15 Magical Things to Do for Christmas in Leavenworth
Wondering what to do in Leavenworth, Washington at Christmas time?
I love visiting Leavenworth during Christmas as it’s the most festive town in Washington State. Not only does it harken to a nostalgic European Christmas, it becomes a dazzling Village of Lights.
You’ll feel like you’re walking through a Hallmark movie!
🤓 Fun Fact: The Lifetime movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Christmas” was filmed here!
Let me show you all the things to do in this enchanting Christmas Village!
My Favorite Leavenworth Christmas Activities
We’ll get into the deets about each Christmas-y activity in sec, but if you’re in a hurry, these are my three favorite winter things to do in Leavenworth:
- 🍷 Glühwein hopping – Most of the wineries in town serve up warm, fragrantly spicy wine; it smells like Christmas in a cup and makes my insides feel like it’s getting a hug
- 🚶♂️➡️Winter Wonderland Walking Tour – I love this tour cuz it combines all my favorite things: great food, walking with a local, and learning something new along the way!
- 🎅 Kris Kringle Christmas store – Walking through this store feels like Christmas threw up all over the place (in a good way) and if you’re looking for a specific ornament, they probably have it.
Okay, so now let’s explore what there is to do in Leavenworth at Christmas time in greater detail and in no particular order!
Where to Stay in Leavenworth
⛰️ Scenic Mountain Views – Hotel Leavenworth
👨👩👧👦 Family-Friendly Activities On-Site – Icicle Village Resort
🌹 Luxuriously Romantic Adults-Only B&B – Abendblume
1. Village of Lights
The Leavenworth Christmas lighting, aka Village of Lights, is probably the whole reason you’ve come out to this town in the mountains. With over half a million lights, you’ll find them adorning just about every building and tree in town.
There is no shortage of places to perfectly frame your selfies, your Tik Toks, your family photos, or your Instagram pics with the Leavenworth Christmas lights.
In the past, there used to be a designated time when the lights would be turned on officially, but they have since changed it to the lights being on 24/7. I appreciate this approach as it keeps a festive atmosphere in town all day, particularly on gloomy overcast days.
The lights stay on from Thanksgiving to February, so even if you don’t make it to Leavenworth during the Christmas season, you still have a chance to experience all the twinkling glory past the new year.
2. Christmastown at the Festhalle
The auditorium inside the Festhalle gets turned into a fun Christmas event center, a good place to warm up and keep the festivities going.
The Festhalle activities include:
- Gingerbread house competition display
- Photos with SantaCrafts for kids, like coloring pages and ornament making
- Christmas storytime
- Letters to Santa
- Display of Santa costumes from around the world
- Photo op stations
- Free gift wrapping station
- Hot cocoa and snacks
- Christmastown merchandise
I was impressed with the creative gingerbread house display. There was a competition for different age levels and visitors could vote on their favorites.
The Santa costume display was a bit sparse, but pretty.
The photo opp displays had three categories: cheesy, Instagramm-y, and classic. So take your pick lol!
The kids seemed to be enjoying the arts and crafts and were totally engaged during storytime.
Santa is available for photos on the weekends only, so alas, I missed him on my visit!
3. Winter Wonderland Bavarian Walking Tour
The Winter Wonderland Tour includes:
- Engaging and educational walking tour guide
- Hot cocoa
- Handmade chocolate
- Glühwein (for 21+)
- Holiday ornament per party
- 7-day pass to Greater Leavenworth Historical Museum
- Fond Leavenworth memories!
I thoroughly enjoyed my Bavarian Walking Tour with Tom! It was as delightful as it was educational as he shared historical nuggets and fun factoids while sampling tasty goodies from local businesses.
The Winter Wonderland Tour spreads Christmas cheer as you try delicious hot cocoa, divine handmade chocolates, and for those of age, the traditional glühwein!
As an added bonus, each party will receive a limited edition holiday ornament to remember this magical experience.
And as another bonus, the ticket also includes a seven-day pass to the Greater Leavenworth Historical Museum, where you can dive deeper into the rich history of this charming town.
Instead of just wandering aimlessly through town on your own, you’ll have a better understanding on what makes Leavenworth so special.
Book Your Spot on the Winter Wonderland Walking Tour Here >>
4. Leavenworth Reindeer Farm
Just a short one mile from the heart of Christmastown, meet Santa’s reindeer in person at the family-owned Leavenworth Reindeer Farm.
It’s a perfect (but spendy) activity for families and Christmas enthusiasts. The farm offers hands-on, educational tours where you learn a lot about reindeer.
Hold shed antlers and see how heavy they can be. Then go into the pen where you get to feed the reindeer from your hands (I love the feel of their silky noses!).
And if you’re wondering what Rudolph tastes like, order a tasty Alaskan Reindeer Sausage! 😜
You’ll create a fond Christmas memory with family and fun photos to prove it!
5. Glühwein Hopping
In the spirit of Christmas tradition, you will find a plethora of glühwein (hot mulled wine) during the winter season.
Sandwich boards line the sidewalks of businesses advertising their glühweins, so you can DIY a spice wine walk in town.
This spiced vino is one of my favorite holiday treats and it’s the perfect drink for cozying up in a wine tasting room or with your restaurant meal.
And just like every snowflake has it’s own unique, one-of-a-kind design, every glühwein is different from the next.
On one visit to Leavenworth I tried 6 different glühweins:
- Woohoo Winery – pretty basic, not warm enough
- Yodelin – good; citrusy
- Goose Ridge Estate Winery – very heavy on the anis, so a strong licorice after taste; good bang for buck
- Mozart’s – made with added rum but didn’t taste it; very sweet
- Bergdorf Cellars – less sweet than normal, but in a good way; my 2nd favorite; cozy cabin-y atmosphere
- Icicle Creek Winery – GOLDEN glühwein, made with white wine, was my favorite of all the ones I tasted!
I think it will be hard to find a bad cup of glühwein, but if you have enough, you’ll definitely find a favorite!
You might also like:
• Things to do in Leavenworth in the Summer
• Wenatchee River Float in Leavenworth
6. Sleigh Ride or Christmas-y Carriage Ride
Sleigh Rides
When there’s snow on the ground, you can find horse drawn sleigh rides just outside of Leavenworth proper.
Take a magical sleigh ride through snow-covered forests and meadows like scenes from a Christmas card, enjoying the crisp winter air as you’re cozily nestled under a blanket.
Afterwards, you can warm yourselves by a fire with a cup of hot cider.
Leavenworth companies with sleigh rides:
- Leavenworth Sleigh Rides
- Eagle Creek Sleigh Rides
- Icicle Outfitters
Carriage Ride
If you are in town, it will be hard to miss the horse drawn carriage rides that picks up passengers below the Maypole.
The carriage and horse are all decked out in holiday flare. As you make your way through the charming Bavarian village of lights, wave at passerbys and soak in the festive ambiance.
These carriage rides are cash only and first come, first served.
7. Christmastown at the Gazebo
Throughout the week, especially on the weekends, you’ll be able to catch live performances in the Front Street Park gazebo.
Carolers, bands, or surprisingly melodic alphorns will serenade the park as you gaze at the Christmas lights.
Keep a lookout on weekends for Christmas characters showing up, especially the arrival of Santa!
8. Nutcracker Museum
What’s Christmastime without some sort of mention of the Nutcracker ballet?
If you’re a fan of the holiday classic, the Nutcracker Museum is home to a jaw-dropping (get it?! 😜) collection of over 9,000 nutcrackers from more than 50 countries.
They range from ancient nutting stones from the Archaic period to modern masterpieces crafted in acrylic.
The museum showcases the rich artistry of these charming tools, made from an array of materials including bone, horn, ivory, and even porcelain.
You’ll leave with a higher appreciation for the humble nutcracker as a piece of art and cultural tradition, not just as a Christmas ballet.
9. Kris Kringle
It’s Christmas all year round at Kris Kringle! This two story Christmas shop has every ornament imaginable and a whole room of different Christmas villages (the Harry Potter themed village is my favorite!).
If you wanna feel like Christmas threw up all over you, you’ve come to the right place! I love coming here every time I’m in Leavenworth, but I am always stickershocked at the prices.
If you are familiar with the Italian nativity collection Fontanini, you’re in for a real treat! Not only is their display and inventory impressive, Kris Kringle is the only store “west of the Mississippi” who often hosts the president of the company itself for a day during the Christmas season!
Meet Emmanuele Fontanini, all the way from Italy, who will sign any figurine you’d like. If you can’t make it the day he arrives, the store will hold the figurine for you, have him sign it, and send it to you.
💁♀️ Tab’s Trip Tip: whenever he visits, the store sells an exclusive figurine only available to stops on his tour – a perfect special souvenir!
The owner told me that his schedule is supposed to have him come every other year but he has come for three consecutive years because he likes visiting so much!
10. Fondue
Another wintery treat harkening from the Alp-like surroundings is fondue. If you’re a cheesehead like me, a bowl of warm melted cheese with a platter of dipping items will definitely call your name!
I got my fondue from Mozart’s under the “Starter” section of the menu. I shared it with my friend as an entree and it was good, not great, and almost enough to satiate.
A little kerosene flame kept the ramekin of cheese warm as we picked the platter of bread, potatoes, broccoli, sausages, apples, and grapes (which was the least complimenting combo).
I was little disappointed that it wasn’t as cheesy of a fondue as I was expecting; it was more sauce-like. We also had to add salt for flavor.
But it was still a fun food to get and the view of the lighted trees in the park from the second story was beautiful.
Another place to find fondue is at JJ Hill’s Fresh Grill at the Icicle Village Resort.
11. The Gingerbread Factory
Gingerbread houses have become an iconic Christmas tradition blending culinary creativity with festive decoration. Leavenworth plays its part to contribute with The Gingerbread Factory.
You’ll find lines all day long of people wanting a piece of this spiced holiday cookie that comes in all shapes and sizes like mittens, Christmas trees, or gingerbreadmen.
If you don’t want a cookie you could try gingerbread bread or gingerbread cheesecake instead.
12. Roasted Chestnuts
It’s not Christmas without chestnuts roasting on an open fire, am I right?!
A booth in Front Street Park opens up in the evening selling a bag of roasted chestnuts. These warm, buttery soft nuts help bring the Christmas-y village feel full circle, especially munching them as you watch Christmas carolers under the gazebo.
I don’t know if it’s allowed, but you might wanna ask if you can munch them while you’re on your carriage ride through town!
13. Alpine Coaster at Leavenworth Adventure Park
This isn’t your average winter sleigh ride folks! The alpine coaster at Leavenworth Adventure Park is a 700-foot roller coaster ride 35 feet off the ground with three 360-degree spiral helix circles and a 234-foot drop!
You can control your own speed, going as fast as 27mph or pulling the side brakes for a slower, more scenic ride to enjoy the Christmas lights in town below.
Each cart fits 1 or 2 people, but it looks pretty tight for two adults.
And remember, while they do have a “windshield” , it can still get chilly – so BUNDLE UP!
Afterwards, grab a s’more kit to roast over an open fire or warm up your insides with glühwein or hot cocoa (with whip cream and candy cane of course!)
Now, while I had a blast on this alpine coaster, I feel like it was too expensive for the short, 2-minute experience. But you can be your own judge of that.
💁♀️ Tab’s Trip Tip: the park doesn’t close until 7pm and sunset is around 4:15pm during the Christmas season, which means coastering in the dark! Your cart has a headlight but the track is not lit up but your cart has a headlight, so those curves will come out of nowhere!
14. Tea With Santa
Icicle Village Resort hosts a special Christmas tea party with Santa at JJ Hills Fresh Grill!
On Saturdays leading up to Christmas, you can enjoy Christmas teas, hot cocoa, and a tiered platter of sweet and savory treats with Santa and his friends from the North Pole.
Get those holiday photos with Santa while enjoying some delicious goodies prepared by Executive Chef Will Whitney.
15. Sledding
If you’re “going for a new amateur recreational saucer sled land speed record” there are a couple of places you can try.
Front Street Park has a small hill that is great and safe for small kids to sled down.
The Leavenworth Golf Course has designated sledding areas that is fun for all ages. The ticket does not include a sled, so bring your own, buy one there, or rent a tube.
The Lt Michael Adams Tubing Park at Leavenworth Ski Hill has a 100 foot tubing hill with a rope tow to bring you to the top. However, I don’t know if you can call it snow tubing if half the run is covered in rugs and mats, which helps control the speed. And the ticket only allows for 6 runs down the hill (tube is included).
If you forgot to bring your sled to Leavenworth, some of the boutique shops sell them, surprisingly. Or check the outdoor stores.
16. Christmas Concerts and Live Performances
Soak up some Christmas concerts and events to brighten the day!
- Icicle Creek Center for the Arts – various artists perform in this beautiful venue with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the wintery wonderland outside.
- Wine Tasting Rooms – some of the wine tasting rooms around town have live performances; you’ll need to check in with them for more information. A couple you can look into are:
Tips for Visiting Leavenworth Christmas Village
Keep an Eye on the Weather
Leavenworth sits in the middle of the North Cascades, surrounded by mountains, which means snow! Most of the time the roads are just wet but they can get sketchy or even close when the weather is too bad.
I like to keep an eye on the road conditions using these super helpful live cams:
It’s important to know what the conditions are like going through the passes as those are the worst sections of the highways.
The in-town cameras are not only fun to people watch on but you can also see what the road conditions are like.
Visiting Weekday vs Weekend
Visiting during the week typically seems like a better idea, but sometimes you might want to visit on a weekend instead. You’ll want to weight the pros and cons to see what works best for you.
Pros of visiting on a weekday:
- Easier to get into restaurants without a reservation
- More room to move in shops
- Hotels have more availability and typically cheaper prices
Cons of visiting on a weekday:
- Not as many live performances or events
- The town can seem a bit dead, so not as exciting
- Some businesses will be closed
- Some businesses will have shorter hours
How to Get to Christmas Town Leavenworth
By Car
- From Seattle via US-2:
- Take I-5 North: Head north on Interstate 5 from Seattle.
- Merge onto US-2 East: Near Everett, take the US-2 East exit.
- Continue to Leavenworth: Follow US-2 East through Monroe and Sultan until you reach Leavenworth.
- From Seattle via I-90:
- Take I-90 East: Depart from Seattle on Interstate 90 East.
- Merge onto US-97 North: Near Cle Elum, take the exit to merge onto US-97 North.
- Connect to US-2 East: Continue on US-97 North until you reach Wenatchee. Then, merge onto US-2 East toward Leavenworth.
- From Wenatchee/Spokane:
- Take US-2 West: Head west on US-2 West directly to Leavenworth.
By Shuttle
If you’re coming from Seattle but you’re not keen on driving, don’t have a car, or need a designated driver from all the glühwein, fear not!
There is a shuttle service from Seattle to Leavenworth giving you a convenient and stress-free option. It eliminates the hassle of navigating icy roads and dealing with potential traffic, allowing you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenic ride.
Oktaytours – sameday return but only 2hrs to explore Leavenworth
Flixbus – staying overnight required
By Train
The Christmas train to Leavenworth doesn’t run anymore, but you can still pretend you’re on the Polar Express by taking the Amtrak train from Seattle to Leavenworth’s Christmastown.
This “Christmas train” to Leavenworth will only be worthwhile if you are spending at least 2 nights in Leavenworth as it gets to town around 8pm and leaves Leavenworth around 7am the next morning.
Keep in mind this also means that the views out the window will be pretty slim going to Leavenworth as it doesn’t leave until late afternoon when it’s already almost dark. However, on the way back to Seattle you’ll have daylight.
Another thing to note is that the train station is not conveniently located close to downtown and you will want to book a shuttle from the station to your hotel.
Coach tickets sell out at least a month or two in advance, so book your tickets as soon as you can.
Is Leavenworth Worth It For Christmas?
Undoubtedly, YES!! Leavenworth is the best Christmas town in Washington and definitely worth visiting.
With its magical Christmas lights, enchanting activities, and delightful wining and dining, it is a winter wonderland that truly brings the spirit of Christmas to life.
Whether you’re visiting on a weekday or a weekend, there’s always something special going on to put you in a festive mood. It’s also the perfect town to have a DIY Christmas themed trip!
Just remember to keep an eye on the weather, as the roads can get a little snowy.
