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The vacation season is brimming with merry actions within the Valley of the Sun, particularly with this array of Scottsdale Christmas occasions. Celebrate the season with festive mild shows, kid-friendly amusements, particular eating experiences, and different revelries. Enjoy a jolly season with these 21 issues to do in the course of the winter holidays in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This story is delivered to you in partnership with Experience Scottsdale.
1. Christmas on the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Get into the vacation spirit at Christmas on the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. This resort transforms right into a fantastical winter wonderland every November and December. My recommendation: go early within the night for fewer crowds and shorter strains!
Wintry Activities
To begin, queue up for the Princess Express Train, which carries riders by way of their lagoon lights show. Then, take pleasure in amusements in S’moresland together with Frosty’s Ferris Wheel and a Christmas Carousel. Kids particularly love Snow Mountain sledding hill.
Also, make sure to take a spin on an out of doors ice skating rink surrounded by palm timber. The Desert Ice Skating rink is made with actual ice! The icy enjoyable would not finish there, although. There’s additionally an Ice Maze, Alpine Skate Trail, and an uplifting Chair Lift.
Christmas Season Entertainment
Enjoy stay performances like Christmas carols sung by roving costumed carolers. Music by native bands provides to the vacation cheer. Don’t miss the mesmerizing animated vacation mild present within the Enchanted Plaza close to the doorway, both.
Festive Dining
Book dinner at one of many resort’s signature eating places to benefit from 50 p.c off valet parking, which incorporates as much as 4 basic admission wristbands to Christmas on the Princess. Pan-Latin delicacies is obtainable on the upscale Toro. Probably most tempting for teenagers is Mexican delicacies at La Hacienda. Look for traditional American fare at Bourbon Steak and Ironwood American Kitchen.
Additionally, particular savory and candy treats plus vacation cocktails and mocktails could be discovered all through the resort at snack stops. S’mores kits can be found for roasting round fireplace pits, too.
Book a Stay
To profit from these family-friendly occasions, e book an in a single day keep on the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort throughout Christmas time. You’ll obtain complimentary basic admission to Christmas on the Princess, in addition to VIP Express wristbands all through your keep. Plus, Arizona residents can take pleasure in 30 p.c off their keep!
This extraordinary Scottsdale Christmas occasion runs nightly from November 18, 2022 by way of January 2, 2023.
2. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Holiday Lights
The annual McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Holiday Lights is a magical expertise with numerous mild shows and twinkling tunnels. Faux snow permits desert dwellers an opportunity to get a short style of a white Christmas in Scottsdale, too! Climb aboard the miniature Paradise Pacific Railroad for a glowing tour of the North Pole.
In addition to coach rides, youngsters will love a big playground with loads of slides and climbing buildings in addition to a smaller Old West-themed play space. If visiting the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park with younger youngsters, then a spin on the Charros Carousel is a should, irrespective of the season.
This occasion takes place from 6 to 9 pm, November 25 by way of December 30, 2022. Advanced reservations are required.
3. Scottsdazzle Holiday Art Activities
Scottsdazzle celebrates the vacation season in Scottsdale with two months of actions. Canal Convergence kicks issues off from November 4 to 13 with lights and spectacular artwork installations alongside the Scottsdale waterfront and all through Old Town.
Both Scottsdazzle Stroll and Gold Palette Artwalk present good alternatives to take pleasure in Old Town Scottsdale’s quite a few artwork galleries in December.
Take benefit of alternatives for hands-on creativity as properly. Sign as much as make your individual artwork on the Merry Make & Take craft-making lessons or the Holly-Jolly Painting Party. Create your individual wreath, Christmas tree, ornaments, or vacation items at Holly-Jolly Wine Cork Crafting. Or, get in contact with nature at Festive Floral Workshops. You can even make your individual scented soy wax candle at Candle Making Classes.
4. Scottsdazzle Sing-Along & Tree Lighting Ceremony
Listen to stay Christmas music and sip scorching drinks whereas watching the lighting of the 40-foot-tall Scottsdazzle tree on November 26 at 7 pm on the Scottsdale Waterfront.
5. Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market Christmas Market
On Sundays, store for handmade items and recent produce on the Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market whereas listening to stay vacation music. Get your photograph taken with Santa on the market from 9 am to midday on Saturdays in the course of the Scottsdale Christmas season.
6. Live Nativity and Miracle of Roses Pageant on the Old Adobe
While procuring Old Town Scottsdale, make sure to cease by the Old Adobe Mission, the oldest Catholic church in Scottsdale. There you’ll be able to view a stay nativity, celebrating the beginning of Jesus with a dwelling manger scene.
Watch a reenactment of the appearances within the 1500s of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego close to Mexico City. The Miracle of Roses Pageant takes place at 4 pm on the Old Adobe Mission on December 10, 2022.
7. Holiday Scavenger Hunts
For a enjoyable (and aggressive!) technique to discover Old Town Scottsdale, register for a vacation scavenger hunt by way of golf cart at one among three types of Prancer’s Puzzle Rides. You might be a part of Holly-Jolly Holiday Relay as a crew to compete to find Christmas clues. Alternatively, the family-friendly Highjacked by Elves is suitable for ages 4+. Meanwhile, Jingle Bar Hop caters to a 21+ crowd. Learn extra.
8. Scottsdazzle Food and Spirits Events
Toast the season with 4 particular occasions for wine drinkers. Feel festive with wine tastings on the Cellar Room Wine & Bites occasion. Get playful together with your cabernets on the Coal or Cabernet problem. Santa’s Wine Flights is bound to please oenophiles, too. Or, go all out on the Holiday Celebration on the Chef’s Table.
If blended drinks are extra your vibe, then style the spirit of the season with Christmas Cocktails. Meanwhile, whiskey connoisseurs will not wish to miss Whiskey Tasting on the North Pole. For beer lovers, Blitzen’s BBQ & Brews ought to hit the spot.
Teetotalers and kids needn’t really feel disregarded. Enjoy finger pastries, candy treats, scorching chocolate, and chilly lemonade on the Sugar Plum Tea Party.
Festive Food Demos will please house cooks in the course of the month of December, too.
9. Nutcracker Ballet by Ballet Arizona
Sugar Plum Fairies dance into your goals with Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ballet by Ballet Arizona from December 10 to 24, 2022. Of this efficiency, Alistair Macaulay of the New York Times stated, “Ballet Arizona’s ‘Nutcracker’ is one of the three finest productions of the nearly 20 I’ve seen across America.” The well-known Christmastime ballet is accompanied by the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall.
10. Phoenix ZooLights
For a blinding vacation lights show, reserve tickets for the beloved Phoenix ZooLights. Zoogoers shall be handled to thousands and thousands of twinkling lights and a large number of glowing animal sculptures. Hot cocoa and different treats like kettle corn can be found for buy.
In addition to member preview nights on November 21 and 22, ZooLights runs from November 23, 2022 by way of January 15, 2023.
11. Winter Waterland at OdySea Aquarium
The OdySea Aquarium at Arizona Boardwalk will get a vacation makeover between November 25 and December 31, 2022. The aquarium’s Winter Waterland options vacation decorations and a Christmas-themed scavenger hunt for teenagers.
Additionally, Voyager, the world’s solely rotating aquarium exhibit, is narrated by Santa because it spins by way of 4 separate watery habitats that function animals like sea lions and sharks. The better part, although, is seeing Santa himself underwater within the Deep Ocean Theater at designated instances.
Admission to Winter Waterland is free with common admission. Check Groupon for low cost entry tickets earlier than you go!
12. Christmas within the Rainforest at Butterfly Wonderland
Also positioned on the Arizona Boardwalk leisure heart, Butterfly Wonderland hosts Christmas within the Rainforest from November 26 by way of December 31, 2022.
Look for seasonal decorations like snowflakes, Christmas timber, Santa’s reindeer, and vacation lights. Ambassador animals make appearances, too. Also, hearken to stay musical performances on choose dates in the course of the vacation season.
13. Holiday Tea at The Phoenician
For an upscale conventional English afternoon tea with a vacation twist, reserve a desk for Holiday Tea on the luxurious Phoenician Resort. Celebrate the season of their superbly embellished foyer whereas listening to stay vacation piano music.
Included are finger sandwiches, scones with Devonshire cream and preserves, pastries, a collection of teas, and a vacation reward for all attendees. Make your teatime much more festive by including a glass of bubbly. The Phoenician will fortunately present gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and vegetarian menus with 24-hour advance discover.
14. Holiday-Themed Live Theater Performances
Holiday theater performances abound in Scottsdale and Phoenix.
It’s an annual custom for my household to look at It’s a Wonderful Life at Scottsdale’s Don Bluth Front Row Theater. Every seat is an effective one at this venue due to its petite measurement. This Christmas traditional runs from November 17 to December 30 in 2022.
We’ve additionally loved watching Arizona Broadway Theatre‘s particular vacation performances in Peoria. In 2022, e book seats at A Christmas Carol, The Musical, from November 18 to December 29.
At the Herberger Theater in Phoenix, view And Now…a Word from Our Holiday Sponsors performances from November 28 to December 16, 2022. This lighthearted present takes place on Christmas Eve in 1953 throughout a stay coast-to-coast efficiency by a fictional TV household named the Felixes.
Meanwhile, stay theater followers can select from A Christmas Story or The Velveteen Rabbit at Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre in November and December 2022.
15. Las Noches de las Luminarias on the Desert Botanical Garden
Wander by way of the attractive Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix with 8,000 glowing luminaries lighting pathways amongst desert crops. Listen to stay musical performances and buy vacation treats as you discover the botanical gardens. In 2022, Las Noches de la Luminarias takes place on choose days, December 1 by way of 31.
16. Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge Arizona
Children will adore Snowland at Great Wolf Lodge Arizona. Snowland takes place from November 18, 2022 by way of January 4, 2023.
Hotel company take pleasure in photographs with Santa, vacation storytimes, video games, crafts, and Snowland Yoga. Plus, all ages are invited to rock out to vacation music across the Christmas tree within the foyer throughout Frosty Fest Family Dance Parties. Look for each day menorah lightings all through Chanukah, too.
Miss snow in Scottsdale at Christmas? Great Wolf Lodge Arizona supplies a magical indoor snowfall.
17. Enchant Christmas Light Maze and Village
New this 12 months, Enchant guarantees to be the world’s massive Christmas mild maze and village. This winter wonderland is Presented by the Hallmark Channel. It could be discovered at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick from November 25, 2022 by way of January 1, 2023.
Browse Enchant’s Village, a Christmas market bursting with quaint outlets promoting crafts and items. Then wind your manner by way of lighted tunnels and previous vacation shows in The Maze to discover a 100-foot-tall Christmas tree. Perhaps most spectacular is the dazzling forest of glowing timber you may skate by way of on their ice rinks.
Come hungry. There are scorching entrees and specialty sandwiches available. Top off your night with a vacation deal with like s’mores or freshly made doughnuts.
Children will wish to go to Little Elves Play Place. There, they’ll make ornaments, play reindeer video games, and hearken to Christmas tales by Mrs. Claus herself. Santa’s accessible for photographs with the backdrop of an Alpine chalet, too.
For grown-ups aged 21+, there is a chilly Polar Ice Bar serving three vodka cocktails. There are further beverage stations, too, serving spiked scorching chocolate, a Merry Mocktail, and different libations.
18. Holiday Lights Segway Tours
For a novel manner to absorb the glow of the vacations, join a Segway lights tour of Old Town Scottsdale. Segways are embellished with Christmas lights on the Scottsdale Segway Tours Old Town Holiday Lights Tour. Meanwhile, Segway of Scottsdale‘s Christmas Lights Tour consists of vacation lights wrapped round every Segway and a scorching chocolate cease mid-way by way of the journey.
19. Valley of the Sun Chanukah Celebrations
Chanukah begins on Sunday, December 18 and concludes the evening of Monday, December 26 in 2022.
Celebrate the Festival of Lights at Lots of Latkes on December 18 on the East Valley JCC in Chandler. Families will take pleasure in music, a bounce home, arts and crafts, and a menorah lighting. Of course, there shall be numerous latkes to eat, too!
Teens from throughout Arizona are invited to take part in a Chanukkah Regional Party hosted by Chabad of Phoenix. Expect dreidels, latkes, and far more.
Chompie’s is an area delicatessen that has been serving conventional New York-style Jewish delicacies in Arizona since 1979. Go to one among their a number of Valley places for a tasty Chanukah menu, accessible onsite or to go. Think potato latkes, matzo ball soup, brisket, and extra.
20. Winter Wonderland Arizona Residential Holiday Lights Display
Find 250,000 digitally computerized lights, fake snowfall, and bubbles on show at this Scottsdale house owned by critical vacation lovers. Winter Wonderland Arizona is free to the general public however a instructed $5 donation is appreciated.
This is the thirty sixth 12 months of this superb mild show, which runs this vacation season from December 6, 2022 to January 2, 2023. The owners ask that guests park on Granite Reef.
21. Scottsdale Holiday Shopping
Scottsdale is a consumer’s paradise, significantly in the course of the vacation season. Kierland Commons and Scottsdale Quarter outside procuring districts get dolled up with lights and timber galore. Meanwhile, the indoor Scottsdale Fashion Square’s 240 retail shops and eating places supply darling Christmas décor and offers aplenty. Additionally, discover distinctive paintings plus Southwest and Arizona-themed items and ornaments in Old Town Scottsdale.
22. Photos with Santa in Scottsdale
Kids and kids-at-heart can meet with Santa Claus at places all through Scottsdale. Look for photographs with Santa at Kierland Commons, Scottsdale Quarter, Scottsdale Fashion Square, Biltmore Fashion Park, and Phoenix ZooLights. Purchase hardcopy and/or digital photographs. Make reservations for these venues prematurely at WhereIsSanta.com.
You can even discover the jolly previous elf at Christmas on the Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Great Wolf Lodge Arizona, and Enchant at Salt River Fields.
23. Phoenix Symphony Holiday Pops
Tap your toes alongside to the merry beat of Holiday Pops by the Phoenix Symphony and Phoenix Symphony Chorus. Enjoy each non secular and secular songs of the season from December 2 to 4, 2022 at Phoenix Symphony Hall.
24. Special Christmas Menus at Scottsdale Restaurants
Celebrate Christmas with vacation menus at eating places all through the Valley of the Sun. Whether you are searching for an intimate setting or a family-friendly eatery with festive aptitude, you are positive to discover a menu that pleases your palate. Take a have a look at Christmas eating choices in Scottsdale.
25. Scottsdale Santa Crawl
Each 12 months, revelers don their ugly Christmas sweaters, Santa hats, and different vacation gear to make merry in Old Town Scottsdale in the course of the Scottsdale Santa Crawl. Tickets embody admission to taking part bars, three penny ($.01) drink vouchers, and drink specials.
This 12 months’s Santa Crawl is scheduled to happen on Saturday, December 17, 2022.
26. Arizona Lights the Night
Drive by way of a memorable vacation lights present in Mesa at Arizona Lights the Night. Expect life-sized snowmen, large glowing sweet canes, and Christmas timber galore. The attraction is open seven nights per week from November 23, 2022 to January 8, 2023.
27. Spirited Dueling Piano Shows
You’ll giggle, you may sing, you may clap, and you might even dance alongside throughout Spirited Dueling Piano Shows at Belle’s Nashville Kitchen in Old Town Scottsdale. Listen to your favourite vacation songs, together with nation and rock favorites throughout this vigorous present. Talented pianist compete to your applause (and ideas) throughout this improvised present, that includes viewers requests.
Bourbon is the star beverage at this 21+ present. Choose from two seatings on December 9, 2022.
28. Dazzling Magic Shows
Celebrate the magic of the season at Dazzling Magic Shows. Scottsdale Magician Craig Davis entertains crowds with humor and mesmerizing methods. Attend two free reveals on Marshall Way Bridge in Old Town Scottsdale on December 10 and December 11, 2022.
29. Holidays Events at Omni Scottsdale Resort at Montelucia
Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia‘s Christmas season commences with an annual 20-foot tree lighting. Enjoy refreshments, stay music, firepits, youngsters’s crafts, and cookie adorning on December 3 on the resort.
Kids will lengthy keep in mind Breakfast with Santa on the Omni Montelucia on Sundays in the course of the month of December. Look for particular vacation meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, too. Revelers will take pleasure in a multicourse New Year’s Eve dinner and a particular New Year’s Day brunch with stay music, too.
30. Scottsdale New Year’s Eve Parties
Ring in 2023 with festive meals, music, and spirits within the Scottsdale space. For New Year’s Eve, a number of native eating places are providing multi-course prix fixe meals with a glass of bubbly. Other Valley venues are providing high-energy events that includes DJs or stay music, dancing, and drinks. Discover methods to have a good time the New Year in Scottsdale.
Explore More in Arizona
Find much more enjoyable actions for the entire household within the Valley of the Sun with this checklist of actions in Scottsdale with youngsters.
Discover the charms of Arizona’s Christmas City in my information to Prescott.
In winter, you may possible expertise snow in Arizona with these issues to do in Flagstaff.
Learn Arizona historical past and discover the state’s pure magnificence with a go to to Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments.
Save These Scottsdale Christmas Events
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Which of those Scottsdale vacation occasions appeals most to you? Let us know within the feedback under!
Disclosure: This checklist of Scottsdale Christmas happenings is up to date yearly. I acquired financial compensation from Experience Scottsdale in 2020 associated to this story. I additionally accepted complimentary admission to Christmas on the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, OdySea Aquarium, and Butterfly Wonderland. All opinions are mine, as at all times.
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