Holiday Events in Phoenix

Celebrate the season with holiday events in Phoenix, such as outdoor ice skating, twinkling light displays, performances, and even snow in the desert.

You don’t need frigid winter weather to get in the spirit of the season. Enjoy holiday events in Phoenix, including concerts and performances, outdoor ice-skating rinks, open-air shopping markets, and festivals, twinkling light displays and even a few places to watch it snow in the desert.

 

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• Activities

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Activities

 

Skate Westgate

November 8 - January 12

Partake in the timeless holiday tradition of ice skating on Westgate’s real ice rink. Back again this year is the ever-popular, horse-drawn carriage rides that are free to all guests. Adding even more magic to the holidays, snowfall happens twice nightly and Santa Claus is on-hand to listen to Christmas wishes.

 

Miracle at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails

November 25 - December 25

 

The downtown Phoenix restaurant is the only spot in Greater Phoenix to host the national Miracle pop-up. This year, Blue Hound is all about the nostalgic vintage Christmas, with Clark Griswold-worthy tchotchkes. Along with the festive decor, Blue Hound will have special cocktails and dishes for the occasion. 

 

Christmas at The Princess

November 26 - December 31

 

The Scottsdale hotel gives a posh and playful touch to the holidays, offering an ice skating rink, a Build-a-Bear workshop, projected light shows, a train ride and more.   

 

Sippin' Santa at Bitter & Twisted

November 26 - December 28

 

One of Phoenix's most sought-after cocktail bars transforms into a tiki-themed Christmas, in a completely over-the-top and fun manner. 

 

Christmas at Schnepf Farms

November 27 - December 30

 

Schnepf Farms becomes a winter wonderland, complete with a skating rink, World of Illumination train ride, reindeer hayrides, and mini-golf. To top if all off, the East Valley farm even has the world’s largest inflatable Christmas-themed obstacle course.

 

CitySkate Holiday Ice Rink

November 29 - January 5

Get into the spirit of winter by skating on a real ice rink in the heart of downtown Phoenix. Central Avenue is transformed into an ice skater’s dream, decorated with a massive holiday tree and thousands of twinkling lights.

 

Merry Main St. in Downtown Mesa

November 29 - January 4

 

Head to Downtown Mesa for a variety of events including outdoor ice skating, shopping, food truck festivities, photos with Santa and all the holiday essentials.

 

Rawhide Snowy Christmas

November 29 - December 22

 

Get all your Christmas activities mixed with the spirit of the Old West at Rawhide. The town is decked out in holiday decor and features a tree lighting every weekend with Santa himself. 

 

Christmas in the Rainforest

December 4-28

 

Your favorite festive decorations are mixed in among thousands of butterflies from around the world, in the country's largest glass conservatory. 

 

Winter Waterland

December - January 5

 

Take your holidays underwater at OdySea Aquarium, where you can meet real mermaids, a swimming Santa, Fairy Tale Princesses or even a live penguin.

 

Phoestivus Market

December 12 & December 19

 

This annual market, celebrating its 10th anniversary, is a mashup of German Christmas markets and Seinfeld's Festivus. You'll get to have the Airing of Grievances, get a photo with hipster Santa, and shop for your holiday gifts, choosing between more than 150 local vendors. 

 

Holiday Lights

 

World of Illumination Tempe / World of Illumination Glendale

November 20 - January 5

Illumination is Arizona’s largest holiday drive-thru light show that is fully synchronized to your favorite music. This 1-mile long driving attraction will feature millions of holiday lights synchronized to holiday music throughout 14 acres of the newest state of the art holiday lights and displays.

 

ZooLights

November 27 - January 19

When the sun goes down and the animals go to sleep, the Phoenix Zoo magically transforms into one of the largest holiday lighting events in the Southwest. Enjoy millions of lights, hundreds of displays and performances throughout the zoo.

 

Lights of the World Lantern Festival

November 21 - January 12 (Open Thursdays - Sundays)

Lights of the World is a unique international lantern arts festival that combines the age-old Chinese tradition of lantern festivals with modern cutting-edge technology and lights. The Lights of the World lantern displays extend from 18 to 60 feet, showcasing features of different cultures and civilizations around the globe.

 

Glendale Glitters

November 29 - January 11

Glendale’s award-winning holiday lighting event has become a family tradition across the state. The stunning display of 1.5 million lights illuminates 16 blocks of Historic Downtown Glendale, making it the largest free holiday light display in Arizona. 

 

Fantasy of Lights Parade

November 29

 

Downtown Tempe is kicking off the holiday season with its 25th annual Festival of Lights Parade, in which the city's famous Mill Avenue bursts with intricately lit floats and holiday cheer. Get some shopping done at the holiday market, or take a selfie with Santa while you're there. 

 

Las Noches de Las Luminarias

November 29 - December 31 (Select Dates)

 

Have a true Southwestern holiday experience at the Desert Botanical Garden, where 8,000 flickering luminarias line the pathways among the desert flora. While you're there, you'll encounter live performances throughout the garden, as well as the Wild Rising installations of giant, plastic animals. 

 

Zoomtown Lights

December 4-31

 

Drive through a Nascar raceway decked out in sparkling displays for 1.6 miles, boosted by snowfall canopies, trees of light and motorsports inspired displays. 

 

Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade

December 14

 

So you saw the Festival of Lights Parade on land - now see it on water. This parade takes over Tempe Town Lake, with more than 50 boats glittering in the water.