People walk abound the Tulalip Amphitheatre to look at the colorful lights on display for Tulalip Lights & Ice on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

People walk abound the Tulalip Amphitheatre to look at the colorful lights on display for Tulalip Lights & Ice on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Record Tulalip holiday display lights up the night

The largest light display in Washington is free of charge and open through Jan. 12.

TULALIP — On a foggy Wednesday evening, visitors walked around the Tulalip Amphitheatre, admiring the trees that stood above them lit in vibrant pinks, blues and greens.

Tulalip Lights & Ice is up and running for its third consecutive year, and organizers say each year has been bigger than the last. A record 7.8 million lights shine on trees all around the Tulalip Resort Casino and Quil Ceda Village, attracting visitors from hours away. Depending on the day, visitors can enjoy ice skating, local food and craft vendors, and even special appearances from Mr. and Mrs. Claus, the Grinch and Buddy the Elf.

The idea for the largest lights display in Washington came in January 2022, when the Tulalip Tribes’ Board of Directors saw the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s annual display on a retreat.

“They had these lights all over, and we were like, ‘Wow,’” said Teresa Meece, operations director at Quil Ceda Village. “So we went and searched for the contractor who put the lights up.”

By the end of the year, the tribes unveiled its own display, then boasting 3 million lights. After the success of that first year, Quil Ceda Village has searched for ways to make the next displays bigger and more unique. Organizers make sure to switch up the lighting design every year, never putting the same lights on the same trees.

A variety of different colored lights cover the trees at Tulalip Lights & Ice on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

A variety of different colored lights cover the trees at Tulalip Lights & Ice on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

“We ask them to take pictures and always make it different, because we have repeat customers and we want them to get a different, new experience every year that they come,” Meece said.

Another unique part of the display is how large trees are lit in a single color, achieved by individually changing the bulbs on multicolored strings. This year, it took a contractor 75 days to set up the lights.

On the weekends, Tulalip Lights & Ice sees an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 visitors each night, Meece said. Most of the vendors set up shop over the weekend. This is also when iconic holiday characters stop by.

This year, each of the 18 vendors are owned by Indigenous people, including Cosalish Meets Creole, a fish boil restaurant run by husband and wife Anthony Lane and Marjae Lane that combines traditions from each of their tribal heritages. They’ve had to make more food each night because they consistently sell out, Anthony Lane said.

Garvin and Denise Carrell pause to take a photograph in a tunnel of lights at Tulalip Lights & Ice on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Garvin and Denise Carrell pause to take a photograph in a tunnel of lights at Tulalip Lights & Ice on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

“Everyone’s asking when we’re going to be here so they can come out again, which is really cool,” he said. “Even though it’s not a permanent thing, it’s nice to get returning customers like that.”

Looking to avoid weekend crowds? Though there aren’t as many activities on weeknights, some vendors choose to open, such as a hot dog stand that opened around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday.

No matter the day of the week, visitors can always warm up with some hot chocolate at the ice skating rink. One-hour skating sessions cost between $10 and $15, including skate rentals. Skating is available for all ages, with the rink carrying skates from a kid’s size 7 to a men’s size 12.

Lincoln Shull, 5, tries out skating across the ice without the help of a skate trainer at the ice rink set up at Tulalip Lights & Ice on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Lincoln Shull, 5, tries out skating across the ice without the help of a skate trainer at the ice rink set up at Tulalip Lights & Ice on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Tulalip, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Garvin Carrell, who lives in Stanwood, decided to return to the display Wednesday after seeing it for the first time last year. His favorite part is the way the lights reflect off the fountain at the casino’s entrance.

“It’s beautiful, it’s local, it’s fun, it’s huge, it’s close,” he said. “It’s not crowded, even when it’s crowded. It’s so big that you can just walk around and you don’t feel like there’s a lot of people here. I appreciate when a business goes the extra mile.”

Tulalip Lights & Ice has already seen a record number of visitors this year, and Quil Ceda Village is looking into applying to the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s largest light display.

Visitors can stop by any time of day for free to see some of the lights, but the entire display is lit from 3:30 p.m. to about 5 a.m. and is open through Jan. 12.

Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Employees and patrons of the Everett Mall signed a timeline mural that traces the history of the 51-year-old indoor mall that was once considered the premier place to go shopping in the city. Thursday, March 20, 2025 (Aaron Kennedy / The Herald)
Mall mural offers nostalgic trip into the past

Past and present Everett Mall employees joined customers Thursday to view an artistic timeline of the once popular shopping mecca.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen gives his State of the City address on Thursday, March 20 in Edmonds, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor talks budget at 2025 State of the City

Mayor Mike Rosen discussed the city’s deficit and highlights from his first year in office.

Public’s help needed to find missing Arlington man

The 21-year-old left the house Sunday night without his shoes, cell phone or a jacket, and was reported missing the following morning.

The Marysville Tulalip Campus on the Tulalip Reservation, where Legacy High School is located. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Marysville board votes to keep Legacy High at current location

The move rolls back a decision the school board made in January to move the alternative high school at the start of next school year.

The former Marysville City Hall building along State Avenue on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
City of Marysville, school board amend property exchange

The city will relocate its public works facility to the district’s current headquarters, which will move to the former City Hall.

Snohomish County Elections employees Alice Salcido, left and Joseph Rzeckowski, right, pull full bins of ballots from the Snohomish County Campus ballot drop box on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County to mail ballots for Edmonds, Brier elections

Registered voters should receive their ballots by April 9 for the April 22 special election.

A stormwater diversion structure which has been given a notice for repairs along a section of the Perrinville Creek north of Stamm Overlook Park that flows into Browns Bay in Edmonds, Washington on Thursday, July 18, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Edmonds Hearing Examiner decides on Perrinville Creek saga

The examiner revoked the city’s Determination of Non-Significance, forcing Edmonds to address infrastructure issues on the creek

Don Sharrett talks John Wrice through his trimming technique on Friday, March 14, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett barber school offers $5 haircuts — if you’re brave enough

Students get hands-on practice. Willing clients get a sweet deal.

Our Lady of Hope Fr. Joseph Altenhofen outside of his parish’s building that will be the new home of Hope ‘N Wellness on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Hope ‘N Wellness location to open Wednesday in Everett

Our Lady of Hope Church will host the social service organization at 2617 Cedar St. in Everett.

Amtrak Cascades train 517 to Portland departs from Everett Station on Saturday, Sep. 2, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Limited train service to resume on Amtrak Cascades

Trains will have less capacity for now, but service is expected to resume for some routes as early as Tuesday.

Marysville
Police: 66-year-old Marysville man dead from fatal stabbing

A neighbor found the man unconscious on the sidewalk as the result of an apparent stabbing. Police said they are looking for suspects.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Driver, suspected of DUI, hits WSP vehicle on I-5 near Everett

The trooper was blocking the HOV lane for a previous collision when his vehicle was struck Saturday morning.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.