14 Fun Things to do this Holiday Season in Northern Arizona
5. 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. Selections include classics like Christmas Vacation, Elf, A Christmas Story, and The Polar Express. For under 10 bucks, it’s a fun experience to see old favorites like A Christmas Story 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
Dates: Every Tuesday night at 7pm in December
Admission: $8 per person. Additionally holiday movie matinees throughout the week priced at just $5 before 6pm.
6. Wild Lights at Prescott’s Heritage Park Zoo
Although it cannot compare to big city Zoo Lights productions, Prescott’s tiny Heritage Park Zoo hosts a nice annual holiday light spectacular. 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 many other holiday attractions. 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).
Check out more pictures from Wild Lights at Heritage Park Zoo
Location: 1403 Heritage Park Rd, Prescott, AZ 86301
Dates: Thanksgiving weekend – New Year’s Eve (Friday and Saturday nights from 6-9pm)
Admission: $10 ($7 for members)
7. Prescott, Flagstaff, Sedona & Williams Downtown Holiday Lights & Tree
All 4 of these small towns are home to a downtown that is lined with individual shops and restaurants. December is a great time to visit as you get the added bonus of enjoying festive decorations. Each town decorates for the holidays in their own unique way, so a trip to all 4 is recommended!
Williams is home to various Route 66 memorabilia and the most upbeat and colorful display of all. They even have holiday music playing on the streets. Carriage rides are offered too, just be prepared to spend a few bucks ($40 per person for a 1/2 hour ride). You’ll find lots of great shops in Williams selling Route 66 knick knacks, cabin decor, and fun Arizona themed souvenirs: it’s a great place to find unique holiday gifts for sure!
Prescott’s downtown is very charming with historic Victorian architecture. This town is quite unique with the cowboy wild west theme. On Main Street, you can enjoy plenty of unique bars, restaurants, and shops. Be sure to stop by the Christmas in Prescott store for a new local ornament to add to your collection. Be sure to check out the annual Courthouse Lights – this 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, and abundance of local businesses
While Sedona does not get as cold and snowy, it is still beautiful to visit around the holidays, especially if the red rocks are topped with snow. Another benefit of visiting Sedona in the winter is virtually no crowds! Enjoy the peace and quiet of this red rock wonderland minus the hefty summer crowds!
Flagstaff’s downtown is a bit more crowded and not as charming in my opinion (too many pubs, not enough mountain/ski themed business). Employees in general are not as friendly and it has less of an upbeat atmosphere. Also, shops are a bit limited. Despite the setbacks, you’ll find many local restaurants, coffee shops, and bars. A few of the best options include Charly’s at The Weatherford Hotel, Lumberyard Brewing Company, Late for the Train coffee shop, Beaver St. Brewery, and Karma Sushi.
During the holiday season, you will find a pretty town tree and lights at Heritage Square. Also, most of the trees are draped with sparking white lights and storefronts cheerfully decorated. 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.
