5 Tucson Holiday Events Not to be Missed
Disclaimer: We are not paid to promote any restaurant, hotel, activity, product, or attraction. All opinions are subjective and based on our personal experience. Your experience may be different.
The Southwest does not come to my mind first when I think of the holiday season. Being from Chicago, I am used to lots of snow, overcast skies, and frigid temps as soon as November rolls around. I definitely do not think of cacti and palms trees when I think Christmas. When I first moved to the city, I wasn’t sure what to expect for the holidays. It can be quite difficult to get into the festive spirit when the skies are endlessly sunny and the weather more conductive to biking or hiking rather than sledding or building a snowman.
Listening to classic carols like Let It Snow and Winter Wonderland just isn’t the same in a warm, dry, dusty desert climate. Nevertheless, I was actually really impressed with the holiday event lineup and the seasonal cheer around the metro. Tucson is an underrated city with lots to do all year round, and even more so during the winter season when you combine amazing outdoor recreation with seasonal festivities. If you are lucky, you may even get to see the mountains capped with snow!
That being said, after living in the metro for a few years, I comprised my list of my favorite Christmas events. In my guide, you will find a wonderful synchronized show, a neighborhood light show like no other, and even a “snowfall” event at the mall.
A White Christmas in the Desert
On an interesting side note, the city has actually experienced a White Christmas on 3 occasions since 1984, with the largest storm bringing 4 inches in 1916 and the most recent snowfall being a mere 2 inches in 1987. While the odds of a White Christmas are really, really slim, they are actually not zero, but rather 4 percent! It would be a pretty magical sight to see some fresh snow covering the cacti covered desert, however, most of the time Tucsonians who love wintry weather will have to settle for watching a snowy holiday classic instead.
While you likely won’t see any snow, you will still find many of the same traditional holiday activities that you will find in the colder climates. Zoo lights, holiday plays & movies, and Christmas tree lightings are all part of the lineup just like everywhere else. Additionally, you will find a few unique Southwestern style traditions such as “A Southwest Nutcracker,” Southwestern themed art markets, and even snowfall at the mall.
Here are my top 5 recommend festivals to add to your bucket list!
1. Winterhaven Festival of Lights
For 70+ years (2025 marks the 76th season), Winterhaven has been putting on a community wide decorating festival unlike any other, making it the biggest and best, as well as longest running city holiday tradition. The developer of the residential community came up with the idea in 1949 after seeing a similar display in Beverly Hills. It’s been held each year since, with the exception of 1970 during the energy crisis when residents voted to go dark.
Each house goes all out with decorations, with barely a house barren. Some of the themes are really unique. I’ve seen A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, and even Stranger Things. I’ve seen everything here from readings of A Christmas Carol, synchronized shows, screenings of Christmas Vacation, carolers, even a mini musical fountain show like the Bellagio in Vegas.
Everyone gets really decked out in their holiday apparel – I even saw a few light up dog collars! I attended this event several times and really loved the high energy and good cheer all around. I would say it is one of the top neighborhood displays I’ve ever seen and I have seen a lot of wonderful setups around the Chicago burbs growing up.
Roads are closed to vehicles. You can opt to stroll around for free or pay for a tour via a wagon, trolley, or Alpine Pedaler party bike ride.
One of many fantastic shows!
Food bank donation boxes greet you as soon as you enter. The community has raised thousands of dollars each year. In 2023, $31,000+ of food was donated to the Community Food Bank. I feel good attending an event where profits go towards giving back to the community.
- Location: Entrances on Ft. Lowell, Tucson, Country Club, and Prince
- 2025 Dates: December 13-27, 6-10pm. No drive through dates this year.
- Pricing: Free street parking, Additional fees for alpine pedaler rides (reservations required)
- More info – including needed donations and historical info about the event.
2. Marana synchronized musical tree show
Marana is a small suburb just northwest of Tucson. The main holiday event here is a Tree Lighting Ceremony which draws 1000’s of people on opening day. A 40 foot Christmas tree accompanied by a musical show, live musical entertainment, and 20 tons of real snow really draw in the crowds from all over.
Fortunately, after opening night, the crowds disappear and you can watch the wonderful choreographed show all to yourself. This is my preferred time to visit. This is one of the more underrated, under visited Christmas activities to check out in my opinion. It’s a great alternative for those who wish to avoid the hefty crowds at the Reid Park Zoo Lights and Winterhaven.
The festive show, in tune to 5 classic holiday songs, is free to attend. It’s a quiet area without a lot of congestion – a big bonus in the hectic, car centric area. The show runs daily 5 to 8pm throughout December. After your visit, I recommend treating yourself to a delicious authentic Italian meal at Dominick’s Real Italian. Their pizza is amazing and they serve the best garlic knots and to-die- for toasted ravioli!
- Location: 11555 W Civic Center Dr, Marana, AZ 85653
- 2025 Dates: Tree lighting is on December 6th. Shows run every half hour the entire month, from 6-9pm
- Pricing: Free
- Holiday festival details on the Marana visitor site.
Holiday Classics at the Fox theater
The gorgeous historic Fox Theater, which opened back in 1930, is one of the top attractions to check out anytime of the year. I love visiting historic theaters across the country and this really is the best I’ve come across. Really, it is the standout attraction in the small downtown area. This theater can accommodate many with a 1164 seat capacity.
During the month of December, they screen a variety of holiday classics. I saw White Christmas as it is one of my all time favorites, but I’ve also seen Elf, It’s a Wonderful Life, and The Polar Express on the event lineup. It’s really fun to see these beloved classics on the big screen in a gorgeous theater as they were meant to be seen.
If you grew up in the old days when going to the theater was such a memorable event, the Fox should be a trip down nostalgia lane. And for anyone else, you will get to experience the feeling of seeing in a movie in the golden days of Hollywood. Seeing one of these classics on the big screen is the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit.
Other events include the Russian Grand Ballet’s Nutcracker and special holiday musical performances.
Before your visit, I recommend stopping for a wonderful brunch at the historic Arizona Inn, a peaceful old-fashioned resort. The Audubon is so gorgeous this time of year. Be sure to take a look at the grand tree in the lobby. Many locals come here to open their gifts next to the roaring fire.
- Location: 17 W Congress St, Tucson, AZ 85701
- Fox theater events
- Pricing: $8 per show
Enchanted Snowfall at La Encantada
La Encantada is the fanciest outdoor shopping center. This mall is great for strolling around during the cooler winter season. Who says you cannot enjoy a little snow in the desert? While the chance for actual snow is pretty much non existent (3% to be exact), you can enjoy a little bit of that holiday magic here. Snow falling down by the beautiful courtyard tree, accompanied by holiday tunes, hot cocoa, and live musical and dance performances makes the vibe really festive.
For anyone wishing for a rare White Christmas in the desert, the snowfall event at this mall is your best bet. As a native of the snowy Midwest, I appreciated this show and it added a little bit of magic to my holidays. Afterwards, you can stroll around the luxury shops, enjoy dinner at a high end chain like North Italia or check out a local favorite like Blanco, or enjoy a cup of locally roasted coffee at Savaya (I love their Americano).
- Location: 2905 E Skyline Dr, Tucson, AZ 85718
- 2024 Dates: November 29th-December 22nd (Thurs-Sun only)
- Pricing: This event is totally free right down to the free parking! Free cocoa and live entertainment!
- La Encatada directory
Reid Park Zoo Lights
Reid Park is a small, yet pleasant zoo home to a surprising diversity of animals. The zoo is nicely laid out and easily walkable via a short path which winds its’ way around the nicely manicured 24 acres. While it’s no San Diego or Brookfield, it’s worthy of a stroll if you are a zoo lover. During Christmas, they put on one of the top displays in the Southern Arizona region. I really loved the choreographed show and the setup of the lights – I could tell it wasn’t sloppily done in a few days.
Although I would definitely consider Winterhaven first as it is free and there are so many more lights to look at, the Zoo Lights is a great add on activity.
Besides lights, you will find S’Mores making stations, visits with Santa, and hot cocoa stations. Keep in mind that you will not get to see many animals as the zoo does not have many indoor exhibits. If you are lucky, you may see one of the cats roaming around, although do not expect to see much more.
I recommend treating yourself to dinner at the Polish Cottage before your visit. They make the best perogies and potato pancakes in Arizona! Plus, this little hidden gem is located just a little over a mile from the zoo entrance.
- Location: 3400 E Zoo Ct, Tucson, AZ 85716
- 2024 Dates: December 5th-23rd, 26th-30th, and January 2nd-5th
- Pricing: $14 per adult, $12 seniors, $9 kids 2-14 ($1 off with Humane Society donation, 2 cans of food, or a new unwrapped toy). Discounts after the 23rd and on Mondays for members. Pricing current as of 2024 – please check websites for updates.
Here are a few more experiences to add to your bucket list if you have the extra time.
Dining at the Arizona Inn
This beautiful historic hotel is a great place for a meal right before the holidays. The beautiful library features a Christmas tree next to a roaring fireplace. The service is some of the best in the area and the food is top notch. Do treat yourself to a stack of blue corn pancakes topped with prickly pear syrup!
Location: 2200 E Elm St, Tucson, AZ 85719
Downtown Parade of Lights
2025 marks the 31st anniversary of this festive celebration held annually downtown. A number of really decked out vehicles and floats light up the dark streets downtown. It’s free, cheerful, and full of holiday spirit, so check it out if you happen to be in town. Saturday December 6th at 6:30pm is the scheduled date for 2025.
Oro Valley Festival of the Arts & Tree Lighting ceremony
Oro Valley puts on a unique holiday celebration which includes one of Southern Arizona’s largest art shows. I love shopping for all the eclectic Southwestern crafts. Festive entertainment is also part of the lineup during the 3 day festival. We saw a great mini Nutcracker ballet performance on our last visit. December 6th is the scheduled 2025 date. Conveniently, I lived just a few blocks from this event.
Looking for more fun throughout The Grand Canyon State? There’s a lot to do in this state all year-round. When Tucson temps get too hot, you can always travel up north. When it’s too cold up north, you can daytrip to the Sonoran Desert. I basically covered it all while living in both Tucson and Flagstaff for 5 years. Check out my Arizona Travel Guide for great things to do no matter the season.
