Meeting Santa on the Eastside | Eastside Family Calendar

Tree lightings and Santa visits that cities and organizers have dated for 2026, plus the two Santa trains.

The free nights are mostly one-evening tree lightings. The visits that run for weeks charge zoo admission or a train ticket. The Christmas hub keeps the dated listings. Best Christmas lights is the displays.

Bellevue

Holiday Barn Lighting is Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Kelsey Creek Farm, 410 130th Place SE. The city says parking, admission, and many activities are free. Some activities sell tickets on site. The night starts with carols, sheep in lights, Santa, and a countdown to the barn lights. Families can meet the animals and watch them eat inside the barn. On-site parking is limited. Overflow parking is at International School, 445 128th Avenue SE.

Snowflake Lane is the free parade, not a posted Santa visit. It runs November 27 through December 24, every night at 7 p.m., on Bellevue Way between NE 4th and NE 8th.

Issaquah

Issaquah Highlands Holiday Tree Lighting is Thursday, November 19, 2026, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., at Village Green Park, 2550 NE Park Drive. The Highlands list free hot chocolate, apple cider, and cookies, carols, and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The tree lights at 5:30 p.m.

Issaquah Reindeer Festival at Cougar Mountain Zoo, 19525 SE 54th Street, brings Santa back November 27, 2026. Santa is there November 27 through December 23, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Festival hours those days are 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or dusk. December 26 through 30 the holiday fun continues from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. without Santa. Admission is at the gate. Santa photos ask for an extra donation. The photo is a tiger at the zoo, not the reindeer yard.

Caroling at the Depot is December 3, 2026, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Issaquah Depot Museum, 78 1st Avenue NE. Santa and Mrs. Claus are there for photos. The Downtown Issaquah Association provides hot chocolate and candy canes and leads the sing-along.

Woodinville, Duvall, and the valley

Celebrate Woodinville lists the Holiday Fair and tree lighting for December 5, 2026, from 3 to 6 p.m. at DeYoung Park, with pictures with Santa and the tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. The same site lists a car parade on December 13, 2026. Check the 2026 schedule for the parade time and route.

Novelty Hill Farm lights its tree Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 26617 NE 124th Street. Santa leads the countdown. The farm says the ticket link goes up closer to the night.

Light Up Duvall is Friday, December 4, 2026, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Depot Park, 26219 NE Burhen Way, with free Santa photos in the Depot Building.

Gnometown Holidays is Thursday, December 3, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 4 Corners in Maple Valley. The ceremony and the mayor’s welcome are at 6:15 p.m. Santa, live reindeer, a mini train, a wagon ride, and the youth symphony are part of the night. The city does not say the night is free.

Covington’s community tree lighting is Friday, December 4, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Don Henning Roundabout by the Fred Meyer parking lot. The lighting is about 7:15 p.m. Crafts and activities are free, with cocoa, carols, and Santa.

Mercer Island and Snoqualmie

Mercer Island lists a free holiday tree lighting at Mercerdale Park on December 3, 2026. A time is not posted. Check the 2026 schedule.

Snoqualmie lists a free tree lighting at the Railroad Park gazebo on Saturday, December 5, 2026. A time is not posted. Kids can drop a wish list in the Santa letter box during the winter lights walk. Check the 2026 schedule for the lighting time.

Santa trains

The Northwest Railway Museum runs two trains. Buy ahead. The museum does not refund a ticket unless the train does not run.

Yuletide Express leaves the Snoqualmie Depot, 38625 SE King Street, on Friday, December 4, December 11, and December 18. The ride is about 40 minutes, past Snoqualmie Falls. Santa visits each family. Riders get a small gift and a peppermint. Tickets are $30 for ages 2 and up. Children under 2 do not need a ticket. Museum staff take photos, and the museum says you do not pay extra for them.

North Pole Limited leaves the North Bend Depot, 205 E McClellan Street, on November 28 and 29, December 5 through 7, December 12 and 13, and December 19 and 20. The trip is about two hours, with time in the Train Shed and a visit with Santa in the Chapel Car, plus a gift, cookies, and a hot drink. Tickets are $39 for ages 2 and up. The photo is the Train Shed in Snoqualmie, which is the stop in the middle of this trip, not the North Bend platform.