Rally is researching the season
Christmas with kids in Yakima
In Yakima, Santa once toured town on a flatbed truck, and pine boughs were strung across Yakima Avenue until the 1960s. Today the city's Christmas centers on a lighted parade and a tree at Millennium Plaza.
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The story of Christmas in Yakima
How Yakima celebrates
The Yakima Herald-Republic traces the current lighted parade to 1999, when local businessman Joe Mann started it. It runs on the first Sunday in December, the same evening the community tree at Millennium Plaza is lit. Long before that, a community Christmas tree stood on North Second Street, pine boughs hung across East Yakima Avenue into the 1960s, and Santa visited neighborhoods on a flatbed truck, handing out candy. Businesses strung lights to attract shoppers, much as they do now.
Christmas last year in Yakima
In 2025 the 26th annual Holiday Lighted Parade took place on Sunday, December 7, at 6 pm, ending at the Capitol Theatre in time for the tree lighting, with selfies with Santa afterward. On December 12 and 13, the Yakima Area Arboretum's Luminaria lit a mile-long loop with 1,000 candles. The sixth annual drive-thru Holiday Light Fest at State Fair Park ran December 12 to 21 with over 35 miles of lights. The Yakima Valley Museum displayed trees decorated by more than 25 local nonprofits.
Fun facts about Christmas in Yakima
The first modern Yakima parade ran westbound, but its direction was reversed because the lineup caused backups on Interstate 82. The parade's Santa is a local dancing Santa, Michael Johansing, and entries are free thanks to a local savings bank, so floats, bands, dancers, horses and classic cars all join in. The drive-thru Light Fest was inspired by a display in Branson, Missouri, and its opening night drew hundreds of cars. The community tree has been a 25-foot evergreen donated by a local family and lifted into place by crane.
Trains and Christmas near Yakima
Yakima has its own trolley story. Yakima Valley Trolleys runs a historic electric trolley on the 6th Avenue Line, with Halloween and Santa trolleys in fall and winter. Adults pay $8 and kids $6. A 2019 holiday guide also listed Toy Train Christmas weekends at the Northern Pacific Railway Museum in Toppenish, where a caboose ride led to Santa and Mrs. Claus. The museum is a restored 1911 depot with a working telegraph office, but its regular season runs May 1 to October 15.
- Yakima Valley Trolleys: Ride a historic electric trolley on Yakima's 6th Avenue Line, with Santa trolleys in fall and winter.
- Northern Pacific Railway Museum: A restored 1911 Northern Pacific depot in Toppenish with a telegraph office, a freight room of speeders and a yard of steam engines and cars.
Traditions today
- Holiday Lighted Parade: A Sunday evening parade down Yakima Avenue that ends at the Capitol Theatre just in time for the tree lighting, with selfies with Santa afterward.
- Millennium Plaza Christmas tree: A community tree lit on the first Sunday in December as the lighted parade finishes.
- Luminaria at the Yakima Area Arboretum: A mile-long candlelit loop with 1,000 candles, children's crafts and hot cocoa, held in mid December.
- Holiday Drive-Thru Light Fest: A drive-through display at State Fair Park with over 35 miles of lights, now in its sixth year.
- Letters for Santa: A free drive-thru from Yakima Parks and Recreation where families drop letters in a mailbox and Mrs. Claus greets cars.
- Yakima Valley Museum holiday trees: More than 25 local nonprofits decorate themed trees and visitors vote for their favorites.
A fact for kids
Long ago in Yakima, Santa did not have a sleigh in town. He rode around on a flatbed truck, handing out candy and chatting with kids.
Questions about Christmas in Yakima
When did Yakima's lighted Christmas parade begin?
The Yakima Herald-Republic says the current lighted parade began in 1999 under local businessman Joe Mann. By 2025 it had reached its 26th annual edition. It is held on the first Sunday in December, the same evening the community tree at Millennium Plaza is lit.
Where does the Yakima parade go?
In 2025 it started at the Salvation Army on 6th Avenue, traveled down Yakima Avenue and ended in front of the Capitol Theatre. The first parade ran westbound, but organizers reversed its direction because the lineup caused backups on Interstate 82, so check the current route before you go.
When is the Yakima lighted parade held?
It takes place on the first Sunday in December. In 2025 that was December 7, with the parade starting at 6 pm. Because it begins after dark, the floats and decorations are lit up, which can make it a treat for young children.
Who plays Santa in the Yakima parade?
In 2025 the official Santa was local Dancing Santa Michael Johansing. After the parade, families could take selfies with Santa at the Capitol Theatre. Kids may enjoy knowing that this Santa likes to dance, and the parade ends in time for the community tree lighting nearby.
Who can march in the Yakima parade?
Businesses, schools, organizations and community groups can enter for free, thanks to support from Yakima Federal Savings and Loan. Entries can include floats, bands, dancers, horses and classic cars. The parade is run by the Yakima Sunfair Parade Association, which takes registrations on its parade website.
Where is Yakima's Christmas tree?
The community tree stands at Millennium Plaza in downtown Yakima and is lit on the evening of the lighted parade. Before that, an earlier community Christmas tree was raised on North Second Street, just off Yakima Avenue. Today's tree has been a 25-foot evergreen donated by a local family.
How does the Yakima Christmas tree get downtown?
A local family donates an evergreen, and the city sets it in place at Millennium Plaza with a crane. In one recent year the 25-foot tree arrived in mid November, and volunteers and the Downtown Association of Yakima decorated it over the following days before the lighting ceremony.
What was Christmas like in Yakima 100 years ago?
Turn-of-the-century newspapers ran Christmas sale ads, businesses decorated with lights to attract shoppers, and some opera houses and hotels held Christmas parties. A community tree stood on North Second Street. Many of those traditions, like lights and gatherings downtown, still feel familiar today.
What were the pine boughs on Yakima Avenue?
Pine boughs were strung across East Yakima Avenue as a Christmas decoration, a tradition that lasted into the 1960s. It is a nice detail to share with kids: Yakima once dressed its main avenue with real evergreen branches, long before the lighted parade and the community tree at Millennium Plaza.
How did Santa visit Yakima long ago?
Before Christmas, Santa toured the city on a flatbed truck instead of a reindeer-pulled sleigh, handing out candy and talking with children. Local businessman Joe Mann remembered it. It makes a good story for kids who wonder how Santa gets around when there is no snow.
How did Yakima groups help kids at Christmas in the past?
The Elks Lodge gave gifts to children from poor families and hosted a nondenominational party at its North Second Street lodge. A 1930 photo shows Yakima firefighters repairing old toys for children. These stories help kids understand that giving to others has a long tradition in Yakima.
What is the Luminaria in Yakima?
Luminaria is a candlelit walk at the Yakima Area Arboretum. In 2025 it ran December 12 and 13 from 5 to 9 pm on a mile-long loop lit by 1,000 candles. The Jewett Interpretive Center offered live music, children's crafts and hot cocoa. Entry was free with a suggested donation, and a free shuttle ran from Kiwanis Park Playfields.
What is the Holiday Drive-Thru Light Fest?
It is a drive-through lights display at State Fair Park. The 2025 event, the sixth annual, ran December 12 to 21 with over 35 miles of lights and two new areas, Whoville and Barkville. General admission was $15 per car. Families stay in their vehicles, which works well for babies and toddlers.
How did the Yakima Light Fest start?
It began at State Fair Park after the Christmas Fair was canceled, and was inspired by a display in Branson, Missouri. The first year had a Santa's Workshop theme. Hundreds of cars came on opening night, and some visitors waited up to three hours.
What is Letters for Santa in Yakima?
It is a free drive-thru run by Yakima Parks and Recreation. In 2025 it took place on a Saturday evening in December at the Public Works facility on Fruitvale Boulevard, from 5:30 to 7 pm. Families stay in their cars, follow a posted route and drop letters in a mailbox, where Mrs. Claus greets cars.
What can kids see at the Yakima Valley Museum at Christmas?
In 2025 the museum, at 2105 Tieton Drive, showed trees decorated by more than 25 local nonprofits. Visitors voted for favorites by dropping tickets in boxes, and the donations went back to the nonprofits. The museum also held a Thursday evening of stories with Mrs. Claus, with a scavenger hunt and sleigh photos.
Is there a Christmas parade in Yakima this year?
Yakima has held its lighted parade on the first Sunday of December for more than 25 years, so expect it again in early December. Our Yakima Christmas events guide on this page lists confirmed dates, times and costs for this season as hosts post them.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Yakima?
Yakima's best-known lights are the lighted parade, the Millennium Plaza tree, the candlelit Luminaria trail and the State Fair Park Light Fest. Each has been part of the season in recent years. See our Yakima Christmas events guide on this page for the dates confirmed for this season.
Are there Santa trolley rides in Yakima?
Yakima Valley Trolleys runs a historic electric trolley on the 6th Avenue Line. The museum lists Halloween and Santa trolleys in fall and winter, with fares of $8 for adults and $6 for kids and seniors. A 2019 holiday guide listed Santa and Friends trolley days with treats for kids, so check current dates.
Can kids visit the Northern Pacific Railway Museum in December?
The museum in Toppenish is a restored 1911 depot with a working telegraph office and steam engines, but its regular season runs May 1 to October 15. A 2019 holiday guide listed Toy Train Christmas weekends there with a caboose ride to see Santa, so call ahead to ask about winter plans.
Sources
- Light Up Yakima: The 26th Annual Holiday Lighted Parade Returns December 7, 2025, YakimaTalk
- It Happened Here: What Christmas was like in Yakima 100 years ago, Yakima Herald-Republic
- Yakima's 2025 holiday festivities: Luminaria walk, Light Fest at State Fair Park and more, Yakima Herald-Republic
- Holiday traditions in the Yakima Valley help build community, Yakima Herald-Republic
- Community Christmas Tree Arrives, City of Yakima
- Yakima Valley Trolleys, Rally Takes the Train
- Northern Pacific Railway Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Are You Ready to Celebrate the Season?, Visit Yakima Valley
- Holiday Festivities, City of Yakima