PHOENIX, AZ — From concerts to sporting events, circus acts, and even a marathon with several Santa Clauses in the West Valley- there’s lots to do in the Valley this weekend!
Here’s where to head out with the family:
- Cost: Tickets range from $25 to $45. Children 3 and under enter for free.
- When: Shows available from December 16 to January 1st
- Where: Bell Bank Park [6321 South Ellsworth Road]
- What to expect: A walk-thru holiday display experience that features a 30-foot-tall Christmas tree, a 20-foot-tall snowman, giant candy canes, Santa’s sleigh, a large gingerbread man and more.
- Cost: Free
- When: Nightly from 5:30 p.m. to dawn, now through January 3, 2023
- Where: Surprise Recreation Campus [15960 N. Bullard Ave.] Click here to view map with the event’s activities.
- When: Sunday, December 18 at 7:30 a.m.
COST
- Kid's dash: now until Dec. 17 [$10] and on race day [$20]
- 5k: now until Dec. 17 [$54.99] and on race day [$60]
- Half Marathon: now until Dec. 17 [$74.99] and race day [$80].
Where: WaterDance Plaza at Westgate in Glendale [6751 N Sunset Blvd]
MESA ARIZONA TEMPLE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
- What to expect: After a five-year hiatus for renovations, the Christmas Light display at the Mesa Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is back! Guests that come to the Christmas lights have free access to nine acres of dazzling lights.
- When: The Christmas lights will be up until December 31st. The lights are on nightly from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
- Cost: Free.
- Location: Mesa Temple [101 S Lesueur]
- What to expect: A ‘sweet’ pop-up art installation in the City of Chandler where you’ll find a 14-foot star gazer box, a ‘candy’ sleigh, a fruit roll up’ slide, giant marshmallows, huge candy canes and lollipops that you can walk-thru and more!
- When: Now until Monday, January 2.
- Cost: Free
- Where: Dr. A.J. Chandler Park West [3 S Arizona Ave]
GRUPO FIRME: 'ENFIESTADOS Y AMANECIDOS'
- When: Saturday, December 17, 8 p.m.
- Cost: tickets start at $145
- Where: Desert Diamond Arena [9400 W Maryland Ave] in Glendale
GLADYS KNIGHT WITH SPECIAL GUEST COMEDIAN MARK CORDES
- When: Friday, December 16, at 8 p.m.
- Cost: tickets start at $45.
- Where: Celebrity Theatre [440 North 32nd Street] in Phoenix
'JOSE HERNANDEZ' MERRY-ACHI CHRISTMAS
- What to expect: According to the Scottsdale Arts officials, Mariachi Sol de México will perform holiday classics and ‘favorites from the mariachi songbook’.
- When: Saturday, December 17, 8 p.m.
- Cost: tickets start at $39
- Where: Virginia G. Piper Theater at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts [7380 E 2nd St].
PHOENIX SUNS VS. NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
- When: Saturday, December 17, 7 p.m.
- Cost: tickets start at $39
- Where: Footprint Center [201 E Jefferson St] in Phoenix
ARIZONA COYOTES VS. NEW YORK ISLANDERS
- When: Friday, December 16, at 7:30 p.m.
- Cost: tickets start at $141
- Where: Mullett Arena [411 S Packard Dr] in Tempe
ARIZONA COYOTES VS. BUFFALO SABRES
- When: Saturday, December 17, 7 p.m.
- Cost: tickets start at $100
- Where: Mullett Arena [411 S Packard Dr] in Tempe
- Cost: Free.
- When: Saturday, December 17, at 10 a.m.
- Where: Starts at N Central Ave & Montebello Ave in Phoenix, click here for route map.
MORE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCES
- What to expect: The Desert Botanical Garden welcomes the holiday season with its iconic tradition of Las Noches de las Luminarias. “This tradition started to share with people here at the garden the beauty of the holidays,” said Marisol Peláez, digital marketing manager at the Desert Botanical Garden. “People can walk through the trails and they’re going to be able to follow this path full of luminaria lights.”
- When: Las Noches de Luminarias are lit on selected dates, which include December 9-11, 15-18, 20-23, and 26-31 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Costs: $39.95 for adults, $16.95 for children [ages 3-17] and children 2 and younger enter for FREE. [Member prices differ]
- Location: Desert Botanical Garden [1201 N Galvin Pkwy] in Phoenix.
- When: November 25 to January 1, 2023.
- Tickets are NOW ON SALE.
- Cost: adults $34, children (ages 3–17) $20, Military $31, seniors (65+) $31 and children 2 and under are free.
- Where: Salt River Fields at Talking Stick [7555 N Pima Rd, Scottsdale]
‘PRATT BROTHERS CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR’
- When: The holiday spectacular runs from November 22 to January 1, 2023.
- Hours of operation: Open every day from 6 p.m.-10 p.m.
- Cost: General admission $14.99, Pratt Pass VIP $75 and Free General Admission for Children ages 2 & under.
- Where: Bell Bank Park [6321 South Ellsworth Road, Mesa]
‘ZOOLIGHTS’ AT THE PHOENIX ZOO
- When: November 23 to January 15, 2023.
- Hours of operation: 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- Cost:
- If you purchase your ticket online, it's $30 or it's $25 if you’re a Phoenix Zoo member.
- Price of a ticket if you purchase at the gate are $35 or it's $30 if you’re a Phoenix Zoo member.
- According to event officials, children ages 2 and under get in for free.
- Where: Phoenix Zoo [455 N Galvin Pkwy]
- When: the holiday experience opens on November 25.
- Cost: Some activities are free; others have a cost.
- Where: 20 E Main St in Mesa
- When: Open daily [5:30 pm - 10 p.m.] from November 25 to January 8, 2023
- Cost: $17 for adults and $13 for children ages 2-12.
- Event officials highly advise you to buy your tickets online. You can purchase tickets on-site, but keep in mind that there is an occupancy limit at the event venue.
- Where: Justice Brothers Ranch [14629 W. Peoria Ave] in Waddell
‘THE IMMERSIVE NUTCRACKER, A WINTER MIRACLE’
- When: This holiday experience opens November 19.
- Cost: Tickets start at $29.99 and family packs are 10% off per ticket and “must be purchased in bundles of four tickets or more.”
- Where: Lighthouse ArtSpace Phoenix [4301 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale]
- When: Everyday [5 p.m.- 10 p.m.] from November 22 to January 7, 2023
- Cost: Free
- Where: Murphy Park [W Glendale Ave] and surrounding areas.
