Winter Karneval in Leavenworth 2025, Seattle

There is no better place to celebrate winter in the Seattle area than the Bavarian village of Leavenworth, with its abundance of snow and outdoor activities. Every January, Leavenworth holds the Village of Lights: Winter Karneval event to honor a German tradition of Fasching and to showcase all the best things about the cold and snowy season.

Festival Lights

The first thing that you notice during the festival is a magical illumination. Leavenworth is dressed in about half a million beautiful lights and various other decorations. From regular string lights on the windows of local businesses to intricate light installations, the Bavarian village of Leavenworth goes all out during the winter season.

Other Festival Events

In addition to the scenic landscapes with lights, families can witness breathtaking Snow Sculptures scattered around town. Live ice carving demonstrations and fireworks take place over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend. The sculptors create masterpieces of all shapes and forms out of ice, while the fireworks display adorns the sky over Leavenworth. The spectacle is visible all throughout the city. Outdoor sports enthusiasts are sure to enjoy an ice rink for kids and games like Frisbee Sweep, Ice Cube Scramble, Smooshing, Snowball Toss, and Ice Fishing.

The plaza in front of Leavenworth Gazebo in Front Street Park serves as a venue for numerous performances on the weekend. This year's lineup is set to feature fire dancers, showcasing their skillful handling of this dangerous element. Adults can also participate in Fasching Pub Crawl—Masquerade, with masks, colorful beads, featured drinks, and bites provided at the participating bars and pubs throughout Leavenworth.

Schedule

Christmas lights are lit from 6 am until 11 pm every day of the festival. Fire dancers are set to perform in front of the Gazebo at 5 pm. 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm on Saturday, January 11th, and at 4 pm, 5 pm, and 6:30 pm on Sunday, January 12th. Live ice carving demos are scheduled from 12 pm until 3 pm on January 18-19 at Front Street Park. Fireworks launch at 6 pm on January 19th. Finally, the Fasching Pub Crawl closes out the month of merriment on January 24th-26th.

Other Activities in Leavenworth

Leavenworth is situated in close proximity to Stevens Pass, just 35 miles (56 km) away. There are plenty of cross-country, downhill skiing, and snowboarding trails to explore at the ski area. Ski Hill, the local hot spot for winter sports, is located just a two-mile (3 km) drive from Leavenworth downtown and offers numerous options for sledding, snow tubing, and snowmobiling.