4 Fun Washington Traditions

The Lights of Christmas Festival

Held in Warm Beach Camp in Stanwood, The Lights of Christmas festival displays over one million lights and is one the largest holiday light festivals in the Pacific Northwest. Festivities are held every weekend in December with activities for all ages.

Kids can enjoy the Polar Express Train, pony rides, a petting farm, storytelling and—of course—a visit with Santa. Adults can register for a 5-course meal that’s paired with a live holiday-themed theater performance. For something more low-key, check out the acoustic sets and spoken word performances at the Starry Night Coffee House.

Belgian Fest

If you’re a fan of beer — Belgian beer, that is — then you don’t want to miss Belgian Fest. This event is held every January in Seattle and features beer styles like dubbels, saisons, stouts, lambics, tripels, and wits. To keep the festival as genuine as possible, all beers are brewed with Belgian yeast. The 2016 season served over 100 beers crafted by Washington breweries such as Elysian Brewing, American Brewing Company, and Big Al Brewing.

The next Belgian Fest is on Jan. 28, 2017. You can expect your admission to include a tasting glass and 10 tasting tokens. The admission price is significantly reduced for designated drivers. If you can’t make it to Belgian Fest, make sure to check out one of Washington’s other beer festivals.

Leavenworth Christmas Lighting Festival

The small Bavarian-themed town of Leavenworth holds one of the most popular Christmas festivals in the state. Running from Thanksgiving through to New Years, it holds Christmas lighting ceremonies every Saturday and Sunday on the first three weekends of the month. The unique architecture combined with over 500,000 lights and a winter mountain backdrop makes for a magical sight.

Try grabbing some hot roasted chestnuts and then going on a horse-drawn sleigh ride. Families with children can go sledding in Front Street Park. People of all ages will appreciate the festive atmosphere. Carolers sing while costumed characters such as Santa and Father Christmas wander the streets.

Museum of Pop Culture

Located in Seattle, the Museum of Pop Culture is the go-to place for music and movie lovers. The exhibits are fun and interactive, featuring props and costumes from various films and television shows.

The “Star Trek” exhibit features Captain Kirk’s command chair and navigation console, available for public viewing for the very first time. Music fans can check out the Hendrix and Nirvana exhibits. If you’re a fan of “Lord of the Rings,” “Game of Thrones,” or “The Princess Bride,” then you’ll enjoy the fantasy themed exhibit. For the horror fans, there’s a PG-13 rated exhibit that features an interactive scream booth as well as props from classic movies like “The Shining” and “Alien.”

Whether you’re a history buff, a movie fan, or just someone who loves the holidays, there’s something fun for you to do in Washington.

Image via Pixabay | CC 0