Prescott's Courthouse Plaza during the holidays (Credit: Michael Wilson)
Arizona Lights Up the Holidays
Arizona's holiday season gets a shiny boost with an array of lighting festivals and twinkling displays to delight individuals and families of all ages. Check the websites for individual dates and times.
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Greater Phoenix Area
World's Largest Drive-Through Animated Light Show (Arizona) Founded in 2016, World of Illumination is an ever-expanding group of artists, engineers, developers, and lovers of storytelling. World Of Allumination raises the bar, sets the standard, and leads the world by creating uniquely themed experiences that tell stories, bring awareness, educate, and inspire. Ticket info. Nov 16 - Jan 1 | Open Nightly 6pm - 10 pmTempe
ZooLights, Tempe Adventure is everywhere at the Valley’s favorite holiday tradition, ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo. This season promises to be bigger and brighter than ever before, with all-new animal lanterns and light displays, an enhanced Santa experience and a brand-new music and light show that will take visitors around the world! Plus, don't miss Dinosaurs in the Desert, the not-to-be-missed dino-mite experience! Ticket info. Nov 23 - Jan. 15, 2023 | 5:30 pm - 10:30 pmTempe
Glendale Glitters Spectacular The nighttime sky over Murphy Park lights up with 1.6 million twinkling lights as part of this annual tradition. Opening night activities frequently include holiday entertainment, food, crafts, children's wonderland and snow, and horse-drawn carriage rides. Admission Free and Selected Event. Nov 22 - Dec 22 | Each Evening 5pm - 10pmGlendale
Las Noches de las Luminarias, Phoenix Each night of Luminaria, the Desert Botanical Gardens come to life with the soft glow from more than 8,000 hand-lit luminaria bags, thousands of white twinkle lights, and unexpected views of familiar spaces. Walk along the garden paths and be entertained by the sights and sounds of nine entertainment ensembles. Plus, new this year, the holiday also includes an extra layer of beauty with the bold and lyrical large-scale sculptures of Playing with Stars by Rotraut. Tickets must be purchased in advance. (Select dates in December)
Enchant Christmas, Salt River Fields at Talking Stick Touted as the world's largest Christmas light maze and village, the sprawling 10-acre event, presented by the Hallmark Channel, features an immersive walk-thru light maze created from more than four million sparkling lights, an impressive 100-foot-tall holiday tree, a unique ice-skating trail, live entertainment, Santa visits and a village marketplace with crafts, gifts, festive culinary treats and holiday cocktails. Tickets required. Friday, Nov 25 - Jan 1, 2023,Salt River Fields
North Central Arizona
Wildlights and Animal Sights, Prescott Join us at the Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary which transforms into a holiday wonderland with spectacular light displays, festive holiday decorations, and music. Visit the Gift Shop for those special holiday gifts!! Tickets required. Friday & Saturday evenings, Nov 25 - Dec 31, 2022l6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Candlelight Tours, Fort Verde State Historic Park Enjoy the celebration of a Victorian Christmas with traditional candlelight tours provided by re-enactors dressed in period clothing. Park admission. (First three Saturdays in December)
Southern Arizona
Winterhaven Festival of Lights, Tucson The central Tucson neighborhood of Winterhaven adorns itself each holiday season with lavish lights and holiday décor. Tour the lights on a hayride wagon, bus trolley, a pedal-powered group bike, or on foot. The festival is free to attend, but donations are requested for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. (December)
LightsUp! A Festival of Illumination, Tucson Designed by nationally known public garden landscape architect Tres Fromme, a carefully curated and artfully sequenced series of illuminated experiences will transform the Tucson Botanical Gardens into a compelling, all-new holiday show. Six distinct thematic zones with their own unique color palettes lead visitors through more than a million lights, custom-built oversized installations, and pieces created by local artisans such as luminaria chandeliers and archways. Friday, Nov 25 - Jan 15, 2023.
Western Arizona
27th Annual Festival of Lights, Lake Havasu City London Bridge Resort's Festival of Lights really brings out the holiday spirit -- bring the family for a stroll under the London Bridge along the walkway or take your boat on a night cruise through the Bridgewater Channel as over 500,000 lights set the water aglow. There's plenty of free parking at the English Village or The London Bridge Resort and Convention Center. Free. Friday, Nov 25 - Jan 8, 2023 l Lights turn off nightly at 10pm
