Winter Wonderland: Phoenix

Transforming the desert into a festive wonderland, the Desert Botanical Garden is celebrating the holiday season with Las Noches de las Luminarias. Throughout the month of December join the Desert Botanical Garden for an evening filled with sparkling luminarias and twinkling holiday lights. Enjoy the entertainment, musical performances, and large-scale sculptures of Playing with Stars by Rotraut amongst over 50,000 plants displayed in beautiful outdoor exhibits. Along with dining options at the Patio Café and Gertrude’s Restaurant, there are bars offering a variety of holiday drinks throughout the garden. Luminaria tribute bags are available to sponsor in honor of a loved one or to celebrate a special occasion.

Whether you are a kid or a kid at heart, there is nothing more joyous than visiting the Phoenix Zoo during the holiday season. ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo combines the fun of the zoo with the holiday lights tradition and this year it will be bigger and brighter. Visit ZooLights from November 23, 2022 – January 15, 2023 to walk through the various trails while the animals sleep to see vibrant light displays, more than 50 animal lanterns, camel rides, carousel and an enhanced Santa experience in Polar Park. This year an all-new Lake Light Show features a 50-foot LED tree with music and synchronized imagery, followed by a nightly snowfall. To complete the festive night, enjoy s’mores by the fire, delicious kettle corn and hot cocoa throughout the space.

Join the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess for Christmas at the Princess to kick off the holiday season from November 18, 2022 through January 2, 2023. Generations have participated in the Christmas tradition that includes something for everyone. The new Chateau Champagne experience and ice bar with alcoholic and non-alcoholic winter drinks, in addition to an ice luge, will help keep you warm throughout the night. The Desert Ice Skating Rink, Ultimate Santa Experience, Princess Train Express and S’mores Land provide many magical activities for you to enjoy with the family or great friends. Also, the opportunity to relax and enjoy the Christmas light shows is available in the Enchanted Plaza, Nativity Garden, Twinkle Town, Lagoon and Winterland.