Whether the ground is blanketed in snow or drizzled in the misty rain, the holidays in Washington are chock full of vibrant Christmas spirit. Every corner of the state is bursting with holiday cheer and colorful light displays! But as much as we love destinations like Leavenworth and fun activities like sledding at Mt. Rainier, there's no denying that Seattle boasts some extra magic during the holiday season too. Itching to break that cabin fever? Every year, Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle kicks off WildLanterns - a vibrant, family-friendly lantern festival and adventure in one that's perfect for brightening up your winter season. And it's amazing.

Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo has been delighting Washingtonians with exotic creatures for over a century.

The award-winning zoological garden also hosts quite a few annual events and festivals every year.

WildLanterns debuted in 2020, welcoming families and enchanted visitors alike to a bright, beautiful, brand-new lantern festival that appeals to all ages.

If you haven't visited before, make this your year! Begin the adventure by strolling through the Living Northwest Exhibit, which features animals most of us are familiar with.

Grizzly bears, mountain goats, eagles, and other PNW creatures are found here.

Your journey then continues on to the Jungle Lights exhibit, where you’ll find lanterns of some of the most elusive creatures, like snow leopards.

Afterward, you'll comb the depths of the SeaMazium exhibit and pass plenty of sea creatures before heading to the African Savanna exhibit to check out giraffes, zebras, and more.

The plan to replace the zoo's original WildLights with WildLanterns actually began in 2019, and every year since it has gotten better and better.

After seven years of WildLights, the team at the zoo thought it was time to mix things up a bit.

You never quite know what new surprises have been added to the lineup.

Grab your tickets beforehand to ensure maximum exploration time! The festival typically runs mid-November through mid-January.

The holidays have never looked so wild right here in Washington!

Doesn't this event look beautiful?? These holiday zoo lights in Washington are an absolute treat!

Learn more about WildLanterns, check out this year's opening dates, and grab your tickets on the Woodland Park Zoo website.

To explore even more of the best holiday lights in Seattle, check out some of our favorite Christmas light displays around the state.