular Holiday Open House each year. The 2026 date was not on their calendar in late October, so check the 2026 schedule on the Conservatory’s events page.
Back on 15th Ave E, the cafes and bakeries a few minutes from home make a good start or finish to a night out. Our guide to 15th Avenue East lists them block by block.
Christmas Lights in Seattle Worth the Trip in 2026
WildLanterns at Woodland Park Zoo
WildLanterns returns from November 13, 2026 through January 17, 2027, from 4 to 9 p.m. on open nights. This year’s lanterns take visitors across the seven continents and under the ocean. The event is closed on several nights, including November 16 to 18, Thanksgiving, December 24 and 25, and some January weeknights, so check the calendar. Tickets are timed and sold online only, and the event runs rain or shine.
Garden d’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden
Garden d’Lights fills the Bellevue Botanical Garden at 12001 Main Street with more than half a million lights shaped like plants, birds and waterfalls. The 2026 run is November 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027, closed on Christmas Day. First entry is 4:30 p.m.
- Regular nights. $10 for ages 11 and up; kids 10 and under are always free.
- Discount nights. $5 on November 30 to December 3 and December 7 to 10, with last entry at 8 p.m.
- Sensory friendly night. Tuesday, December 8, with no live music and half capacity.
Candy Cane Lane in Ravenna
Candy Cane Lane, on Park Road Northeast off Ravenna Boulevard, is a neighborhood display that has been decorated since 1949 and is free to visit. Last season it ran from early December through New Year’s Day. Its 2026 dates had not been posted, so check the 2026 schedule before you go.
Seattle Center: Winterfest, the Christmas Market and The Nutcracker
Seattle Center Winterfest runs November 27 to December 31, 2026, and much of it is free.
- Winter Train and Village. A model train and village display inside the Armory, on view for 50 years. It runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, and visitors can take a turn running the train.
- Ice Sculpting Series. Carvers work each Saturday during Winterfest from noon at the Mural Amphitheatre.
- Friday movie nights. Free holiday films in the Armory at 6:30 p.m., starting with The Polar Express on November 27 and ending with Elf on December 18.
- Armory Stage. Live seasonal performances each weekend from November 27 to December 27.
The Seattle Christmas Market sets up at Fisher Pavilion and the South Fountain Lawn from November 20 to December 27, 2026, with European and local vendors, Gluhwein and hot chocolate. It is ticketed and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Next door at McCaw Hall, Pacific Northwest Ballet performs George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker from November 27 to December 27, 2026.
To get there, take Link light rail one stop from Capitol Hill Station to Westlake, then ride the Seattle Center Monorail, which runs between downtown and Seattle Center. Our light rail commute guide covers the walk to the station.
The best holiday nights from North Capitol Hill start with a short walk and one stop on the train.
On the Water: The Christmas Ship Festival
Argosy Cruises’ Christmas Ship Festival sails from November 27 to December 23, 2026. Three nights stand out.
- Opening Night, November 27. A dockside countdown and the lighting of the ship at Pier 55, on the 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. sailings.
- Parade of Boats, December 11. Decorated boats gather on Lake Union and travel through the Fremont Cut. A free onshore viewing party is held at Evanston Plaza in Fremont.
- Grand Finale, December 23. Sailings at 2, 5 and 8 p.m., plus a free onshore viewing party with a bonfire at Gas Works Park.
Both onshore parties are free, so you can see the boats without a cruise ticket.
Downtown: The Tree Lighting and Holiday Star
The Downtown Seattle Association’s Tree Lighting Celebration marks the start of the season downtown. In 2025 it was held on Friday, November 28, at Westlake Center, with afternoon activities and a 5 p.m. lighting of a 45 foot tree and the Holiday Star, followed by fireworks.
The association had not posted the 2026 date by late October. The event is usually the Friday after Thanksgiving, which is November 27 in 2026, but check the 2026 schedule before you plan around it. Westlake Station is the first stop south of Capitol Hill on Link.
| Event | 2026 dates | Where | From 15th Ave E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conservatory holiday display | Seasonal; free first Thursday Dec 3 | Volunteer Park | About a 13 minute walk |
| WildLanterns | Nov 13 to Jan 17 | Woodland Park Zoo | Car or rideshare; timed tickets |
| Garden d’Lights | Nov 28 to Jan 3 (closed Dec 25) | Bellevue Botanical Garden | Across Lake Washington |
| Winterfest | Nov 27 to Dec 31 | Seattle Center | Link to Westlake, then Monorail |
| Seattle Christmas Market | Nov 20 to Dec 27 | Seattle Center | Link to Westlake, then Monorail |
| The Nutcracker (PNB) | Nov 27 to Dec 27 | McCaw Hall | Link to Westlake, then Monorail |
| Christmas Ship Festival | Nov 27 to Dec 23 | Pier 55, Lake Union | Link to downtown for Pier 55 |
| Tree Lighting | Check the 2026 schedule | Westlake | One Link stop |
Frequently Asked Questions
When is WildLanterns 2026 at Woodland Park Zoo?
WildLanterns runs from November 13, 2026 through January 17, 2027, from 4 to 9 p.m. on open nights. The zoo closes it on several dates, including Thanksgiving, December 24 and 25, and some weeknights in November and January. Tickets are timed, sold online only, and the event goes ahead rain or shine.
Where can I see Christmas lights in Seattle for free?
Seattle Center Winterfest is largely free, including the Winter Train and Village, Saturday ice carving and Friday movie nights from November 27 to December 31, 2026. Candy Cane Lane in Ravenna is free to walk. The Christmas Ship’s onshore viewing parties in Fremont on December 11 and at Gas Works Park on December 23 are also free.
When is Garden d’Lights 2026?
Garden d’Lights runs at the Bellevue Botanical Garden from November 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027, and is closed on Christmas Day. First entry is 4:30 p.m. Regular tickets are $10 for ages 11 and up, with $5 discount nights on November 30 to December 3 and December 7 to 10. Kids 10 and under are free.
When is the Westlake tree lighting in 2026?
The Downtown Seattle Association had not posted the 2026 date by late October, so check its 2026 schedule. In 2025, the celebration was held on Friday, November 28, at Westlake Center, with the tree and Holiday Star lit at 5 p.m. From Capitol Hill Station, Westlake is one stop south on Link light rail.
What are the Christmas Ship Festival dates for 2026?
Argosy’s Christmas Ship Festival runs November 27 to December 23, 2026. Opening Night is November 27 at Pier 55, the Parade of Boats on Lake Union and through the Fremont Cut is December 11, and the Grand Finale is December 23. Free onshore viewing parties are planned in Fremont and at Gas Works Park.
How do I get to Seattle Center from Capitol Hill?
Take Link light rail from Capitol Hill Station one stop south to Westlake, then ride the Seattle Center Monorail, which runs between downtown and Seattle Center. From 605 15th Ave E, Capitol Hill Station is about a 15 minute walk. Winterfest, the Christmas Market and McCaw Hall are all at Seattle Center.
Plan Your 2026 Holiday Nights from 15th Ave E
From North Capitol Hill, the season’s Christmas lights are close at hand: a holiday display in the Volunteer Park Conservatory a short walk north, Winterfest and the Christmas Market a train and monorail ride away, and lantern and garden displays worth a planned evening. Book timed tickets early, and check the 2026 schedule for events that have not posted dates yet.
The Fifteen sits at 605 15th Ave E, a minute from the Route 10 bus and a short walk from light rail, which makes holiday nights out simple. To see what life on the north end looks like in December, take a look at the neighborhood and book a tour.
See what is available at The Fifteen
Studio to two-bedroom loft homes at 605 15th Avenue East in North Capitol Hill, with MFTE income-qualified options. Check live availability and book a tour online, or call the leasing team at 206-489-2747.
