Walk and Roll Through the Holidays - 2022!
As we near the end of 2022, there are many holiday-themed events to check out across Pierce County. Pierce Trips 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, bus, or scooter and see what neighboring towns are up to!
HIGHLIGHTS
Zoo Lights Nov. 25 - Jan. 2
Step back into the Zoolights tradition you know and love: your Zoo, transformed into a colorful winter wonderland with over 800,000 lights. Closed Dec. 24 and 25. Open Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Timed online tickets required. Masks are required throughout your Zoolights visit for all guests ages 5+.
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, Dec. 1 - Dec. 31
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. Check back shortly for more details and a video preview of what you can expect!
Arrive at Sprinker Center via walking, rolling, or Pierce Transit Route 1.
Learn more and purchase your tickets here.
Holiday Lights Around Tacoma, Sunday, Dec. 11, 4:30 p.m.
Join Cascade Bicycle Club for a beautiful 16-mile Holiday Lights Ride around Fircrest and University Place. They will bicycle some of the most decorated streets that are known for their brilliant holiday lights. Cyclists are encouraged to decorate their bicycles in their favorite festive holiday lights.
The ride will start at the University Place Library at 4:30 pm. The average pace will be 10-12mph. As always, no bicyclers will be left behind.
Arrive at the University Place Library via rolling or place your bike on Pierce Transit Route 2.
City of DuPont Tree Lighting, Friday, Dec. 2, 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.
City Hall Tree Lighting, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 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, candy canes & hot cocoa.
Walk or roll to Fife City Hall or via Pierce Transit Route 501.
Fircrest Annual Tree Lighting, Sunday, Dec. 4, 6 - 8 p.m.
Join for Santa photos, holiday music with the Dickens Carolers and the Whittier Music Club, refreshments and more!
Arrive at Alice Peers Park and Fircrest Park via Pierce Transit Route 52.
Lights of Fircrest (self-guided walk tours), starting Tuesday, Dec. 14
Fircrest residents are putting on a holiday light show for the 4th Annual Lights of Fircrest Outdoor Holiday Display Contest.
The list of registered homes will be available to the community for self-guided tours on Tuesday, December 13. The touring guide will be posted on the City of Fircrest website as well as its Facebook page. Paper copies will be available at select Fircrest businesses.
Skansie Brothers Park Tree Lighting, Sunday, Dec. 3, 5 - 8 p.m
Join the City of Gig Harbor for the 2022 Holiday Tree Lighting in Skansie Brothers Park. The Mayor and special guest Santa Claus will be on hand to count down to the official lighting, and there will be live acapella entertainment.
Walk or roll to Skansie Park, or arrive via Pierce Transit Route 100.
Gig Harbor Lighted Boat Parade, Saturday, Dec. 10, 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.
Gig Harbor Bike Parade, Sunday, Dec. 18, 4:30 p.m.
Hosted by Cascade Bicycle Club, this bike parade will feature a fun, social ride around the harbor. This is a no-drop event, and the loop is 6 miles and fairly flat. Folks are encouraged to decorate their bikes and helmets for the parade.
Christmas Parade of Lights, Saturday, Dec. 10, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Celebrate the holiday season with a free Christmas 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 4:00pm
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.
Request your free bus pass here (scroll to the bottom of the page).
Lighted Santa Parade, Saturday, Dec. 3, 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, Route 425.
Downtown Tacoma Haul Crawl, Saturday, Nov. 29 - Dec. 10, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The annual Holiday Haul Crawl was created by the Downtown Tacoma Partnership 6 years ago to incentivize shoppers to buy their holiday gifts from downtown retailers. With over 150 shops, restaurants, and other businesses in Downtown Tacoma, you can find lots of unique gifts for your loved ones.
Be sure to join on December 3rd and December 10th for two very special in-person shopping days. All-day shops will be offering discounts, gifts with purchase, and fun activities including carriage rides, free photos with Santa and Krampus and an Elf on the Shelf Scavenger Hunt.
Arrive at downtown Tacoma via walking, biking, Razor Scooters, Link Light Rail or Pierce Transit. Check out all the bus routes that can get you there.
Learn more about the Haul Crawl on their website or social media.
Tacoma Lighted Boat Parade, Saturday, Dec. 18, 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 at the Ruston Waterfront or Foss Waterway by walking, rolling, taking Razor Scooters, or Pierce Transit! Check out all the bus routes that can get you there.
Tacoma Light Trail, Dec. 31 - Jan. 19
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, Razor Scooters, Link Light Rail or Pierce Transit. Check out all the bus routes that can get you there.
Learn more about the Tacoma Light Rail here.
Rock the Rink, Feb. 10 - 11, various times
“Rock The Rink” is an upbeat and exciting ice show at Sprinker Center that will get you on your feet and ready to dance to decades of nostalgic music. Showtimes are Friday, Feb. 10 at 6:30 pm, Saturday, Feb. 11 at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15/person.
Arrive at Sprinker Center via walking, rolling, or Pierce Transit Route 1.
Tacoma Walk Series by Downtown On the Go! (Available year-round)
Downtown Tacoma's transportation advocacy group Downtown: 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!
Check out the walks from 2021 and 2022 here.
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.
Reindeer Scavenger Hunt, December 1 - 16
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 16.
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 16 to redeem a prize.
Christmas Tree Lighting, Friday, Dec. 2, 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 food trucks, kettle corn, kids’ activities, the Curtis High School drum line and choir, as well as pictures with Santa and Elsa and Anna from Disney’s “Frozen.”
Santa Paws, Saturday, Dec. 3, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 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.
Trek Tacoma Holiday Lights Ride, Monday, Dec. 5, 5 - 7 p.m.
Hosted by Trek Bicycle Tacoma, this holiday-themed group ride will be at a casual, no-drop pace and enjoyable for all riders and skill levels. The ride will depart from Trek bicycle shop in University Place, then head to Fircrest and back. No holiday ride would be complete without a festive beverage — so meet up back at the shop after the ride for a toast with new friends.
Learn more about the bike ride and RSVP here.
Build a Snowman, Saturday, Jan. 21, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Walk, roll, or carpool to the North Meadows of Chambers Creek Regional Park and enjoy the winter weather as you learn to make your own snow! You can build a personal snowman or have a friendly snowball fight with your family! Music, hot cocoa, and plenty of laughter will be provided to keep you warm.