The Front Street Park Gazebo all lit up for Christmas
Leavenworth, Washington wears a lot of hats. It’s a mountain village, a Bavarian town, a festival town, and a Christmas town! Regardless of the snowfall (and this December was a little dry) the whole village of Leavenworth puts on its cheeriest face and greets many thousands of visitors.
I’m happy to say that Scotte and I were two of the visitors for this Christmas. Sure we’ve been for Christmas Lighting Festival, and we’ve visited mid-week in December. But this year, for the first time, we were actually in Leavenworth for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We’ve been planning for this all year, since we realized that none of our kids would be in Spokane with us for the holiday. We got our Christmas shopping and baking done in record time, mailed and delivered gifts early and headed for our favorite place. Due to an invitation to the Wenatchee River Lodge from Don and Mary Morse, we knew the perfect place to stay. Our wedding anniversary falls very near Christmas so the idea of a quiet, relaxing and romantic Christmas celebration seemed right.
The lights of Front Street coming on at sunset
Once we unpacked at the lodge we headed the short two miles to Front Street. For some reason we were expecting to have the town pretty much to ourselves. It was bustling! There were families of every shape and size. Stores were busy but not packed. Everywhere we went Leavenworth shopkeepers expressed happy amazement at the outstanding business they’ve been doing all through the Christmas Lighting Festival. We enjoyed lunch at the busy SOUTH restaurant. You know that’s one of our favorite places. Then we went into Kris Kringl to soak up some Christmas magic. There hadn’t been new snow for some time, but the sledding hill in Front Street Park was busy with kids sledding with saucers and sleds (and some foolhardy older kids on their feet.) Leavenworth and the surrounding ski areas have been making snow for the enjoyment of kids of all ages.
One of the windows of Kris Kringl Christmas Shop
Leavenworth was decorated for Christmas everywhere we looked. Even in the daytime, before the Christmas lights came on, signs of the season were everywhere. Shops and restaurants were all decked out. And people were decked out too. It’s obvious that many visitors can’t make a trip to Leavenworth without a trip to the Hat Shop. And why would you? Everywhere we looked we saw people of every age sporting hats with elf ears or reindeer antlers. Santas and Mrs. Santas were everywhere. The Hat shop also has a great selection of fashion hats and hats and gloves for the kiddos.
The lights and snow of Front Street Park
Once we had dinner, we drove back to the middle of town to see the Christmas lights. So beautiful! Every store front was lit and the park was bright with thousands and thousands of lights. Leavenworth installed thousands of new LED lights for this season. The sledding hill continued to be happy and busy with laughing and squealing children and their families.
Christmas Eve day was also very busy in town. The lack of snow seems to have made Leavenworth a popular family destination this Christmas. The area wasn’t completely devoid of snow. The surrounding hills and mountains had a charming wintery layer. We had a lot of fun taking pictures, visiting with friendly shop owners and enjoying the Christmas atmosphere.
Every shop and restaurant in town is decked out for Christmas
After changing clothes we drove to the Icicle Inn and JJ Hills Fresh Grill for our Christmas Eve dinner. We dined at JJ Hills back in April when they first reopened and had a disappointing experience. This time we visited at the chef’s express invitation, and we were not disappointed. Everything we ate was very good. The waitress pointed out the prime rib special and I was sure glad she did. The meal was tasty, the rib tender. I love their sweet potato fries. Scotte enjoyed London Broil with bearnaise sauce. His garlic mashed potatoes were a perfect accompaniment. We finished the meal with a lovely, light chocolate mousse. As always the service was excellent. I’m so glad the chef invited us to eat at the grill again.
The prime rib special on Christmas Eve at JJ Hills Fresh Grill
After the meal we went out to take more pictures until it was time to go to the Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene for their presentation of the Living Nativity. It was lovely. They presented the outdoor Nativity as part of the Christmas Lighting Festival. What a gift to the community and to visitors to Leavenworth. The participants were of every age. Live animals were a big part: sheep, a donkey, goats and a llama. (I know llamas are New World animals but you have to allow a little creative license.)
The Living Nativity at the Nazarene Church
Just before the Wise Men entered, the star lit up and proceeded to travel up a zip line, pausing while the Wise Men talked to Herod, then continued higher till it was resting over where the child was resting in his mother’s arms. The angels high over the manger and the visiting shepherds completed the scene. Narration and Christmas music played over loud speakers and church members had a tent set up where they offered their guests yummy hot chocolate. They performed the Nativity three times on Christmas Eve. If you go to Christmas Lighting Festival or spend Christmas in Leavenworth, be sure to put the Living Nativity on your to-do list.
Living Nativity
Afterward we went back to the lodge where Scotte and I enjoyed the fire in the game room and watched It’s A Wonderful Life. It was a lovely way to spend Christmas Eve.
Christmas Lights along Front Street
