By Shelby Taylor
There’s just something about Christmas lights. Perhaps it’s the fact that as winter draws near with its ever-lengthening nights, the many strings of light cast a warm glow, dispelling darkness. Or maybe it’s the fact that each decorated house is delightfully different from the next — variety being the spice of life and all. It could even be that the twinkle and ambience takes us back in time, suspending us in a state of childlike wonder.
Even today, my 25-year-old self gets the itch to seek out brightly baubled neighborhoods. For those of you like me looking for a holiday light fix, rest assured that the South Sound has Christmas displays aplenty.
Tacoma
Tree Lighting
If you didn’t catch Tacoma’s ceremonial tree lighting, the festooned 65-foot-tall tree will be decked out for a good while longer. Dressed in multi-color holiday lights just in front of the Pantages Theater, the towering tree is in good company with many cheerily lit buildings that make up Tacoma’s skyline.
901 Broadway #700
Tacoma, WA 98402
Union Ave
Several homes on Union Ave in Tacoma have also gotten into the Christmas spirit, namely 18th and Union, where almost every shrubbery sports a different color and one house’s roofline even drips with white icicle lights.
N 18th St and Union Ave
Tacoma, WA 98405
Proctor Neighborhood
At 10th and Proctor is the unlikeliest of holiday installations — a tractor! The wheels of the vehicle stand out, aglow in red light, and green and orange cover the body. Perhaps an agricultural take on St. Nicholas’ sleigh? (Note: while the tractor is not yet up, do keep checking back. You don’t want to miss this.)
N 10th St and N Proctor St
Tacoma, WA 98406
Christmas Ship Festival
Given the Pacific Northwest’s rich maritime history, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that holiday lights also grace Tacoma’s waters one night a year (Sunday, December 14 this year). Since 1949, Argosy Cruises has sailed a “Christmas Ship” to various Puget Sound marinas. This floating display of electric lights heads up a parade of boats, and local boaters are encouraged to similarly decorate their vessels and join in on the fun.
Ticket information for the Christmas Ship and Argosy Parade ships can be found by visiting the cruise company’s website. Tacoma residents can also gather on shore, taking in the line of light that dips and bobs with the tide. What’s more, the Christmas Ship broadcasts its onboard Olympia Youth Choir performance via speaker system, sharing the sounds of the season with landlubbers.
Tacoma Docks
Museum of Glass
1801 Dock St
Tacoma, WA 98042
Spanaway/Puyallup
Country Hollow and Silver Creek
A drive through the Country Hollow and Silver Creek area off Meridian and Gem Heights is said to hold some prime colored-light displays. As a rule of thumb, you can wind through streets all month long to see new neighborhoods come alive, bathed in holiday radiance.
Silver Creek Ave E and Country Hollow Dr E
Puyallup, WA 98375
Crystal Ridge
For a true feast for the senses, pull up to Crystal Ridge and Amber Blvd off Shaw Road. Not only do the snowflake lights, lighted hoops and larger-than-life light tree make you do a double take, but the collection is literally put on show, timed to Christmas songs. Be sure to tune your radio to 101.9 FM!
Crystal Ridge DR SE and Amber Blvd SE
Puyallup, WA 98372
Fantasy Lights
For 20 years, families have taken in the season’s sparkle with Fantasy Lights. The holiday drive-through display is the largest in the Northwest, holding nearly 300 installations from the fantastical (bears flying kites, for example) to the more traditional (Santa and company make an appearance, of course). Just like at Crystal Ridge, all lighting blinks to a special selection of Christmas music. Set your radio to 95.3 FM, where a local high school strikes up the band, setting the soundtrack for Fantasy Lights.
The attraction is open every night from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. December 1 to January 1. Find admission information here.
14905 Bresemann Blvd S
Spanaway, WA 98387
Gig Harbor
Whitley Hills
While I’ve mentioned a number of standout homes and professional light shows, Gig Harbor holds a neighborhood effort. Across from Whitley estates, almost every residence is alight. The houses are quite close together, which works to unite all of the individual installations into one block-wide holiday tribute.
Around 40th St NW and 75th Ave Ct NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Holiday Tree Lighting
Just like in Tacoma, Gig Harbor has a Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony of its own. A 45-feet-tall Christmas Tree donated by Joint Base Lewis-McChord will be wrapped in white gold light on Saturday, December 6, at Skansie Brothers Park. Cups of steaming coffee, hot cocoa and cider will be on hand to toast the occasion.
Skansie Brothers Park
3211 Harborview Dr
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Lighted Boat Parade
Another holiday light tradition is brought to you by the Gig Harbor Yacht Club and is set for 5:00 p.m. December 13. During the Lighted Boat Parade, the Yacht Club and other boaters give back to their harborside community with a festive water-bound show — snag a good seat anywhere along the harbor or reserve your own festively lit kayak to get up, close and personal to the action.
Along Harborview Dr
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
