Lights out: Pierce County’s big, beloved holiday display canceled due to wild weather

Fantasy Lights, a South Sound tradition since the early 1990s, won’t light up Spanaway Park through Christmas and the New Year after all, as “ongoing breaker issues” have complicated reliability and safety for guests and staff, Pierce County Parks said Friday.

The parks department shared its decision Dec. 19 to cancel the remainder of the 2025-2026 season. The early closure follows an unexpected week off, Dec. 8-12, due to technical and weather-related issues, The News Tribune previously reported.

Pierce County Parks said it had already begun the process of refunding any purchased tickets, which could take around a week to process. Any ticketholder who does not see a refund by just after Christmas can email fantasylights@piercecountywa.gov for assistance.

The holiday light display — marketed as the largest drive-thru of its kind in the Northwest with hundreds of animated lights over a 2.2-mile route — had already undergone some electrical upgrades after the season opener, according to the parks department. But after atmospheric rivers dumped more than 10 inches of rain in 72 hours across Western Washington last week, causing calamitous flooding of farmland, homes and businesses, the lights apparently couldn’t hang.

“Our team worked incredibly hard to keep the show shining, but weeks of wet and windy weather took a toll on the displays,” reads a statement on Pierce County Parks’ website. “Even with electrical upgrades completed this fall to meet L&I [Washington Department of Labor and Industries] permitting requirements and to enhance the show, ongoing breaker issues have made it difficult to deliver the quality show our visitors know and love, especially during the persistent wet and windy weather.”

The statement also acknowledged the disappointment “many families who cherish this holiday tradition” must feel. The show celebrated 30 years in 2024.

“We are grateful for the community that shows up year after year, and we are committed to learning from this experience,” the parks department continued.

The agency’s Facebook post about the season-ending malfunctions had been shared nearly 550 times and commented on 230 times as of Saturday morning. Many lamented the loss of a holiday tradition with local and visiting family while also extending grace to the workers battling frequent rain, heavy winds and chilly temperatures.

One commenter said he walks through the park most mornings and had witnessed crews at work since November. “Since then it’s been a constant battle because of the weather,” he wrote. “Every morning they are out there busting their butts. Every morning, more lights out. Hats off to all your hard work and effort!”

Another person suggested a “Christmas in July” event to compensate for the missing moments — not only for memories’ sake but also for ticket sales that help support other county park programming.

“We are grateful to the staff and partners who poured their time, creativity, and heart into Fantasy Lights under challenging conditions,” the parks department said in its statement. “While the lights may seem dim, we plan to correct the issues so we can determine how we can bring a meaningful experience back to the community next year.”

Other holiday events at Pierce County Parks will carry on, according to the event calendar, including ICE Lights at Sprinker Recreation Center through Jan. 3.

This story was originally published December 20, 2025 at 10:55 AM.