Pride Journey Holiday Spotlight: Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona

Don’t miss the holiday lights at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. This is a dazzling drive-through holiday light experience, which is making its debut in 2020, to celebrate the season with an unprecedented spectacle of nearly 5 million lights that will greet Yuletide revelers along 1.2 miles that encircles the award-winning Spring Training home of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. “Salt River Fields is very happy to bring in another fun family event that can be participated in safely. The Holiday Lights event will be an exceptional experience for families to enjoy together and to celebrate the holidays,” said Dave Dunne, General Manager, Salt River Fields. “With 2020 being such a difficult year for everyone, we look forward to seeing many smiling, happy faces at this wonderful event. The Salt River Nation and the Talking Stick Entertainment District welcome all to enjoy the magic of the holiday lights, and hope that everyone’s spirits are lifted by the event.”

Holiday Lights at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick is specially designed as a safe, drive-through exceptional experience enjoyed from the comfort of one’s own vehicle. Guests will wind through a sparkling pathway of more than a mile long that surrounds the award-winning baseball facility, a landmark within The Talking Stick Entertainment District. At every turn, the magical route is anticipated to overflow with spectacular light displays, synchronized to Christmas melodies that bring popular holiday themes and characters to life. Favorite holiday songs will be simulcast directly into vehicles on a designated FM radio signal. The event is produced by R Entertainment in conjunction with Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, and designed by Steve Driscoll.

HANUKKAH LIGHTS. In addition, during the 7pm hour, on Thursday, December 10, the first day of Hanukkah, Holiday Lights at Salt River Fields will greet visitors in a blue and white motif to honor the Jewish holiday.

More Fun Events in the Greater Phoenix Regions:

• Christmas at The Princess (Nov. 17-Dec. 31, 2020 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess) – The resort becomes a true winter wonderland with an ice-skating rink, Santa’s Secret Headquarters, holiday lights viewed from the Princess Express Train, S’mores Land and more!

• Las Noches de Luminarias at Desert Botanical Garden (select Nov. and Dec. 2020 dates) is a holiday tradition in the desert. Stroll the Garden’s trails lined with 8,000 flickering luminaria bags, gaze at twinkling lights and admire the enchanting glow of Saguaro cacti, illuminated from the ground up.

• Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park (Nov. 27, 2020-Jan. 3, 2021) – Little ones (and their parents) love to ride the Paradise & Pacific railroad and see McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park twinkling with thousands of colorful lights. On select dates, Santa makes an appearance riding a historic train car!

• For more holiday lights wonder on a few less wheels, visitors can take a ride with Segway of Scottsdale on their Christmas Lights tour.

• Travelers can also go for a walk – or a drive – on the wild side with Zoo Lights, and an annual holiday tradition, at Phoenix Zoo. Over the summer, the zoo launched “Cruise the Zoo,” allowing families a way to beat the heat and visit safely by driving through the paved pathways of the zoo rather than walking the grounds. Zoo Lights will be available as a walking or driving experience, as a result. And while the webpage isn’t live yet, we’ve received word that Zoo Lights will open to the public Nov. 7 for 90 nights of beautiful lights, through January.

• Coach House Tavern in Old Town Scottsdale – Each year for more than 25 years the Bower Family has draped its landmark Scottsdale bar in garland, gift wrap, tinsel, candy canes, bows and more than 12,000 lights to celebrate the holiday spirit.

• Scottsdazzle – a month-long holiday celebration around town complete with everything from lights to the Santa Wine Around & Ale Trail. Though details are still being finalized, we do know that this year’s Scottsdazzle will focus on micro-events to limit the number of attendees gathered for the festivities in Old Town Scottsdale. These events will be available to no more than 50 people at a time and will adhere to all federal, state and CDC safety guidelines.

• The Phoenician provides personalized experiences that are rare and memorable by design. During the holiday season, the hotel has Santa workshops, crafts and sweets, holiday dinners and much more. The Phoenician has acres of desert landscape and they have previously been decorated with holiday lights during the season.