- 2021 Holiday Celebrations in and Around Scottsdale -

The holidays are here and this is a super fun time to live in Scottsdale and the Valley. There are so many events going on, it can be hard to choose which ones to attend!

Below is a collection of events going on now and in December.

  • The Polar Express- Now through December 30th- Enjoy a magical ride to the North Pole on the Polar Express. Once there, Santa will greet the little ones with cocoa and cookies. This event does sell out, so purchase your tickets in advance.

  • Christmas at The Princess - November 16th - January 2nd - Christmas at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is back and they have added new things to see and do. Over six million lights will illuminate your way as you explore. Want to make some S'mores, ice skate, take a train ride or have a photo with Santa? All of these are offered. And this year, they have added a new section called The Village, complete with sleds and a chairlift! Here is the calendar of events so that you can plan your visit.

  • World of Illumination - November 17th - January 1st - You have two locations and two different shows to experience at World of Illumination this year. Tempe's show is Reindeer Road and you will find Candy Rush in Glendale. Millions of lights are synchronized to music is back and all you have to do is drive through and enjoy. You pay by the carload and can pre-purchase tickets online.

  • Holiday Lights at Salt River Fields - November 19th - January 1st - Along the 1.2 mile course, you will be dazzled by over 5 million lights. This year, you can reserve lit carriages that seat four or six guests. When you are done, head over to Santa's Village featuring Santa, snacks and cocoa for purchase and even shop local artisans for the perfect gift.

  • Desert Ridge Holiday Events - November 20th - December 31st - November 20th is the kickoff event for Desert Ridge where the tree will be lit, there will be live performances and the first nightly snowfall will take place. Christmas in Color will give you great holiday photo opportunities throughout the shopping center.

  • Mc Cormick Stillman Railroad Park Holiday Lights - November 26th - January 2nd - Ride the train through the park and the dazzling light displays. Tickets will be sold for 1.5 hour reserved blocks and capacity will be reduced. This means shorter lines, so you will likely be able to do the train ride and carousel more than once! Food and drinks available for purchase.

  • Scottsdale's Scottsdazzle - November 27th - December 31st - On November 27th, the tree lighting will officially kick of this year's Scottsdazzle celebration. The Scottsdale Waterfront will be adorned with lights and decorations which you will also see all over Old Town. Click on the link to see the calendar and learn more about all of the events offered, including Santa at the Farmers' Market, Wine Nights, movies, Sip & Shops and so much more. Enjoy!

  • Holidays at Scottsdale Quarter - November 27th - January 3rd - Kick off the season on November 27th with The Santa Social, an all-day event with activities, Santa and more. Then, stay for the tree lighting that evening. There will also be weekend musical performances and caroling.

  • Chanukah in Carefree - Nightly November 28th - December 5th - Attend in person or live stream the lighting of the menorah nightly. Each evening will feature a different organization or comunity members and there will be musical performances, talks, activities for the family and more.

  • Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden - Select dates December 3rd - December 31st - This is the 44th year of this well-loved event. Tour the garden alight with thousands of luminaria lanterns. This year is extra special as you will get to experience Chihuly in the Desert as well. There will be live entertainment as well as food and beverage offerings. Tickets must be purchased in advance and they are timed entry, so make sure to shop sooner rather than later.

  • The Nutcracker with the Ballet Arizona- December 10th - 24th - This beloved holiday tradition is back in person again this year. Come enjoy this classic performance!

  • Phoestivus- December 15th and 16th - Phoestivus is back in downtown Phoenix. Shop many talented vendors and enjoy the Phoestivus Ale from Phoenix Beer Co. This is a great way to support local small businesses!

  • Phoenix Zoo's Zoolights - November 24th - January 15th - You have two options to enjoy Zoolights again this year. Depending on the evening, you can walk-through or drive-through. Be sure to get your tickets early as this is a very popular event!

As always, this is just a partial list, so feel free to add any other events in the comment section.

Disclaimer: Information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed. Events subject to change. Some events are free, while others have an admission fee or items for purchase.