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Walk and Roll Through the Holidays
As we near the end of 2025, there are many holiday-themed events to check out across Pierce County. Ride Together Pierce has gathered information on a variety of these events from DuPont to Fife to University Place along with tips on how to arrive in a sustainable fashion. Check out events in your own neighborhood, or hop on a bike or bus and see what neighboring towns are up to!
HIGHLIGHTS
Zoolights Nov. 28 - Jan. 4
Step back into the Zoolights tradition you know and love: your Zoo, transformed into a colorful winter wonderland with over 800,000 lights. Timed online tickets required.
Arrive at the zoo via walking, rolling, the Ruston Runner (Pierce Transit service), or Pierce Transit Route 10 and Route 11.
Learn more and purchase your tickets here.
Ice Lights and Ice Bumper Cars, Nov. 28 - Jan. 3
ICE lights is a new lighted ice experience being offered during the holiday season at Sprinker Recreation Center. This year the ice rink will be transformed into a winter wonderland with over 35,000 lights and animated displays. A portion of the rink is set up for Ice Bumper Cars, where you can slide, spin 360 degrees, and bump your friends and family. It's a safe and fun activity that promises excitement and entertainment for everyone.
Arrive at Sprinker Center via walking, rolling, or Pierce Transit Route 1 or Stream.
Learn more and purchase your tickets here.
Rapido Club: Rapido Night Ride, Thursday, Dec. 4, 6 p.m.
Join the Rapido Club group for an end of season party" bike ride starting at Wily Cycleworks on 6th Ave in Tacoma from 6-9 p.m.
Tacoma Coffee Ride: Ride #34, Friday, Dec. 5, 7 a.m.
Join the Tacoma Coffee Ride group for a Friday morning ride! Meet at Wright Park in Tacoma at 7 a.m. for a 12-mile bike ride to Corina Bakery. This ride will be at a "chill pace" and no riders will be left behind. The ride will return to Wright Park by 9 a.m.
Tacoma Night Ride: Christmas Lights Rides, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 6 p.m.
December 9 ride rescheduled to December 12 due to weather.
Tacoma Night Ride (TNR) is doing their annual Christmas Lights ride series. These 15-mile rides start near Brewer's Row in north Tacoma. Another potential ride scheduled for December 30.
Tacoma Coffee Ride: Ride #35, Friday, Dec. 19, 7 a.m.
Join the Tacoma Coffee Ride group for a Friday morning ride! Meet at Wright Park in Tacoma at 7 a.m. for a 7-mile bike ride to Howdy Bagel. This ride will be at a "chill pace" and no riders will be left behind. The ride will return to Wright Park by 9 a.m.
Opalescent Cyclery and 2nd Cycle: Holiday Ride, Saturday, Dec. 20, 6 p.m.
Opalescent Cyclery will be hosting their annual Holiday Lights Ride and shop part on Saturday, December 20. The pre-ride part will begin at Opalescent Cyclery at 814 6th Ave, Tacoma at 4:30 p.m. The 13.-mile ride will begin at 6 p.m. and will be at a "chill pace."
Wheel of Cheez: New Year's Day Ride, Thursday, Jan. 1, 12p.m.
Join the Wheel of Cheez group at 12 p.m. on New Year's Day for a bike ride to Point Defiance to eat bagels and cream cheese. Bring your own bagel toppings!
Tacoma Coffee Ride: Ride #36, Friday, Jan. 2, 7 a.m.
Join the Tacoma Coffee Ride group for a Friday morning ride! Meet at Wright Park in Tacoma at 7 a.m. for an 8-mile bike ride to Sana'a Cafe. This ride will be at a "chill pace" and no riders will be left behind. The ride will return to Wright Park by 9 a.m.
Tacoma On the Go: Light Up Bike Ride, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 6 p.m.
Celebrate the light and the new year with a free, family-friendly bike ride. Meet at Theater Square Plaza, 930 Broadway in Tacoma at 6 p.m. to decorate your bike with lights and reflectors. The ride begins at 6:30 p.m.
Bonney Lake Annual Tree Lighting, Saturday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m.
Kick off the holiday season with festive music, cookies, and help countdown the lighting of the tree. Use your phone to snap a picture with Santa! Bring your family, friends, and your best holiday spirit—don’t miss this magical night. There will also be a toy drive.
Walk or roll to the Bonney Lake Public Safety Building at 18421 Veterans Memorial Drive, Bonney Lake.
City of DuPont Tree Lighting, Friday, Dec. 5, 6 p.m.
Walk or roll to the City of DuPont's annual tree lighting event at Ross Plaza, 1500 Ross Loop.
Learn more about the DuPont Tree Lighting here.
DuPont Walking Tour (available year-round)
Visit interpretive signs in the City of DuPont to learn the history of the town which dates back over 5,000 years.
Free Movie Friday, Friday, Dec. 19, 7 p.m.
Bring the family to enjoy the holiday classic movie "Home Alone" at Edgewood City Hall starting at 7 p.m. Some snacks will be provided, but viewers are encouraged to bring their own snacks, blankets and pillows.
Arrive at Edgewood City Hall on foot, by bike, carpool or Pierce Transit Route 402.
City Hall Tree Lighting, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 6 - 7 p.m.
Come celebrate the season with the Mayor and Santa as they use some holiday magic to light up the trees outside of Fife City Hall at 5411 23rd Street E. There will be free cookies and hot cocoa.
Walk or roll to Fife City Hall or arrive via Pierce Transit Route 501.
Fircrest Annual Tree Lighting, Sunday, Dec. 1, 12 - 8 p.m.
Join for Santa photos, artists, makers, food trucks, fresh wreaths and more!
Arrive at Alice Peers Park via Pierce Transit Route 52.
Lights of Fircrest (self-guided walk tours), starting Thursday, Dec. 11
Fircrest residents are putting on a holiday light show for the Annual Lights of Fircrest Outdoor Holiday Display Contest. The list of registered homes will be available to the community for self-guided tours on Thursday, December 11. The touring guide will be posted on the City of Fircrest website as well as its Facebook page. Paper copies will be available at the Fircrest Community Center.
Downtown Waterfront Gnome Hunt, Dec. 1 - 31
Grab your family or some friends and enjoy a fun-filled Gnome hunt in the Gig Harbor waterfront business district from Dec 1-31. Find at least 15 Gnomes and be entered to win prizes and gift cards to a waterfront business of your choice.
Walk or roll to the Gig Harbor waterfront or arrive via Pierce Transit Route 100.
Skansie Brothers Park Tree Lighting, Saturday, Dec. 6, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
The annual city tree lighting will be a fun and festive holiday event again this year! With live music, festivities and a special appearance from Santa himself. This is a Gig Harbor tradition you and your family won't want to miss! Complimentary cookies & cocoa will be provided.
Walk or roll to Skansie Park, or arrive via Pierce Transit Route 100.
Gig Harbor Lighted Boat Parade, Saturday, Dec. 13, 5 - 6 p.m.
The Gig Harbor Lighted Boat Parade will make the harbor sparkle with a long line of brightly decorated boats, including fishing vessels, pleasure boats and kayaks, will parade twice around Gig Harbor.
The parade route will start at Arabella’s Marina, proceed to the City Dock area, turn inside the harbor entrance, go down the north side of the harbor and turn again to pass by Anthony’s and the marinas in the western bay, and finally come back by Arabella’s and the City Dock before tracing the route a second time.
Walk or roll to the Gig Harbor waterfront or arrive via Pierce Transit Route 100.
Holiday Parade of Lights, Saturday, Dec. 6, 4 - 6 p.m.
Celebrate the holiday season with a free Holiday Parade of Lights at the Lakewood Towne Center. Visitors get to view holiday floats constructed by local businesses, clubs, and organizations. Santa photos, food trucks, and roaming entertainment starting at 4 p.m.
Walk or roll to the Lakewood Towne Center or arrive via Pierce Transit Route 2, Route 3, Route 4, Route 48, Route 202, Route 206, Route 212, Route 214, and Sound Transit Route 574.
Learn more about the event here.
Winter Glow at Lakewold, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 13-14, 20-21, 6 - 9 p.m.
Fill your heart with warmth and your soul with peace at Winter Glow at Lakewold Gardens. Winter is a time to embrace the darkness, connect with nature and honor the changing of the seasons as a reminder that every ending is also a new beginning. Step into the comfort of the festively decorated Wagner House and enjoy live music, dramatic readings, art activities, and enjoy warm beverages.
Walk or roll to Lakewood Gardens or arrive via Pierce Transit Route 214.
Holiday Market, Saturday, Dec. 6, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Arrive at Meridian Habitat Park in Puyallup on foot, bike, carpool or by Pierce Transit Route 402 for the hottest Holiday Market in Pierce County! Experience the home-style setting in Meridian's auditorium while shopping for special holiday gifts. Local artisans will showcase an array of unique Pacific Northwest items. Enjoy free admission, free giveaways and holiday photos, holiday music, shop from local hand-made artisan craft and food trucks.
Lighted Santa Parade, Saturday, Dec. 6, 5 p.m. 
Come to downtown Puyallup to kick off your holidays! At 5 p.m., the lighted Santa Parade will wind its way down Meridian. There will be bands, floats, walking units and more. Fun for everyone in your family!
Walk or roll to S Meridian in downtown Puyallup, or arrive via Pierce Transit Route 402, Route 409, or Puyallup Runner.
Sumner Santa Parade, Saturday, Dec. 6, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Get ready for a festive celebration as the Sumner Main Street Association teams up with the City of Sumner to bring you the beloved Santa Parade! Grab your spot along Main Street and watch in delight as local businesses, performers, and community partners showcase their holiday spirit in a joyful procession.
Walk or roll to downtown Sumner or hop on the Sound Transit Sounder South Train.
Metro Parks Tacoma Holiday Events
Metro Parks Tacoma annually hosts a wide range of holiday themed events throughout November and December, including holiday workshops and music events at the W.W. Seymour Conservatory, ornament decorating and "Holiday Blast" events at various Community Centers and much more.
View the holiday events hosted by Metro Parks Tacoma.
80th Annual Tacoma Holiday Tree Lighting, Saturday, Nov. 30, 5 - 6:30 p.m.
Arrive on foot, by bike, carpool or one of many Pierce Transit and Sound Transit routes to Tacoma’s annual holiday tree lighting ceremony, marking the official start of the holiday season, is set for Saturday, November 30 beginning at 5 p.m. at the Pantages Theater at South 9th Street and Broadway Plaza. There will be free refreshments, free photos with Santa, live entertainment courtesy of the JBLM Brass Quartet, and plenty of holiday cheer to go around. The official tree lighting festivities begin at 6 p.m.
Lantern Making, Saturday, Dec. 20, 4-5 p.m.
Get ready for the Tacoma Light Trail and join them for a family-friendly lantern making workshop at the Moore Tacoma Public Library. Arrive at the Moore Library on foot, by bike, carpool or Pierce Transit Route 1 or Route 41.
Tacoma Lighted Boat Parade, Saturday, Dec. 20, 5:30 pm
Come and enjoy the annual Tacoma Yacht Club Lighted Boat Parade starting in front of Tacoma Yacht Club on the Dune Peninsula and travels along the Ruston waterfront and into the Foss Waterway.
Arrive anywhere along the Ruston Waterfront or Foss Waterway (downtown Tacoma) by walking, rolling, or Pierce Transit! Check out all the bus routes that can get you there.
Tacoma Light Trail, Dec. 31 - Jan. 11
A trail of light art and sound that winds around the city. Discover downtown Tacoma and find the light displays and live performances via walking, biking, Link Light Rail or Pierce Transit. Check out all the bus routes that can get you there.
Learn more about the Tacoma Light Trail here.
Tacoma Walk Series by Tacoma On the Go! (Available year-round)
Downtown Tacoma's transportation advocacy group Tacoma On the Go! has created a variety of walk tours featuring Tacoma's waterfront, murals, musical history, the Puyallup tribe, and more. Find a walk that interests you and follow along with the GeoTourist app!
City of Tacoma History Walking Tours (available year-round)
The City of Tacoma's Office of Historic Preservation invites you to learn more about Tacoma's history on one of the many walking tours that are hosted in their community. Walking tours feature Tacoma sweets, historic schools, sacred spaces, and many historic districts.
Find the self-guided tours on the right side of their website.
Winter Word Scramble, Dec. 1 - 15
Santa’s reindeer have wandered off to Chambers Creek Regional Park. Arrive on foot, by bike or carpool and help find all nine of Santa's Reindeer friends before they leave and go back to the North Pole on December 15.
Download and print Santa’s Clue List or pick one up at the Environmental Services Building. After completing the clue list, turn it in at the Environmental Services Building by December 15 to redeem a prize.
Letters to Santa, Dec. 1 - 12
Arrive at Chambers Creek Regional Park on foot, by bike or carpool and send your letters to Santa at the magical red mailbox, located by the playground.
Christmas Tree Lighting, Friday, Dec. 5, 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Walk, roll or take the Pierce Transit Route 2 to City of University Place's annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Market Square. Come out to enjoy live reindeer, Magic in the PNW live character performers, stilt dance performances, outdoor children’s games and popular food trucks.
Santa Paws, Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Santa Paws is Coming to Town! Dress your furry friend in their best holiday outfit and walk, roll or carpool to the Environmental Service Building outdoor ceremony lawn at Chambers Creek Regional Park to get their picture taken with Santa Claus. Treats and refreshments will be available for both dogs and their owners.