Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Freiburg, Germany, a beautiful university town at the foot of the Black Forest in the heart of continental Europe. In addition to the stellar public transportation and high speed rail, walkable town centers, and easy-to-access recreational trails, I was struck by how well this city and region marked the changing of the seasons. It seemed every few weeks there was some sort of festival or concert or event celebrating this or that harvest, person, event, or holiday.

One weekend, late in November, upon returning from a trip to London, I discovered that the center of the city had been transformed into a fantastical holiday village. Multicolored lights had been strung between lampposts, which had been switched off in favor of the more intimate feel. Vendors were selling handmade products from tiny kiosks which seemed to be arranged with no real order or precision. Hordes of French and German tourists clogged the walkways, often clasping glass mugs full of hot glühwein (mulled wine). Even the street food had been transformed; instead of the typical currywurst and döner kebap, the kiosks were selling more traditional potato pancakes and weisswurst sausages.

This, of course, was a Christmas market—the impossibly magical, postcard-perfect experience common across northern Europe, even in small villages and towns. But for some reason, they’ve never caught on here in the United States.

Spokane has in recent years developed a reasonably healthy arsenal of holiday specialties, between the lighted trees in downtown Spokane, the WinterGlow Spectacular light show in Riverfront Park, and a number of smaller community-oriented activities both downtown and in the neighborhoods. But there’s still more we could do to create a cohesive, vibrant experience for residents and visitors.

Due to construction in Riverfront Park, WinterGlow Spectacular has relocated to the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds this year. But in time, a new skating ribbon in the gondola meadow could complement the light show event. Perhaps we could even draw on the local artistic community to create a true Christmas market near the Rotary Fountain and the Howard Street Bridge. Between the Carousel, a Christmas market, WinterGlow, and the new skate ribbon, the south end of Riverfront Park would become a true hub of activity. And with some creative flair and a keen eye, we could create something unique in the entire Pacific Northwest.

Of course, even a few smaller steps could make a difference. I’d love to see holiday-themed display windows in downtown storefronts, pop-up art shops, or even just lights strung across Main. And our urban districts remain comparatively devoid of cheer. South Perry and Garland, for example, deserve lights and decorations of their own.

These types of holiday experiences can bring the community together in fun new ways. I hope that in time we can tie together our current loose ends and create something new and special for the Northwest.

Anthony Gill is a Spokane native and recent graduate of Santa Clara University. He is the founder of Spokane Rising, an urbanist blog focused on ways to make our city a better place to live.