It's been about 10 years since I've been to Leavenworth during the Christmas Lighting Festival for my birthday, so I was super-excited to return this past weekend!

The cute Bavarian town that is an hour and forty five minutes from Yakima is all decked out with more than half a million Christmas lights! Everyone gathers near the gazebo in the middle of town for the Christmas lighting ceremony. It's a magical sight to see as all half a million lights switch on at the same time. I was lucky to have big, white fluffy snow flakes falling both trips, which makes it all that much more magical!

Michele Mathews, Townsquare Media - Leavenworth Before The Christmas Lighting
Michele Mathews, Townsquare Media - Leavenworth Before The Christmas Lighting
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Michele Mathews, Townsquare Media - Leavenworth After Christmas Lighting Ceremony
Michele Mathews, Townsquare Media - Leavenworth After Christmas Lighting Ceremony
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It was fun to visit all my favorite stores - Kris Kringle, Die Musik Box, The Gingerbread Factory, The Wood & Hat Shop and Nussknacker Haus.

Michele Mathews, Townsquare Media - Hat Shop In Leavenworth
Michele Mathews, Townsquare Media - Hat Shop In Leavenworth
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Michele Mathews, Townsquare Media - Kris Kringle Shop In Leavenworth
Michele Mathews, Townsquare Media - Kris Kringle Shop In Leavenworth
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The town has activities each weekend in December along with sledding for the kiddos.

But my favorite thing about Leavenworth during Christmastime still has to be the lighting ceremony!

What's your favorite thing about Leavenworth?

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