There’s lots of things to love about winter: Hot Chocolate, keeping warm in front of a warm, toasty fire, cozy sweaters, the magic of snowflakes, ice-skating, and Christmas shopping. We love Winter in Spokane! Winter in Spokane is a time to stay cozy and warm, but also a time for Holiday festivities and winter fun. Here is our guide to winter in the Inland Northwest.
Winter in Spokane: December
Much of the winter fun in Spokane takes place in December, surrounding the Christmas holiday. Here are some of the top activities in December.
Journey to Bethlehem (Dec 6-8th)
One of the first of events of the season is Journey to Bethlehem. Each year, South Hill Seventh Day Adventist church puts on a live, interactive nativity. Thousands of people visit the nativity each night (during the first full weekend in December). The event is limited to one weekend, but it’s one you don’t want to miss. You’ll be taken back to Bethlehem of 2000 years ago and immersed in the story of the very first Christmas. The realistic depictions of Bethlehem and well-crafted story telling are sure to delight both young and old. Take your family this Christmas and learn about the very first Christmas.
Christmas Tree Elegance (Dec 4th-15th)
Another fun event is Christmas Tree Elegance. The annual event put on each December, is held by the Spokane Symphony as a fundraiser. Each year, individuals and businesses donate stunningly decorated Christmas trees complete with gifts. At the end of the event, trees are raffled off to raise money for the Spokane Symphony. You can purchase raffle tickets for a dollar a piece and see the trees at River Park Square and the Historic Davenport Hotel. If you’re looking for a low key activity for your family during the Holidays, be sure to visit the Christmas Tree Elegance Dec 4th-15th.
The Watch Party: Gonzaga vs. North Carolina (Dec 18th)
One new event happening in Spokane this December involves the newly re-furbished Pavilion in Riverfront park. If you haven’t seen the Pavilion yet you don’t want to miss it. The Pavilion was refurbished over the summer and now boast a spectacular light display and expansive viewing platforms.
On December 18th, you can attend a watch party for the Gonzaga vs. North Carolina basketball game. The watch party takes place at the Pavilion with huge jumbotron screens, warming stations, and refreshments. Tickets are free. If you missed getting tickets to the game at the McCarthy Athletic center, this is the next best thing. Join hundreds of Spokane Zags fans at the Pavilion in Riverfront Park to see the game on the big screens.
The Historic Crescent Window Displays (Nov 30th- Jan 4th)
Another new event taking place in Spokane over the holiday season is the Historic Crescent Window Displays. The holiday window displays, motorized characters, were discovered in storage and refurbished for locals to enjoy this Christmas season. The holiday windows were originally displayed by the Crescent, Spokane’s premier department store from 1889 to 1988. Now the windows are back for another holiday season.
Holiday Lights Gaiser Conservatory (Now-Dec 22nd)
The Holiday Lights event at the Gaiser Conservatory in Manito Park is another family favorite during the holiday season. Each year, Manito park fills the conservatory with Christmas lights creating a magical experience for evening visitors. The Conservatory is open daily. The best time to see the lights is in the evening, after dark. You can walk through the conservatory and see numerous light displays along with the bright foliage of exotic plants. The conservatory takes Christmas trees decorating to a whole new level. You won’t want to miss it!
Wheatland Bank Free Carriage Rides (Nov 29th-Dec 24th)
The last Holiday activity on the list is free carriage rides sponsored by the Wheatland bank. Throughout most of December, you can catch a free carriage ride through downtown Spokane. You probably thought horse and carriage rides were a thing of the past. However, each Christmas season, the Wheatland bank sponsors horse and carriage rides in the spirit of the holiday. This is a great activity for kids during the Christmas break.
Winter in Spokane: All Season
In addition to holiday events, Spokane has quite a few winter activities to enjoy all season long. From winter sports to entertainment, you wont be bored during the winter in Spokane.
Ice Ribbon – Winter in Spokane
The first activity on our list is Ice skating. Ice skating on the Numerica skate ribbon is fun for the whole family. The Ribbon is open for the duration of the winter and season passes are relatively affordable. A visit to the skate ribbon is great for date night or a fun afternoon with the kids. With the offer of rental skates and affordable passes, Ice Skating is something you definitely don’t want to miss.
Mt. Spokane – Winter in Spokane
For those with a little more thirst for adventure, Mt. Spokane offers loads of fun. Whether you’re looking for a low key family activity like Tubing or want to shred some powder, Mt. Spokane has your back. The resort includes 6 chairlifts with access to numerous ski trails. You can also enjoy tubing below the main lodge if you aren’t up to skiing. Among the activities available on the mountain are Skiing, Snowboarding, Night Skiing, Inner tubing, and hanging out in the lodge.
Mt. Spokane also maintains numerous cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails. No matter what winter sport you’re into, you can probably find it somewhere on the mountain. Because of the wide variety of activities, Mt Spokane is a favorite spot for winter enthusiasts.
Gonzaga Basketball (Now through April)
For those who want to stay cozy by the fire, a Gonzaga game offers the perfect winter entertainment. Throughout the winter and into the spring, Gonzaga basketball games take place every few days. You can enjoy the games from the comfort of your home. Or, if you’re privileged enough to snag tickets to a real game, you can enjoy the game at the McCarthy athletic center. Another good option is catching the game with friends at a local restaurant.
