14 Fun Things to do this Holiday Season in Northern Arizona
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.
4. Tuesday Night Holiday Classics at Harkins Theater
Every Tuesday night at 7:00pm throughout the month of December, Harkins Theaters in Flagstaff screens a holiday classic. I’ve seen Christmas Vacation, but they also screen classics like Elf, A Christmas Story, and The Polar Express.
For under 10 bucks, it’s a fun experience to see old favorites on the big screen for the first time. This is especially true for those of us you were not around to see it during the original run! It makes for a fun and budget friendly holiday date idea!
- Location: 1959 S Woodlands Village Blvd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
- 2025 Dates: Every Tuesday night at 7pm in December
- Admission: $7 per person.
5. Wild Lights at Prescott’s Heritage Park Zoo
Although it cannot compare to big city zoo light productions (like the massive Phoenix Zoo light festival), Prescott’s tiny Heritage Park Zoo hosts a nice annual holiday light spectacular. It’s nice add on if you will be in town enjoying other holiday activities. As a bonus, admission is much cheaper than the big zoos.
All of the animals at Heritage are rescued, so your money is going to help a good cause. Sure, it isn’t the grandest display around, however, it’s a great event for the small price tag. The tiny 10 acre zoo is nicely decorated for the season, without overdoing it.
As an added bonus, it’s much less crowded than the big zoos. Thus, you can stroll around at your own leisure without anyone on your tail. Grab a cup of coffee or hot cocoa in the visitor’s center and keep your eye out for any animal sightings (kinda dark, however, we still saw most of the residents).
Update: They have added a few more attractions with 2025 set to be the biggest event yet according to their website. On Sunday Dec. 15th, Santa will be bringing the animals presents from 1-3pm.
- Location: 1403 Heritage Park Rd, Prescott, AZ 86301
- 2025 Dates: Nov 29th-Jan 4th (Fridays and Saturdays only).
- Hours: 6-9pm
- Admission: $13 ages 3+
6. Main Street Holiday Decor
Most of the small towns in this area deck out their Main Streets in beautiful holiday decor. I love popping in and out of local shops, enjoying dinner, and then taking in all the lights. In my opinion, Prescott looks best this time of year, followed by Williams and then Flagstaff and Sedona. Each town decorates for the holidays in their own unique way, so I recommend a trip to all 4.
Williams
Williams is home to various Route 66 memorabilia and the most upbeat and colorful display of all. It’s a bit out there and they even have holiday music playing on the streets. Carriage rides are offered too, just be prepared to spend a few bucks. You’ll find lots of great shops in Williams selling Route 66 knick knacks, cabin decor, and fun Arizona themed souvenirs. For dinner, I recommend the rustic and cozy Pine Country restaurant. They serve homestyle food and over a dozen homemade pie flavors!
Prescott
My favorite Main St. to stroll this time of year is definitely Prescott. They go all out and the added charm of the historic Victorian architecture adds a special touch. There are a lot of local restaurants, shops, and saloons lining this district. Be sure to stop by the Christmas in Prescott store for a new local ornament to add to your collection. I usually stop by Rosa’s or Papa’s Italian this time of year.
The most impressive display is the Courthouse lighting, a 60+ year extravaganza features thousands and thousands of lights. Prescott, known as “Everybody’s Hometown, is thought to be the best place in Arizona to celebrate an old-fashioned Christmas due to many combining factors such as the beautiful Victorian architecture, enthusiastic seasonal events, cool temps, and an abundance of local businesses
Sedona
While Sedona does not get as cold and snowy as Flagstaff and Prescott, it is still beautiful to visit around the holidays, especially if the red rocks are topped with snow. There are many touristy shops and restaurants in Uptown Sedona, plus jaw dropping red rock scenery. Where else can you see a Christmas tree with towering red rock formations in the background?
Another benefit of visiting Sedona in the winter is virtually no crowds! This is the time of year to hike a popular trail like Brin’s Mesa or Devil’s Bridge. You can check out my hiking must-do guide for full details on the top red rock views.
Flagstaff
Flagstaff’s downtown is not as decorated as the others on this list, but there are a lot of great local businesses to support. I love the many independent cozy coffeeshops with Late for the Train being my favorite (awesome Americanos here!). Restaurants I recommend include: Charly’s at The Weatherford Hotel, Lumberyard Brewing Company, Beaver St. Brewery, and Karma Sushi.
During the holiday season, you will find a pretty town tree and lights at Heritage Square. The historic Weatherford Hotel looks great with it’s bright decor. If you are in town, you can see the giant pinecone drop on New Year’s Eve. Don’t miss the Holiday lights Parade, held in mid-December each year. During this fun annual event, businesses compete to see who has the most festive float.
7. Skiing, Snowshoeing, & Sledding
Flagstaff is a skiing oasis in the Southwest, a winter wonderland with a long snow season. Located on the scenic San Francisco peaks just 7 miles or so from Flagstaff, Snowbowl offers 32 total runs, 5 ski lifts, and sees 260+ inches of snowfall per year. Those who prefer cross country skiing or snowshoeing can head over to the Arizona Nordic Center, which offers a variety of beginner and intermediate trails.
As a budget friendly alternative, I recommend renting snowshoes (or find a cheap pair at a thrift shop) and enjoying a quiet snowshoe hike at any area park like Fort Tuthill or Buffalo Park. Or head up scenic Snowbowl Road and enjoy a quiet trail like the Kachina or Veit Springs. Snowshoeing is a great workout and it’s easy to motivate yourself in an area so gorgeous. You can read about my experiences snowshoeing in the city and see more pics.
Another fun option is to just get out there and enjoy some old fashioned sledding. You do not need a fancy, overpriced snow play area, just a basic sled and a hill somewhere. It won’t cost anything, yet you will still have a blast. There are small and large hills all around town, so you will have no trouble finding a favorite spot. Ft. Tuthill is one of your best bets for free snow fun!
Location: Snowbowl is located at: 9300 N Snowbowl Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86002. Arizona Nordic Center is located at: W Fort valley Ranch Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.
Check each individual website for trail conditions and road conditions.
Prices vary based on equipment needed,half versus full day pass, holidays, etc. In general, cross country skiing and snowshoeing are much cheaper.
8. Festival of Light & Sweet Stroll at the Village of Tlaquepaque
Sedona’s gorgeous shopping and dining complex looks so gorgeous around the holidays. There are a lot of festive displays in the windows and it’s fun to shop for unique Southwestern themed ornaments. It’s definitely worth a visit if you will be out in about in Sedona for the day. Start your day hiking the wonderful red rock trails and end your night enjoying the cafes and shops of this lovely village. As for dining, I recommend El Rincon and The Secret Garden Cafe.
A number of holiday events are on the lineup. The lighting of 6000 luminaries in mid December, Santa visits, Chanukah menorah lighting, and a very popular sweets stroll give you plenty of opportunities for festive fun.
Every Thursday-Sunday, you can take a scenic walk around Sedona’s Posse Ground Park, which is lit up for the holidays with various lights and displays. It’s free, so get out there and enjoy some beautiful decorations created by local community members and businesses. While you are in Sedona, there are many other events to enjoy including Old Time ornament making at the Sedona Heritage Museum, listening to carolers and seeing the town tree at Canyon Breeze Plaza, and much more.
Be sure to take scenic Oak Creek Canyon to get to Sedona if traveling from Flagstaff. This gorgeous drive features endless incredible viewpoints including gorgeous leafy trees, the magnificent red rocks, and beautiful pines and mountains.
After a winter storm, you can see the red rocks topped with a fresh layer of snow – but hurry as it does not last very long. This is one of the coolest sights I’ve seen since moving here. I also recommend a quick stroll on the West Fork (only some of the trail will be open). It’s pretty cool to see the creek and rocks surrounded by rare snow.
- Location: 525 Posse Ground Rd, Sedona, AZ 86336
- 2025 Dates: Tree lighting Dec. 5th at 5pm
- Admission: It’s free!
Update: The lighting of the luminaries and sweet stroll are cancelled. Check the website for other holiday events.
9. Ice Skating at Jay Lively Activity Center
Unfortunately, there are no quality outdoor rinks really anywhere in the area. I really love ice skating so this is my only beef with the winter season here. Wintry areas like Flagstaff and Williams provide the perfect temps and ambiance for skating, yet they lack a rink. Meanwhile, warm and dry Phoenix gets several – go figure! Your best bet is the only skating option in the area, an indoor rink at Jay Lively Activity Center.
A variety of public skating sessions, including an adult’s only session on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons are available. While not as festive and fun as outdoor skating, I still visited this rink numerous times to get into the holiday spirit.
- Location: 1650 N Turquoise Dr, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
- Admission: $6.75 admission, $4 skate rental
- Check the Jay Lively website for public skating hours
Update: Skate at the Station (at the train station downtown) is a new synthetic outdoor ice rink in Flagstaff. Admission and skate rentals are both free.
