We’ve been by already twice for previews (here and here) – and tonight’s the first official night for the Menashe Family‘s famous Christmas lights at 5605 Beach Drive SW. Our photo doesn’t really do it justice, so if you love lights, you have to see it in person. Here are two special dates you might consider visiting:

SANTA & MRS. CLAUS PHOTOS, DECEMBER 10: Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there 5 pm-9 pm Saturday, December 10, for DIY photos with kids. No charge but you’re asked to bring a nonperishable-food donation for the West Seattle Food Bank. (The WSFB donation barrels will be there starting the previous night, Friday, December 9, through Sunday, December 11, so you are invited to bring food donations those nights too.)

SANTA, MRS. CLAUS, & REINDEER PHOTOS, DECEMBER 20: The Clauses will return for photo ops Tuesday, December 20, 5 pm-9 pm, this time with real reindeer. The family hopes this will be a food-drive event too but they’re still working on logistics.

Got lights? Seen lights? See what we’ve shown here, and suggest what we should show next by emailing westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

(Photo courtesy Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish)

With the snow’s over and the possible wind has yet to arrive, we’re taking a moment to talk about three West Seattle tree lightings later this week:

FRIDAY NIGHT, HIGH POINT FRUIT-TREE LIGHTING: Following the afternoon Winter Festival (3-5 pm), you’re invited to (location updated) Neighborhood House High Point (6400 Sylvan Way SW) for the lighting of the fruit trees at 5:15 pm Friday (December 2nd). This is the second year of this multi-tree lighting ceremony in the park.

FRIDAY NIGHT, OLG ‘LIGHT UP THE NIGHT’: 7 pm at 35th/Myrtle, on the north side of Our Lady of Guadalupe, it’s the annual event lighting the city’s highest-elevation Christmas tree (along with other greenery outside the church). Christmas carol singalong, too. Bring a nonperishable food donation, if you can, for St. Vincent de Paul.

SATURDAY NIGHT, WEST SEATTLE JUNCTION: As we’ve previewed a few times already, this year the Christmas tree lighting at Junction Plaza Park (42nd/Alaska) is part of an even-bigger street festival, with a Night Market and Glorious Lights of West Seattle (wear lights and compete in a contest!), live holiday music, plus a beer/mulled-wine garden. The festival is set for 4 pm-8:30 pm, with the tree lighting at 6:30 pm.

With Christmas now four weeks away, it’s time to start spotlighting neighborhood Christmas lights. Thanks to Troy in Gatewood for sending the first photo we’ve received this year – from 41st/Portland. We appreciate your help in being on the lookout for lights – please send location tips and/or photos to westseattleblog@gmail.com, so we can feature lights nightly!

(Photo courtesy West Seattle Yuletide)

In case you missed the mentions in today’s preview list and the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide: the music-synched light show West Seattle Yuletide is back! The Iverson family has relaunched the display, which like so many other things had been on pandemic hiatus since 2019. Their announcement continues:

We’re running shows on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings through December 23 and then every evening until January 1, 2023. Our shows will begin at 6:30 pm and run until about 10:00 PM. Olaf, our snowman, will appear beginning December 23 and weather permitting, he will be out every night.

Our show includes over 16,000 lights that dance to over 20 songs of the season. Our show is located in West Seattle, on 38th Ave SW between Genesee and Dakota. Just look for the flashing lights. Further information can be found at: westseattleyuletide.blogspot.com.

P.S. We’ll start showcasing neighborhood light displays tomorrow (Sunday) – photos/tips welcome at westseattleblog@gmail.com (we’ve already received a few) – thank you!

Before West Seattle’s brightest Christmas lights start shining, it takes two weeks of work to get ready. We stopped by the Menashe family’s Beach Drive home on Thanksgiving Eve to see how things were going. It was day 3 of decorating and many of the components were still in the back yard, awaiting their place in the annual display:

Josh Menashe pointed out some of what’s new this year – like this Husky:

And nutcrackers flanking the family’s front door:

Some new reindeer are joining the display this year:

As always, lots of lights comprise the display – which has been featured on national TV — from ground to roof to trees – and yes, many are power-saving LEDs:

All the Christmas classics, including candy canes and elves, will take their place:

The big reveal of the finished display is scheduled for one week from tonight – Thursday, December 1st. (You’ll see some testing before that if you happen by in the evening.) Santa and Mrs. Claus are scheduled to be there for photo ops the night of December 10th. And closer to Christmas – date not yet finalized – they’re hoping to have a visit from real reindeer.

(Photo by Mike Jensen)

Christmas is almost over … so we close out the holiday with one more look at West Seattle’s most dazzling display, the Menashe Family Lights at 5605 Beach Drive SW [map]. We’re planning to continue spotlighting West Seattle lights until New Year’s Eve, so if we haven’t shown your favorites yet, let us know where they are – westseattleblog@gmail.com. (The two-dozen-plus we’ve already showcased can be seen here.)

Tonight’s featured Christmas lights represent another approach to holiday lighting … projection. Thanks to Devin Liddell for the photos of their display at 4028 40th SW [map], between Dakota and Andover.

A Merry Christmas Eve to all! Scroll through all the displays featured here since November 30th (and previous years) by going here; we’re still welcoming tips/photos at westseattleblog@gmail.com.

If you had to choose just one West Seattle neighborhood to visit for Christmas lights sightseeing, Fauntlee Hills would be a good choice. That’s where we started the season – and that coverage-launching display’s creator, Ken Arkills, points us again this year to a nearby home that also shines bright, at 40th/Donovan [map]:

Ken says Joey and Myung Haugen are the creators here, with a giant star among its features. “They are really into it and I am so happy to see a lot of fellow West Seattleites really going all out this year with their displays!” We’ve shown more than two dozen this season and we’re not done yet – keep the suggestions (with or without photos) coming, via westseattleblog@gmail.com. You can browse everything we’ve shown by going to this WSB archive; they’re also listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide.

Thanks to Monica Zaborac for tonight’s photo. She says this display is at 40th/Charlestown [map], right next to Wyatt‘s house, which was featured here last week. It’s a corner so bright, it was even on the map for this year’s West Seattle Runner (WSB sponsor)-organized Christmas Lights Run! Got lights for us to spotlight? Please let us know, with or without photo(s), via westseattleblog@gmail.com or 206-293-6302 … see this season’s list in the West Seattle Holiday Guide, and scroll through the pics here.

Thanks to prolific photographer Jerry Simmons for tonight’s photo – a rainbow of lights in the 5400 block of (corrected) 41st SW. (Here’s a vicinity map.) This is the 24th display showcased here on WSB this season, thanks entirely to reader tips – you can scroll through them all here, and see the list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide. We’re hoping to keep showing lights nightly through New Year’s Eve – tips, with or without photo(s), are appreciated – email westseattleblog@gmail.com or text 206-293-6302 – thank you!

Two more West Seattle displays to see …

That’s from a texter who says. “Magical ‘tunnel’ of Xmas lights to walk through at Hanford & Belvidere SW! What a way to lift one’s spirits!” (Here’s a map.)

And from Nicole in the 9200 block of 30th SW:

Nicole says her block has “lots of lights” this year, and sent the pics. (Here’s a map.)

We welcome tips without pics too – email westseattleblog@gmail.com – and to see what we’ve already spotlighted, see the list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide and/or our archive – thanks to everyone who’s contributed!

Doubling up again tonight in case you’re going out to look at lights on this non-rainy night:

Lots of brightly lit apartment/condo balconies in West Seattle, particularly along Alki and Harbor Avenues. Josh sent photos/video of this one: “Awesome!! On Alki Ave & 56th.” [map] Note the video in the display:

In Gatewood, Yma‘s photo comes with a story:

Santa rides again! My favorite blow-up, Santa riding a polar bear, went kaput at the end of last December. I thought he was a goner – but family urged me to try & fix him. I ordered a new motor/blower, carefully did a replacement & voila! Come see him & his buddy Mariachi Santa at 4116 SW Portland [map].

Thanks again to everyone who’s contributed locations/photos (westseattleblog@gmail.com) – still time to get more in, as we hope to keep it going through New Year’s Eve – every place we’ve shown is archived here and listed in our Holiday Guide.

Continuing our double features – we have two TV-inspired displays tonight:

In Admiral, Don Rice is again presenting West Seattle’s own “Charlie Brown Christmas.” He sent the photo and message: “Charlie Brown and the gang are happy to be back for the 46th year at this location: 2128 47th SW.” (Here’s a map.) P.S. If you’re a fan of the annual special, tomorrow night’s the only time this season that it’s on over-the-air TV – 7:30 pm Sunday, PBS channel 9.

Also in North Admiral, a display for “Doctor Who“ fans:

The photos are from Alex – “Tardis and Daleks for Christmas. SW College St & 41st.” (Here’s a map.)

We’ll keep showcasing lights through New Year’s Eve – let us know what you have or what you see, location (with or without photo) – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! Past spotlights are archived here and listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide.

With a lot of light-viewing likely this weekend, we’re stepping up to two featured displays per night. Tonight – two set to music!

In Gatewood, Mark and Jo are again presenting Austin Street Christmas Lights – here’s a sample:

They explain, “We have a number of songs synced to music – just tune your car radio to 100.9 as you get close, and you’ll hear the music. This year, we added some new spotlights that make the house even more colorful, and a button to hear the music from the sidewalk. We’ll have the music on from 4 pm to 10 pm. You can find us on SW Austin Street between 37th and 39th.” [map]

Meantime, Brian tells us about a display in the 3800 block of 36th SW [map] and sent the link to this:

Brian says, “My neighbor has a great musical Christmas light show set up. Music is playing on FM 99.5.”

Got lights? Seen lights? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you! (Every place we’ve showcased is listed in our Holiday Guide and archived here.)

The Davis Family Christmas Lights are back for another year! Just west of The Junction, this display is always an eye-catcher, especially the planting-strip trees:

This year, the Davises tell us, they put up “approximately 12,000 lights, with about 75% LEDs.” They’re at 4152 46th SW [map]. We’re adding this to the list in our West Seattle Holiday Guide (you can also see all the showcased displays, newest to oldest, in this WSB archive).

Got lights? Seen lights? Send the location, with or without photo(s), to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Tonight’s photos are from Wyatt, who tells us about 2021cadditions: “This year I have my front trees lit, and more to create a walkway of lights! I’m happy to be able to share my lights with you and everyone again this year! I’m at the corner of 40th and Charlestown.” [map]

Thanks again to everyone who’s sending in their lights, or some they’ve seen – westseattleblog@gmail.com with or without photos. See every place we’ve showcased here (newest-to-oldest), and listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide!

Tonight’s photos are from Lacey, at 9643 18th SW {map}. who says, “We have lots of lights up this year! We are located just off Roxbury on 18th Ave SW, so it is an easy detour for those heading out of West Seattle. We have Santa waving from the chimney, and an elf who crashed his sled into our fence. It is very bright and full of lights, at my son’s request. I have lots of fun doing it, and hope others enjoy it as well!”

Thanks again to everyone who’s sent tips and photos so far! Every place we’ve shown is archived here and listed in our West Seattle Holiday Guide. If you have a suggestion, with or without photo(s), please email westseattleblog@gmail.com – we’ll keep showing nights lightly through New Year’s Eve – thank you

Tonight’s photo is from Sung, one of the people who emailed to tell us that another well-known West Seattle family display has returned this year: “The Madonna is back for 2021! Ron Gai just finished the display at the old Gai family home after nearly a month of very hard work.” Two years ago, also after reader tips, we reported that this display returned after a 20+-year hiatus, 14 years after the death of family patriarch Phil Gai (Ron’s father), co-founder of the baking company and creator of the Christmas display – centered on the Madonna – that drew visitors from near and far every holiday season for more than two decades. You can see it in the 3200 block of 36th SW [vicinity map].

Got – or seen – a special display? Email us, with or without photo(s) – westseattleblog@gmail.com; see past spotlights here, and listed in our Holiday Guide!

The Menashe Family Lights display is a popular backdrop for holiday photos just about every night of the season, but tonight is the one night with an extra reason to visit – Santa‘s annual stop. Until 10 pm, you can take a pic with Santa outside the bright lights at 5605 Beach Drive SW. If you can, bring a non-perishable food donation to help the West Seattle Food Bank feed thousands of neighbors in need. There’s one more special connection to Santa:

All season long, that mailbox amid the lights collects letters to Santa. (P.S. If you miss him at the Menashes’ tonight, other Santa photo ops are listed in our Holiday Guide.)