Village of Lights expands programming and institutes an “Always On” approach to the Christmas lights.

This December, midweek and on weekends, we plan on celebrating our eyepopping display of over half a million lights (including the addition of more lighting displays around town), hosting festive concerts and entertainment, holiday characters for your photo ops, strolling carolers, kids’ activities, roasting chestnuts, Santa photos and so much more!

Here is a sneak peek at some of the great things we are adding to our month-long celebration in December:

• New lighting displays and a fun scavenger hunt

• Santa costumes from around the world on display and in town

• Gingerbread House competition with amazing prizes

• A chance to win a Leavenworth themed Christmas tree loaded with gifts

• A Letters to Santa writing station and mailboxes

• Kids lebkuchen heart gingerbread necklaces craft station

• Holiday movies for the kids

• Festive gift wrapping station

• Krampusnacht (Krampus night)

• A free locally made ornament if you shop midweek

• Month-long Advent Calendar giveaway with daily prizes

The Village of Lights has also made some changes to help mitigate crowd sizes, spread out the parking availability, elevate the experience for our visitors and locals and make better use of our public spaces. The primary difference will be the absence of the traditional ceremonial “flipping of the switch” on Saturdays and Sundays. Instead, the town lights will shine bright every day of the week and the entertainment and fun with programming at the Gazebo and the Festhalle will happen more frequently and  until 8:00 p.m. on weekends.

To hear more about the changer, our Chamber Director, Troy Campbell, explains more about these changes in a recent interview on KOHO Radio.