The annual Green Lake Pathway of Lights, a free winter event for the whole family, including furry family members, is happening on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Stroll the glimmering Green Lake circuit, paths, and docks, which will be lit with thousands of twinkling candles. For the fifth year in a row, Seattle Ballooning will light up the Green Lake Pathway of Lights with a fleet of giant glowing hot air balloons, with balloons inflating around 4:30 p.m. and glowing until 5:30 p.m., weather permitting. And while you wander through the magic of the sparkling lights, enjoy warm drinks, sweet treats, musical performances, and sponsor giveaways.
Volunteer Opportunities
Pathway of Lights is a huge event to organize, and the help of volunteers makes it run much smoothly! Shifts are available and include set-up, placing luminaries, recycling, as well as litter patrol and cleanup. For more information on volunteering, fill out this form. If volunteering as a group, please contact them directly. Email jewels.jugum@seattle.gov with the number of group members, the group’s organization name, and how many group members are youth.
This cherished free community event is made possible by Seattle Parks and Recreation, dedicated volunteers, and local businesses around the lake. Your donation today will ensure this delightful mainstay of the community continues for generations to come. You can make a monetary donation to Pathways of Light via this form https://arcseattle.org/Pathway-of-Lights
Getting There
Pathway of Lights attracts thousands of community members each year, and parking is extremely limited. Please see transportation options and suggestions below. Green Lake Community Center, the hub of th event, expects parking to fill up early and for there to be heavy traffic in the area. Don’t waste the evening circling around to find a parking spot! Instead, consider arriving by bike, bus, or foot.
- Bus: Use King County Metro Transit’s Trip Planning feature to plan your trip.
- Walk: Take transit or carpool to a surrounding neighborhood and enjoy walking to Green Lake.
- Bike or Carpool: We also encourage you to consider biking or carpooling to the event via a rideshare service so that no one in your party has to worry about parking!
Seattle Holiday Lights to Enjoy Next
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