The granddaddy of holiday villages—they even call it "Christmastown"—illuminates the Central Washington city of Leavenworth all the way through February. The Bavarian decor feels right with all the twinkles, plus the town shifted from a ceremonial flipping of the switch every night (which focused the crowds at one particular moment) to keeping the illumination bright from 6am to 11pm. Costumes, both from an official roaming Santa and unofficial Krampuses, are common.

The decades-old Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium event is so popular, advance tickets are required. Almost a million lights make up the display, including long light tunnels and twinklers in the shape of a giant Pacific octopus. The zoo animals snooze their way through the nightly event, except for the wonderfully named Groovy Goats in holiday coats who do an after-hours petting zoo.

It's cold out, and the seat warmers in your car are toasty. Visitors to Spanaway Park's annual event stay in the warmth, driving 2.2 miles past almost 300 lighted displays. Holiday 3D lenses will add candy canes or snowflakes to every point of brightness, and an accompanying soundtrack plays on a local AM station.

Like Spanaway's event, Stanwood's spectacle is viewed through car windows, ideal for squirmy kids and adults who need rest from Elf on the Shelfing every night. This route, near Camano Island north of Everett, includes two themed activity stops—Santa's Village and Joyland—that allow everyone out of the car. Mini doughnuts and kettle corn at the check-in area keep energy levels high.

The Mason County city of Shelton is also claiming the title of Christmastown because it scored a Guinness World Record for the most lit Christmas trees (some 797 of them) in 2019. Now, the town mounts an illuminated Christmas tree maze—both a holiday event and salute to the local timber industry—plus a series of events like a photo scavenger hunt and a cookie stroll.

The annual event in Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland takes place just the first weekend of December. Boats draped in decorations navigate the Columbia River for viewers on both banks, with no rules other than boats should be lit up (and follow a few safety rules, of course). Stake a viewpoint from shoreline parks, or board a cruise complete with a midparade meal. 

The Olympic Peninsula city once known for its proximity to Twilight now embraces the artistic side of night. The community does a lantern walk through Webster's Woods, a sculpture park in town; workshops run in the preceding weeks to create your own lantern. Art installations use light in surprising ways, and performers dance with fire. 

The Olympic National Park lodge gets a festive makeover in the style of Clark W. Griswold. Okay, maybe the historic lodge's lighting won't be quite that dramatic, but Santa is scheduled to appear alongside carolers and warm holiday drinks for the big moment. Later in the season, the lodge hosts a Christmas Day brunch and New Year's polar plunge into Lake Crescent.