Join us for the most wonderful time of the year, when our quaint Bavarian town becomes a Village of Lights (over half a million of them!) and holiday cheer abounds!
On Friday evenings the lights are all on! Live musical performances of your favorite Christmas songs fill the streets, St. Nickolaus arrives at 4:30pm at the Front Street Gazebo, who welcomes children young and old with the story of his legacy and “gold” for the good boys and girls! Please note: There is no Lighting Ceremony on Friday’s; lights remain lit.
On Saturdays and Sundays the festivities kick into full gear at 12:00pm with the Arrival of Santa and costumed holiday characters in a march from the Festhalle to the Gazebo!
Throughout the day you will enjoy musical performances in the Front Street Gazebo, including hand bell choirs, a top-ranking Army National Guard Dixie band, breakout solo artists, the best high school and professional choirs in the Pacific Northwest, and more!
You’ll also find carolers strolling through town, the smell of roasted chestnuts filling the air, sledding in Front Street Park (snow permitting), a traditional Gluhwein Tent (selling hot spiced wine and cocoa) and costumed Christmas characters (including Santa, Mrs., Claus, and Father Christmas). On Sundays, kids can collect free cookies by following the Cookie Crawl Map!
It all culminates each Saturday and Sunday with the Lighting Ceremony (starting at 4:45pm), when a bit of pomp and circumstance brings about the lighting of the village with over half a million lights.