Updated January 1, 2021

See penguins slide off a giant igloo. Reindeer jump across the road, high above the traffic. Santa, his elves, and reindeer sail a ship with Rudolph at the helm. A peacock shows off its colorful feathers. The sun and a rainbow shine over a cloud pouring rain on Mount Rainier. Lights glow and twinkle in the tall Douglas fir trees.

These are just a few of the scenes along one of the largest drive-through holiday light displays in the Pacific Northwest. For more than 25 years, Fantasy Lights at Spanaway Park has delighted thousands of visitors with some 300 displays. New displays are added every year, and this year, it seemed that the route was longer because of the new displays we saw.

While driving through the park, you can tune your car radio to AM 1700 to hear holiday music.

Fantasy Lights opens the Saturday before Thanksgiving and continues nightly through Sunday, January 3. Hours are 5:30-9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday are usually less crowded. On busy nights, expect as long as a two-hour wait to reach the entrance (but the display is worth the wait).

Admission ranges from $15 to $20 per car, depending on the night you go. Bus admission is $45 per vehicle. Buy tickets online or at the gate.

Spanaway Park is located at 14905 Bresemann Boulevard South in Spanaway, Washington, southeast of Tacoma. Don’t rely on GPS to go to the park’s entrance, because it will guide you to a gate that’s closed for the event. Instead, take State Route 7 south in Spanaway to the intersection of Military Road South and turn right. The entrance is a mile away on the left.

When you’re driving on Route 7 South, look for the big white Pierce County Parks and Recreation sign at the corner of Military Road South. It’s on the right. If you pass the sign, you’ve gone too far.

For more information, visit the Fantasy Lights website.