Little America Hotel Lights Up Flagstaff’s Dark Skies with 1 Million Plus Lights
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Flagstaff is Arizona’s premier winter destination. The city is one of the highest in the US at an elevation of 7000 feet. Come winter, this makes it a prime destination for snowy fun in an otherwise dry and warm state. With over 120 inches of snow on average per year, this city easily makes the top 10 list of America’s snowiest cities.
Whether downhill skiing at Snowbowl, cross country skiing at Arizona Nordic Village, or sledding at Wing Mountain, you’ll never run out of opportunities for fun winter sports. This make the city a popular winter break destination for Phoenix locals fleeing the heat for some fun in the snow. Holiday light events are a bit limited in this area with the exception of the gorgeous Little America Holiday Lights Spectacular. While living in the city, Mike and I really enjoyed strolling this festive and colorful display at least a few times per week. It’s the best display in the city, and fortunately, free for everyone to enjoy!
Festive holiday fun in the high desert
This is easily the biggest and best lighting event in northern Arizona. Each year, they hold an opening night festival where you can enjoy some free cookies and live music. The lights then stay on throughout the month of December and anyone can stroll the grounds for free.
There are over a million lights in a relatively small space, so the colorful lit up trees really make a bold statement in the otherwise dark desert. This city can get pretty dark this time of year thanks to the low light pollution.
This event has been going strong for 20+ years and is beloved by both locals and tourists. You can easily see the lights from the highway due to the brightness. In 2001, Flagstaff became “the world’s first international dark city.” As the city is pretty dim most of the year, the light show comes as a nice festive change of scenery.
A look at past year’s displays. The theme and displays may change each year, but you can always expect a colorful spectacular.
As you stroll around the colorfully lit grounds, you can sip hot chocolate (bring your own or purchase from an outdoor stand). For those who would rather stay off their feet, there is a free holiday themed trolley which will take you around the grounds. You will notice hotel guests relaxing in the outdoor jacuzzi while taking in the beautiful lights: a nice perk of staying at the hotel this time of year!
Where to eat
If you don’t feel like eating at the hotel or if it’s too busy, you can take a quick drive to the downtown which is an easy 10 min drive. There are a lot of great local restaurants to support. I recommend Beaver Street Brewery, Lumberyard Brewing or Karma Sushi. You can check out my Flagstaff dining guide for full details.
Date/times
The show begins in late November and runs nightly until the end of the holiday season. Weekdays tend to be less crowded, and thus, easier to find close parking. Also, it is the starting point for the super popular North Pole Experience. This super popular holiday tradition (extra fees) apply basically takes families on a ride to Santa’s workshop.
What is the weather like this time of year?
The event draws in many out of town visitors from warm areas of the Southeast, whom are looking for a traditional cold and snowy holiday event (I can’t blame them!). If you are coming from one of these warm areas, dress warm, know that snow is always possible, and bring with your own hot chocolate or coffee to stay warm! Average highs are in the 40’s this time of year and lows can get into the teens. Snow is very likely although it melts fast with the strong sunshine.
The North Pole Experience
In addition to the light show, this property is the departure point for the very popular North Pole Experience, a festive, interactive family holiday activity that draws over 40,000 tourists per month according to their website. For this event, families will board a trolley where they will travel into the forest to a realistic looking Santa’s workshop, complete with elves working.
Kids will have a blast visiting a life-like toy factory, visiting Mrs. Claus, enjoying cookies in the bakery, and attending Elf University. This immensely popular activity always sells out, so book in advance! Special packages, including discounted hotel rates, are available for out of town guests.
Holiday Dining
This hotel also hosts extravagant holiday buffets. Both a Champagne Thanksgiving and Christmas Brunch are held each year in the Grand Ballroom. As you feast on a diverse holiday spread, you can take in views of the (oftentimes) snowy grounds surrounded by pines and listen to holiday carols. In my opinion, at $40+ per person, the buffets are a bit overpriced. However, if you have a big family and do not feel like cooking, it may work for you!
A great roadtrip destination!
Conveniently located right off the highway, this hotel is an ideal road trip destination for anyone making a journey that involves passing Flagstaff. The hotel is just a short drive from the downtown area, so you can enjoy the local shops, restaurants, and nightlife of the area while in town.
Whether you are in town for a holiday road trip or just happen to be passing by, I recommend a quick stop at one of the state’s best light displays. Or, better yet, book a room to be in the center of it all!
Directions
This hotel is located at: 2515 E Butler Ave. Both the light show and parking are free. Visit the hotel website to verify this year’s schedule and learn more about holiday buffets. Also, you can check their Facebook and Instagram page for details regarding opening night festivities.
