We track 2 displays in Tacoma — the 3rd-densest city for lights in Washington. 1 of them are free to visit.
When to go
Displays here switch on around sunset. In Tacoma that means about 4:22 PM in early December and 4:20 PM by mid-month — the earliest sunsets of the year fall right in the middle of lights season. It is properly dark by about 4:56 PM, which is when the displays look their best. December nights in Tacoma typically drop to around 33°F.
Date
Sunset
Fully dark
Dec 1
4:22 PM
4:57 PM
Dec 15
4:20 PM
4:56 PM
Dec 25
4:25 PM
5:00 PM
Practicalities
Residential displays have no facilities of their own — no parking, no toilets, nowhere to warm up — so it is worth knowing what is around. Within about three miles of the Tacoma cluster, OpenStreetMap maps 2 public car parks and 13 public toilets. There is no shortage of cafés and takeaways for a hot drink on the way round.
November 28, 2025 - January 4, 2026 (closed Dec 24-25) · 4:30-10 p.m.
$14-$20attractionmore than 1.5 million lightsgiant octopus, flaming tree and Narrows Bridge scenesDog Nights on select datesGroovy Goats experiencetimed-entry tickets
Tacoma's zoo strings up more than 1.5 million lights, including signature scenes like a giant octopus, a flaming tree, a Sasquatch and a lit replica of the Narrows Bridge. New for this season are Dog Nights, select dates when visitors can bring their dogs, plus a Groovy Goats animal encounter.
Tollefson Plaza, 1548 Commerce St · Tacoma, Washington
December 31, 2025 - January 11, 2026 · typically dusk – 10 PM
Freeneighborhoodlight art across downtown and HilltopNew Year's Eve kickoff with fire-breathing dragonoutdoor performances
Rather than a December event, this free winter festival kicks off on New Year's Eve with a fire-breathing dragon at Tollefson Plaza and carries the sparkle into January. Light art installations spread through downtown Tacoma and the Hilltop neighborhood.