Leavenworth, Washington turns into a real-life snow globe every holiday season! This Bavarian-themed mountain town lights up with more than half a million twinkling lights, and from Black Friday through Christmas Eve it becomes the Village of Lights: Christmastown. Think carolers, roasted chestnuts, Santa, and a whole lot of holiday c
Ultimate Leavenworth Wa Christmas Guide!
Here is everything you need to know to plan your Leavenworth Christmas trip, from the free Christmastown activities to sleigh rides, reindeer, parking, and where to eat.
When to See the Leavenworth Christmas Lights
Don't worry you don't have to spend Christmas Day in Leavenworth to celebrate! This Bavarian-themed town in Central Washington knows how to celebrate and they leave the lights up for months so we all have time to join the festivities.
The village lights are on every day from 6 am to 11 pm, from Thanksgiving through the end of February. There is no set lighting ceremony anymore. The lights are simply on every day, so you can visit any day that works for you.
Christmastown runs November 27 through December 24, 2026. That is when you will find Santa, carolers, live music, and all of the holiday activities around town.
Pro tip: Visit midweek if you can. If you can visit Leavenworth during the week you can save yourself a lot of STRESS and worry trying to find a parking space, dealing with crowds of people, and waiting in line for food.
If you haven't been to Leavenworth before I want to paint a picture so you know what to expect. Close your eyes and imagine a super cute amazing bavarian village town surrounded by snowy mountains.
Oh, wait open your eyes...lol! I don't want you dreaming of Leavenworth and missing all of the key tips to having an amazing time.
The main part of Leavenworth is spread along Front Street which is about 12 city blocks long with restaurants and shops along the street. There are additional restaurants and stores behind Front Street but the majority of people seem to congregate along Front Street.
The quaint bavarian of Leavenworth goes all out for the holidays with 500,000 lights decorating the city. Over half a million twinkle lights, snowflakes, and decorations bring in quite a crowd.
Village of Lights: Christmastown 2026
Christmastown takes over downtown Leavenworth, Front Street Park, and the Festhalle. Most of it is free, so you can enjoy the holiday magic without spending a dime.
Christmastown at the Festhalle (Free)
The Festhalle is a free warming station that is open daily during Christmastown. Inside you will find:
- Photos with Santa
- Santa costumes from around the world on display
- Daily story time
- A writing station for letters to Santa
- Holiday crafts for kids
- A gingerbread house competition benefiting local nonprofits, with entries on display through December 24
- Selfie stations
- A free gift-wrapping station and Christmastown merchandise for sale
- Hot chocolate served in Christkindlmarkt boot mugs and seasonal treats for purchase
Festhalle hours are noon to 4 pm Sunday through Thursday and noon to 6 pm Friday and Saturday. On Christmas Eve, it closes at 3 pm.
Downtown at the Gazebo and Front Street Park (Free)
Free Christmastown shopping bags when you shop midweek at participating Chamber member businesses
Free live music on Friday evenings and weekends
Santa visits daily through December 24
Mrs. Claus and holiday characters at the Gazebo on weekends from noon to 4 pm
Holiday food vendors in the park daily from 10 am to 7 pm
Strolling carolers every evening from 5 to 7 pm, December 1 through 23
Where to Find Santa
- Monday through Friday: Santa is downtown from noon to 1 pm, with photos at the Festhalle from 2 to 3 pm.
- Saturday and Sunday: Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at the Gazebo at noon. Gazebo photos are noon to 1 pm, and Festhalle photos are 2 to 4 pm.
Book the Leavenworth Christmastown Tour here. This small-group walking tour includes hot cocoa, handmade chocolates, a Glühwein tasting for guests 21 and over, and a custom Christmas ornament to take home!
Christmastown Concert and Movie Series
This year Christmastown is all about music! The Festhalle hosts a lineup of evening shows on select dates. These shows are ticketed separately from the free daytime Festhalle, and tickets are sold at the door only. Babies in arms are free at every show. Popcorn, snacks, beer, cider, wine, and hot cocoa are available for purchase.
Movie Night: Elf (rated PG) Saturday, November 28, 7 pm. $8 general admission. Kick off the season with Elf on the big screen, popcorn and hot cocoa in hand.
Merry Christmas from Leavenworth Saturday, December 5, 7 pm. $5 general admission. A celebration of Leavenworth's original Christmas song, performed by songwriter Eric Link with local musicians, the Leavenworth Alphorns, the Leavenworth Village Voices, the Marlin Handbell Ringers, and Cascade School students.
The Jewel Tones Motown Christmas Show Saturday, December 12, 8 pm. $15 general admission. An all-female vocal trio singing Motown hits from The Supremes, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, and more. Best for ages 6 and up.
Manuela Horn and Her Slay Belles Sunday, December 20 and Tuesday, December 22, 5 to 6:30 pm. $15 general admission, $5 kids 12 and under. Sing-alongs, holiday parodies, an indoor snowball fight, kids' crafts, and maybe even a surprise visit from Santa or the Grinch. This one is a hit with kids!
Winter Wine, Beer, and Snowshoe Tours
Leavenworth is a fun place to sip your way around town.
Book the Sip and Stroll Historical Wine Tour here. Taste local wines while learning the history of Leavenworth.
Book the Winter Igloo Wine Tasting at Silvara Cellars here. Sip wine in a cozy igloo with mountain views. It doesn't get much more winter wonderland than that!
Book the Leavenworth Brewery Walking Tour here. Beer lovers, this one is for you!
Book the Leavenworth Snowshoe Tour here. Get out into the snow with a guide and enjoy the mountains around town.
Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum
You can't visit Leavenworth at Christmas without stopping by the Nutcracker Museum! It is packed with antique and contemporary nutcrackers from around the world.
Hours: Monday through Saturday 11 am to 5 pm, Sunday 11 am to 4:30 pm.
Admission: Adults (17 to 64) $5, seniors (65+) $3.50, youth (6 to 16) $2. Kids under 5 and active-duty military families are free.
Leavenworth Sleigh Rides
Dashing through the snow in a horse-drawn sleigh is a must-do Leavenworth winter experience. Book early, especially for December weekends.
Eagle Creek Ranch is about 8 miles from town in a quiet mountain valley. You can meet the horses and enjoy hot cider after your ride. Rides run December through February, and reservations are made online.
Leavenworth Sleigh Rides offers private or group sleigh rides daily, with sleigh bells and hot spiced cider by an open fire.
Icicle Outfitters and Guides offers winter sleigh rides at its East Leavenworth Road location.
Christmas Shopping
Front Street is lined with boutiques, wineries, and gift shops. Our favorites include Kris Kringl for ornaments and the Cheesemonger's Shop.
Don't forget the free gift-wrapping station at the Festhalle and the free Christmastown shopping bags when you shop midweek!
Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
Hand-feed real reindeer just about a mile from downtown! The Leavenworth Reindeer Farm is open year-round with timed tours that last about an hour, including a short talk where you can hold shed antlers.
Tours are by advance online reservation only, with no walk-ins. Book 2 to 3 months ahead for the holidays because they sell out. In November and December, tours include a visit with Santa.
Good to know: Closed-toe shoes are required, strollers are not allowed, and dogs cannot go into the reindeer enclosure. Tours run rain, shine, or snow.
Leavenworth Christmas Helpful Hints
What to bring with you
You will want to be prepared for cold winter weather while visiting Leavenworth for the Christmas festivities. The weather can be downright cold to a bit warmer but still super chilly.
We saw a lot of kids dressed in snowsuits with cute hats wandering through town. The more layers the better especially if it has snowed.
If there is a chance of snow you may want to bring a small snow sled or disc sled with you. The town of Leavenworth allows sledding right off of Main Street near the gazebo.
For adults, you will want all the layers you can handle. Don't forget to pack gloves like I did one weekend and I thought my fingers were going to fall off from the cold especially as I tried to take 2 million photos.
We bring these hand warmers with us and keep them in our pockets in case we get too cold and want to start using them. They also make these great foot warmers which feel amazing.
Don't forget to make sure your phone is fully charged so you are ready to take all the photos and videos you want.
If you are shooting with a regular camera make sure to bring back up batteries. The cold weather can make batteries lose power faster than normal.
How to get to Leavenworth
Leavenworth, Washington is nestled in the Cascade Mountains providing epic winter recreation opportunities. Highway 2 passes through the city and is the only main highway into town. You can get to Leavenworth off of I-90 in a couple of different ways.
From Seattle, you are barely two hours to reach this amazing Bavarian-style town that will transport you away from day to day life stresses and into fun!
From Spokane you are 3 hours to the fun!
Directions to Leavenworth via Google Maps:
Click here for WSDOT Traffic Alerts.
Closest Airport - 30 miles Pangborn Memorial Airport in Wenatchee
Leavenworth Christmas Parking
Parking fills up fast on December weekends, so plan ahead.
Vehicles with ADA placards can park free in city street spaces, including metered stalls.
Paid parking lots downtown are enforced from 7 am to 3 am.
Skip the parking stress and use the free Willkommen Park and Ride behind Safeway, which has a shuttle into downtown.
The free Link Transit Route 32 shuttle stops at the Glacier lot and runs daily from 11 am to 7 pm, about every 30 minutes.
Do not park in residential neighborhoods. Emergency vehicles need clear routes.
No parking on city streets between 3 am and 7 am from November 15 to March 15.
Traffic teams are out on Saturdays from noon to 8 pm.
Restrooms
There are six indoor public restrooms, open seven days a week (check hours):
- Leavenworth Festhalle
- Front Street Park near the Maypole
- 8th and Commercial Street
- Lions Club Park
- Glacier Parking Lot
- Willkommen Park and Ride
Porta-potties are also placed near some of these locations.
Where to Eat in Leavenworth
- Icicle Brewing Company: Order the pretzel with Beecher's cheese dip.
- King Ludwig's: Live music and a fun atmosphere.
- Gingerbread Factory: Iced gingerbread cookies and cinnamon rolls.
- München Haus: Bratwurst, including a vegan Beyond Brat, with outdoor seating.
- Danish Bakery: Grab the cinnamon bread. It is cash only, but there is an ATM on site.
Expect long waits at restaurants on December weekends and closer to Christmas. Eat early or late if you can!
Remember how the early bird gets the parking spot well the early bird also gets into dinner a lot faster.
If you are visiting Leavenworth during a holiday lighting weekend you will want to be prepared for crowds and lines getting into restaurants.
Don't worry the Leavenworth restaurants are prepared for the crowds and know they are coming but many of these restaurants are not huge and only have so many tables and seats for guests.
We talked to an employee who said that they were preparing for days ahead of time to get ready for the influx of people.
I will say that we visited Leavenworth on Friday before the first full Christmas lighting celebration and the crowd was super manageable. We didn't have to wait at all to get into a great restaurant for dinner.
During the Christmas lighting festival, you may want to wait an hour or two depending on when you are planning on eating. Enjoy wandering in town and checking out the shopping and wine tasting. This will allow a portion of the crowd to dissipate and head out of town.
Helpful Hints for Visiting Leavenworth at Christmas
- Visit midweek for smaller crowds and easier parking.
- Dress in layers and bring gloves, a hat, and hand and foot warmers.
- Cold weather drains batteries fast, so charge your phone and bring spare camera batteries.
- Bring a small sled if there is snow.
- Book sleigh rides and the Reindeer Farm well in advance.
I hope that this Leavenworth Christmas Guide helps you have the most amazing time in Leavenworth! This part of Washington State is one of our favorites! Not only did we get married in Leavenworth we go back and visit multiple times a year.
Leavenworth Christmas FAQ
When are the Leavenworth Christmas lights on? The lights are on daily from 6 am to 11 pm, from Thanksgiving through the end of February.
Is Christmastown free? Yes! The Festhalle, Gazebo, carolers, live music, and Santa visits are all free. Only the evening concert and movie series is ticketed.
Is there still a Leavenworth tree lighting ceremony? No. The lights stay on every day all season, so there is no set lighting time.
When is the best time to visit Leavenworth for Christmas? Midweek during Christmastown (November 27 through December 24) for fewer crowds and easier parking.
Additional Resources to help plan your visit to Leavenworth
Aplets and Cotlets - Visit Liberty Orchards in Cashmere to see where Aplets and Cotlets are made and pick up great holiday gifts.
Icicle Ridge Winery - Check out this gorgeous winery in Leavenworth
Best Christmas Towns in the US! Leavenworth is just one of many epic Christmas Towns across the country.
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