Be part of the joy from the inside out!

The Lights of Christmas would not happen without the volunteers. Whether it's individuals, couples, families, or groups - the volunteers from the community provide all the smiles, the warmth, and the heartfelt enthusiasm.

We are looking for people who enjoy extending warm, friendly, and gracious hospitality to others. Our basic expectations are punctuality, good communication skills, accuracy, willingness to work well with teammates, and the ability to hand out lots of smiles with a spirit of welcome and caring!

All volunteers (for 4 hours or more) get a FREE evening meal and a ticket to return to The Lights at another time. If you wish to help us more than one consecutive day, we can provide FREE lodging* and breakfast.
*Lodging subject to space availability.

*Valid driver's license required.

Dress for outdoor weather unless otherwise noted. Red event vests are provided.

Ticket and Retail Sales

Toy Shop Cashier — (ages 16+, 5:00-10:00 pm) Sell toys, puzzles, and necklaces to children in Joyland Toy Shop. Must be mature, detail-oriented and comfortable handling money.

Ticket Sellers — (ages 18+, 4:00-9:30 pm) Greet guests and sell General Admission tickets in heated, insulated ticket booth at the front gate (Hospitality Centers #1 or #2). Two people per booth.

Joyland Ticket Seller — (ages 18+, 4:15-8:30 pm) Greet, direct Dinner Theatre guests arriving from parking area, and sell tickets in a heated, outdoor ticket booth (Hospitality 3). May relieve ticket sellers at Hospitality #2 for dinner breaks.

Hospitality Center Supervisor — (ages 18+, 3:30-10:30 pm) Assist Hospitality Manager at the Front Gate (Hospitality #1) tabulating coupons and sales receipts. Also supports the Hospitality Center Host in sales and assistance to guests.

Hospitality Center Host — (ages 18+, 3:30-10:30 pm) Greet guests and sell hot drinks and snacks, selling umbrellas, renting strollers, checking out wheel chairs, and providing general assistance to arriving and departing guests at the Front Gate (Hospitality #1).

Retail Sales Assistant (ages 18+, 4:30-10:00) Operate cash register, stock shelves, and assist customers in the Gift Shops. Must have strong money handling and people skills.

Tinhorn Town Cashier — (ages 18+, 4:45-10:00 pm) Operate cash register in Tinhorn Town, a food and entertainment venue. Must be able to handle money. Warm, friendly disposition required. (Suggested dress: western style).

Parking and Overnight Guests

Parking Attendant — (ages 14+, 4:30-10:00 pm) Direct traffic to and from varying parking sites.

Luggage Cart Driver — (ages 18+, 4:30-9:30 pm) Transport luggage quickly and efficiently for overnight guests from their vehicle to their room, providing a great first impression and orienting guests to The Lights. Valid driver's license required.

Morning Luggage Cart Driver — (ages 18+, 8:30-11:00 am) Transport overnight guests and luggage back from lodging facilities to their vehicles. The goal is to complete their overall experience with a spirit of warmth and hospitality. Valid driver's license required.

Cottage Greeter — (ages 18+, 4:30-9:30 pm) Check-in arriving cars and direct them to nearby housing, Kringle Kottage or The Nutcracker Suite, or connect them with Mt. Baker Greeter who leads them via golf cart to Mt. Baker Cabins. Valid driver's license required.

Indoor Hosting and Hospitality

Toy Shop Elf — (ages 10+, 5:00-7:30 and/or 7:30-10:00 pm) Welcome children in the Joyland Toy Shop, helping them assemble and decorate wooden toys. Children age 8 and 9 may volunteer with older sibling or parent's supervision. (Suggested dress: jeans or slacks. Clothes may become paint spattered.)

Tinhorn Town Buser — (ages 12+, 5:00-10:00 pm) Assist guests and bus tables in Tinhorn Town, a western-themed dining and entertainment venue. (Suggested dress: western-style).

Tinhorn Town Host — (ages 16+, 4:45-10:00 pm) Greet, work crowd control, and bus tables in Tinhorn Town,a western-themed dining and entertainment venue. May also control background music during performances, and provide support to the band. (Suggested dress: western-style).

Toy Shop Elf Supervisor — (ages 16+, 5:00-10:00 pm) Greet guests and help to supervise Toy Shop Elves in Joyland Toy Shop, a place for kids to decorate and assemble wooden toys. Will also assist the Toy Shop Cashier in sales.

Dinner/Dessert Theatre Host — (ages 16+, 5:30-8:30 pm, and Sun 3:30-6:30 pm) Provide assistance for Dinner/Dessert Theatre by lighting candles on tables, handing out programs, seating guests, providing information. (Suggested dress: semi-formal as appropriate for a dinner theater event)

Volunteer Dining Room Host — (ages 16+, 4:45-9:00 pm) Provide hospitality to volunteers in the Staff Dining Room by stocking the buffet line, busing tables, making coffee, and maintaining cleanliness.

Joyland Café Host — (ages 16+, 4:45-10:00 pm) Greet, seat guests, bus tables, and support the Food Service staff in Joyland Café, a venue that provides food and snacks. (Suggested dress: casual Christmas attire, warm layers.)

Joyland Depot Host — (ages 18+, 5:45-10:00 pm) Greet, seat guests, and bus tables in a large heated tent next to Joyland Depot snack shop, which offers a themed atmosphere to complement the Polar Express area and give guests a place to warm up and enjoy donuts and treats from the Snack Shop. (Suggested dress: casual warm attire or “railroad duds” appropriate.)

Lobby Courtesy Host — (ages 18+, 4:30-9:00pm) Greet guests in the Dinner/Dessert Theatre lobby, providing a welcoming presence, information, and directing guests to Registration Booth, restrooms, etc.

Deer Mountain Lodge Host — (ages 18+, 4:30-10:00 pm) Welcome guests in the lobby of Cascadian Lodge, an inviting place to warm up and enjoy a one-person drama performed four times each evening. Informs guests about the performance times, provides support to the actor, and controls background music before and after performances. (Suggested dress: as for ski or hunting lodge, in jeans, khakis, flannel shirts, sweaters, etc.)

Joyland Concert Hall Host — (ages 18+, 4:45-10:00 pm) Greet guests in the Joyland Concert Hall, a large entertainment venue with gift shop, by directing them to seeting, answering questions, and busing tables.

Santa’s Helper — (ages 18+, 5:00-10:00 pm) Greet guests and assist Santa by handing out Youth Camp coupons, refilling the candy barrel, keeping the line moving, reassuring uncertain little ones, learning childrens names and introducing them to Santa.

Victorian Greeter — (ages 16+, 5:00-10:00 pm) Dress up in Victorian attire and invite people in and direct them to the ornament room or the gift shop. Outfits provided.

Ornament Room Supervisor — (ages 18+, 5:00-10:00 pm) This person would be responsible for getting the room set up before the event opens, running the cash register, and cleaning up when the event closes. Casual attire, vest provided.

Ornament Room Helpers — (ages 14+, 5:00-10:00 pm) Helpers would be responsible for assisting those who are making their ornaments and assisting the supervisor to ensure that operations run smoothly. Casual attire, vest provided.

Themed Characters

Costumed Character — (ages 14+, 4:30-7:00 pm or 7:30-10:00) Clap, dance, hug, have your picture taken while wearing a lovable Frosty the Snowman costume or Whistlestop Charlie, the Engineer Bear, costume. 2-hour shifts only. Must be under 5’8”, 175 pounds or less. (Suggested dress: T-shirt and shorts.)

Santa Claus— (ages 18+, 4:30-10:00pm) Entertain children in Joyland (room C), receiving their Christmas requests. Jolly disposition required. Santa suit provided.

Outdoor Courtesy

Escort Guardians for Costume Characters — (ages 14+, 4:30-7:00 pm or 7:30-10:00 pm) Accompany Frosty and Whistlestop Charlie, providing “crowd control” and discouraging hecklers.

Bruce the Spruce Host — (ages 16+, 6:00-10:00 pm) Greet and welcome guests waiting to talk with Bruce the Spruce, the talking Christmas tree, guard against tampering of decorations and equipment, and control the line when it spills into the street.

Polor Express Train Engineer — (ages 18+, 5:45-8:00 pm and/or 7:45-10:00 pm) Drive the Polar Express Train around a pre-determined loop. Must be courteous, hospitable and safety oriented. Training provided. Valid driver's license required.

Polar Express Conductor — (ages 18+, 5:45-8:00pm and/or 7:45-10:00 pm) Welcome guests and assist the Train Engineer with crowd control by helping passengers board train. May ride along to assist the Engineer as needed. (Suggested dress: engineer hat and cobbler apron provided.)

Courtesy Cart Drivers — (ages 18+, 4:30-10:30 with dinner break) Provide “upfront customer service”, extending hospitality and care guests with special mobility needs by transporting guests via golf cart. On-call at Front Gate (Hospitality #1). Must be able to hear and respond via 2-way radio. Valid driver's license required.

Fireside Greeters — (ages 18+, 4:30-10:00 pm) Greet and direct arriving guests outside near the warming fire and ticket booths. Help speed the ticketing process by pre-completing “ticket orders”. Friendly and outgoing disposition.

Event Security — (ages 18+, 4:15-10:30 pm) Patrol the grounds to help assure safety and provide information and assistance to guests. As needed, tend fires, help with parking, and perform other guest courtesy duties. (Required dress: security uniform vest and cap provided.)

Pony Rides

Pony Ride Attendant — (ages 14+, 4:30-7:30 or 7:00-10:30 pm) Lead kids on horseback. Must be mature, courteous with children, and comfortable handling horses with CHA Level 2 (or prior approval by Horsemanship Director). Need at least one adult Pony Ride helper each night. (Suggested dress: western, with boots and warm, dry layers.)

Pony Ride Leader — (ages 19+, 4:30-7:30 or 7:00-10:30 pm) Direct the children’s pony rides, helping mount and dismount kids, and overseeing Pony Ride Helpers who will be leading the horses. Must have strong horsemanship and people skills. Must be approved by Horsemanship Director.

Petting Farm

Petting Farm Attendant — (ages 10+, 4:30-7:30 or 7:00-10:30 pm) Feed and water animals, clean stalls, and pick up litter in the petting farm (Shepherd's Keep). Must be respectful and friendly to visitors and the leaders. Need at least one adult Helper each night.

Petting Farm Leaders — (ages 18+, 4:30-7:30 or 7:00-10:30 pm) Oversee helpers, regulate number of guests, and maintain handwashing stations for the petting farm (Shepherd's Keep). Must have general working knowledge of animals and strong people skills.