Picture a stunning backdrop of half a million brilliant lights, majestic mountains frosted with snow and an enchanting Bavarian village filled with fun. Come join us this January for Leavenworth’s Winter Karneval as we honor a German tradition dating back to the thirteenth century, commonly referred to as ‘Fasching’.

You can expect to see a blend of familiar activities, like ice carving and fireworks over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, along with new entertainment that will be spread out during the rest of the month, making Leavenworth the perfect winter destination all month long.

Lights are on everyday through February!

Saturday, January 3rd, 2026

Dia de los Reyes celebrates the cultural tradition found across Latin America that symbolizes the end of Christmas and is celebrated in Germany as “Dreikonigstag”. We will enjoy traditional Mexican foods, guided nature walks at Wenatchee River Institutes campus, gifts for children, dance and musical performances, and storytelling. We hope participants will leave inspired to continue to get to know, care for, and celebrate the diverse social and natural aspects of our communities.

For more information visit Wenatchee River Institute’s website.

Saturday & Sunday, January 10th and 11th, 2026

We bring entertainment like Fire Dancing to Winter Karneval. Performing several shows a day over a weekend, there are plenty of opportunities to catch one of these great shows in front of the Gazebo. And don’t miss a special performance by the Leavenworth Alphorns on Saturday at 4:30 pm.

Saturday & Sunday, January 17th and 18th, 2026

During Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, artisan carvers will be staged around town, creating works of art that embody the Leavenworth spirit. As the carver works, the sculpture seems to come to life right before your eyes. The sights and sounds of the carving process, combined with the mesmerizing beauty of the finished product, make for an unforgettable experience that is sure to leave you with memories (and photos) that will last a lifetime.

Sunday, January 18th, 2026 at 6:00pm

There is something so memorable about standing outside on a cold winters evening in downtown Leavenworth surrounded by half a million lights decorating the park and welcoming a vibrant and well orchestrated show of pyrotechnics over town. Every year, on Sunday evening of Martin Luther King Jr. weekend we celebrate with an our annual fireworks show over town, there is not a bad seat in the house for this fun show!

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, January 23-25th, 2026

Fasching is like a German Mardi Gras! We celebrate ours on the last full weekend in January with a Pub Crawl complete with carnival masks, giveaways, and fun specialty drinks and eats at our participating restaurants, bars, and pubs.