Budget-Friendly Holiday Fun in Washington

Takeaways: Winter Holiday Fun on a Budget

• Save money and create lasting memories by planning an activity with friends and family instead of giving material items.
• Washington offers a variety of free and low-cost activities to spark the holiday spirit.
• Seasonal activity ideas include holiday light tours, Nutcracker performances, snowshoeing, ice skating and holiday markets.
• Iconic Washington destinations include Snowflake Lane in Bellevue, Winter Brilliance at Chihuly Garden and Glass, Christmas Tree Elegance at the Historic Davenport Hotel and Christmastown in Leavenworth.

Whether you're buying for someone who doesn't want more stuff or you're looking for activities to kickstart the holiday spirit, try thinking outside the gift box.

Here are some ideas for uniquely Washington, budget-friendly winter holiday fun:

Tour Holiday Lights

• Winter Brilliance glass exhibit: Nov. 10, 2025 - Feb. 28, 2026; $30-$43; Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle. The Winter Brilliance exhibit features 700 hand-blown glass forms by well-known, Tacoma-born glass artist Dale Chihuly. The installation includes chandeliers, towers, reeds and icicle clusters, and uses original light, music and video projection.
• Lady of the Lake cruises: Every Saturday before Christmas; Jan. 17 and 24, 2026; $17; Lake Chelan Boat Co. Charters, Lake Chelan. Lake Chelan Boat Co. offers two different winter boat tours aboard the Lady of the Lake, both culminating in fireworks displays that you can enjoy from out on the water: The Santa Express Cruise (Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 13 and Dec. 20) and the Winterfest Fireworks Cruise (Jan. 17 and 24, 2026).
• Downtown Holiday Lights & Delights: Starting Nov. 28; Free; Westlake Park, Seattle. This free holiday light exhibit includes a Christmas tree and musical light display, right in the heart of downtown Seattle.

See the Nutcracker

Attending "The Nutcracker" is an annual holiday tradition for many families. The story takes audiences into a child's magical Christmas Eve dream in which a nutcracker comes to life and a royal court of dancing flowers and snowflakes is revealed. 

You can see a wide range of productions, from classical ballets to modern retellings by professional companies and local dance studios.

Whatever you choose, there's a "Nutcracker" to fit your style and budget. Here's a sampling:

• Pacific Northwest Ballet's production of George Balanchine's "The Nutcracker" (starting at $39) is the biggest, professional version of the show.
• DASSdance's "Seattle City Nutcracker" ($32) is a contemporary twist on the classic.
• ARC Dance's "Nutcracker Sweets" ($27-$42) is a family-friendly 90-minute version of the ballet. The show is on three weekends in Seattle and two shows in Shoreline.
• Olympic Ballet Theater ($27-$60) presents the full-length ballet and an abridged matinee at the Everett Performing Arts Center and Edmonds Center for the Arts.

Visit Snowflake Lane

Snowflake Lane is a combination of festive lights, decorations and a nightly holiday parade between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square. The parade includes music, dancers, floats and even falling snow.

The show starts at 7 p.m. nightly from Nov. 28 - Dec. 24, 2025. Adding to the fun? It's free.

Go Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing can be as easy as going for a walk in the snow. Just be sure you dress appropriately, know your route, check the conditions and pack the essentials to stay safe.

Opt for groomed trails at a ski area or guided snowshoe walks. For the more advanced snowshoer, blaze your own trail through the backcountry.

Here are a few options:

Go Ice Skating

You don't need to have a permanent ice skating rink in your neighborhood to skate your way into the holiday spirit. Temporary ice rinks pop up at this time of year. Here are a few rinks to consider:

Shop at a Holiday Market

Immerse yourself in a festive atmosphere at a local holiday market. Sample holiday treats, sip festive beverages and shop for local artisans' wares.

Here are a few suggestions to inspire your search for a holiday market near you:

• Seattle Christmas Market ($7 - $22), Nov. 20 - Dec. 24, 2025, at Seattle Center. This market has a European Christmas Village theme. It includes artisan shops, food vendors, live entertainment and a merry-go-round.
• United Indians Native Art Market (free), Nov. 22 - 23; Dec. 20 - 21, 2025, at the Daybreak Star Cultural Center in Seattle's Discovery Park. This market features art from Native people in the Puget Sound Region and beyond. If you can't make it to the in-person event, the online gift shop is open year-round.
• Artisans Holiday Fair (free), Dec. 13 and 14, 2025. More than 150 vendors sell locally made and curated products are gathering at the fairgrounds in Monroe. This holiday event also offers food and beverage services and crafts projects to get in on the artisan fun.

Shop for a Christmas Tree

The scent of fir trees intermingles with fresh, cold air as you roam the rows of a Christmas tree farm can put anyone in the holiday spirit. At many tree farms, you'll be able to sip cider, enjoy sweet treats, stop by a gift shop and visit Santa.

Here is a small sampling to suit a range of tastes — from those who prefer a simple forest stroll to those who want a full holiday experience.

• Trinity Tree Farm, Issaquah, Nov. 22, 2025, until trees sell out. The farm has carolers, a Newfoundland Dog Christmas Tree Pull and photos with Santa. Check the website for event dates.
• Red Barn Christmas Tree Farm, Puyallup, opens in late November until trees sell out. The farm offers U-cut, fresh-cut and flocked trees, as well as a gift shop in a big, red, historic hop barn. It even has a small train to take you deep into the grove.
• Cedar Falls Tree Farm, North Bend, Nov. 28, 2025, until trees sell out. This farm offers a forested, rustic experience. If you get chilly, you can warm up sipping cider by an outdoor fire.
• U.S. Forest Service ($5 - $10 per tree), most national forests. The Forest Services allows harvesting with a permit. Contact the district office near you to get a permit. Remember to dress appropriately and take the supplies you need.
• Christmas Tree Elegance ($1 per raffle ticket), at the Historic Davenport Hotel and River Park Square in Spokane, Dec. 2 - Dec. 14, 2025. The event is a fundraiser for the Spokane Symphony. Organizers raffle off decorated trees, some with values of nearly $5,000, donated by individuals and businesses. 

Visit Leavenworth

Every year, from the day after Thanksgiving through Dec. 24, the Cascade foothills city of Leavenworth transforms into Christmastown.

Holiday lights twinkle as choirs, carolers and bands perform in the town-center gazebo. Enjoy food vendors and shopping — and a free gift-wrapping station for all the holiday gifts you buy. The kids can get photos with Santa, drop a letter to Santa in a big mailbox and make crafts.

Be sure to catch the Gingerbread House Exhibition and display of Santa Costumes from around the world.

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