Discover the best 2025 holiday events in Phoenix: light shows, markets, skating, concerts, and festive desert magic across the Valley.
Phoenix may be known for its desert heat, but come December, the city transforms into a vibrant winter playground filled with glowing garden trails, community festivals, immersive art, and holiday magic set against sunsets that look airbrushed.
In 2025, holiday events in Phoenix stretch across the Valley, offering everything from botanical light spectacles and ice skating under palm trees to cultural celebrations, festive markets, and larger-than-ever seasonal experiences.
Whether you’re an Arizona local or a sunny-winter traveler seeking an unforgettable December escape, the 2025 holiday events in Phoenix promise a season bursting with color, creativity, and desert-style wonder.
Las Noches de las Luminarias at Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden’s signature holiday event, Las Noches de las Luminarias, immerses guests in a glowing desert world illuminated by thousands of hand-lit luminaria bags, lantern installations, fire pits, and live music. The 2025 edition introduces a new “Sonoran Sky Path,” a 360° light corridor choreographed to Indigenous drumming soundscapes.
“When the desert glows, people listen,” says artistic director Camila Torres. “It’s our most soulful night of the year.”
Location: 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, AZ
Website: https://dbg.org/
Contact: (480) 941-1225
Book early—this event sells out every year.
ZooLights at Phoenix Zoo
A perennial Phoenix favorite, ZooLights transforms the Phoenix Zoo with millions of LED lights, animated displays, life-size animal lanterns, and nightly entertainment. The 2025 ZooLights features a brand-new “Under the Desert Sea” installation and an enhanced Music in Motion Lagoon show.
Location: 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix, AZ
Website: https://www.phoenixzoo.org/
Contact: (602) 286-3800
A joyful tradition for families, couples, and anyone who loves twinkling spectacles.
CitySkate Ice Rink at CityScape Phoenix
Ice skating in the desert? Absolutely. CitySkate at CityScape Phoenix returns in 2025 with a bigger rink, enhanced lighting, themed skate nights, and live DJ events. Surrounded by downtown towers and festive décor, the rink offers one of Phoenix’s most Instagrammable holiday backdrops.
“People don’t expect downtown Phoenix to feel like a snow globe—but it does,” says event coordinator Breanna Ellis.
Location: 1 E. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ
Website: https://cityscapephoenix.com/
Contact: info@cityscapephoenix.com
Perfect for date nights and holiday outings with friends.
Enchant Phoenix – Desert Diamond Arena
Enchant brings its mesmerizing Christmas village and giant holiday maze back to Glendale. Enchant Phoenix 2025 features new light sculptures, a reimagined maze storyline, ice-skating trails, food markets, and artisan vendors.
Location: Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale, AZ
Website: https://enchantchristmas.com/
Contact: info@enchantchristmas.com
A dazzling immersive experience—plan for at least two hours.
Phoenix Festival of the Arts
A December tradition, the Phoenix Festival of the Arts features live performances, food trucks, interactive art, and hundreds of local artists showcasing their work. The 2025 festival adds a new “Holiday Maker Pavilion” and sunset lantern procession.
Location: Hance Park, 1202 N. 3rd St., Phoenix, AZ
Website: https://phoenixfestivalofthearts.org/
Contact: info@phoenixfestivalofthearts.org
A vibrant community celebration perfect for gift shopping and meeting local creators.
Glendale Glitters: Arizona’s Largest Free Holiday Light Display
Historic Downtown Glendale shines with more than 1.7 million lights during Glendale Glitters. The 2025 season offers upgraded LED displays, cultural performances, artisanal markets, and holiday food vendors lining the charming streets.
Location: Historic Downtown Glendale, 5835 W. Palmaire Ave.
Website: https://www.glendaleaz.com/
Contact: (623) 930-2299
A festive, family-friendly staple with a nostalgic community vibe.
Scottsdale’s Christmas at the Princess
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess transforms into a five-star North Pole during Christmas at the Princess, featuring themed light zones, an ice-skating rink, a Ferris wheel, holiday characters, and luxury dining options. The 2025 experience introduces a “Frozen Canyon” interactive ice cave.
Location: 7575 E. Princess Dr., Scottsdale, AZ
Website: https://www.scottsdaleprincess.com/
Contact: (480) 585-4848
Over-the-top holiday glam—only Arizona could deliver this desert chic.
Arizona Lights in the Night – Mesa
This drive-through light experience dazzles visitors with tunnels of lights, massive holiday sculptures, and animated scenes synced to holiday music. Arizona Lights in the Night 2025 adds new animated story zones and a synchronized drone finale on select nights.
Location: 1901 N. Alma School Rd., Mesa, AZ
Website: https://arizonalightsinthenight.com/
Contact: info@lightsinthenightaz.com
A magical, low-stress event—great for families with younger children.
Celebration of Christmas at Dream City Church
A Phoenix holiday tradition, Celebration of Christmas is a Broadway-level production with flying angels, live animals, elaborate sets, and a heartwarming seasonal narrative. The 2025 show incorporates new aerial choreography and redesigned costumes.
Location: 13613 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ
Website: https://dreamcitychurch.us/
Contact: (602) 867-7117
Grand, theatrical, and surprisingly emotional.
Why 2025 Holiday Events in Phoenix Offer a Season Like No Other
Phoenix thrives during the holidays precisely because it doesn’t attempt to recreate snowy cities—it celebrates its desert identity with artistry, surprise, and bold imagination. The 2025 holiday events in Phoenix showcase the Valley’s ability to produce immersive experiences that blend natural beauty, cultural diversity, community spirit, and over-the-top creativity.
Instead of a white winter, Phoenix offers a bright winter—one where cactus gardens glow with luminarias, ice rinks shimmer beneath skyscrapers, and holiday festivals spill across warm evenings filled with food, music, and connection. It’s a holiday season that surprises visitors and makes locals fall in love with Arizona all over again.
Why You Must Experience 2025 Holiday Events in Phoenix
Make the Most of 2025 Holiday Events in Phoenix
Whether you’re planning a warm-weather getaway or building your December must-do list, the 2025 holiday events in Phoenix promise a season filled with light, imagination, and unforgettable desert magic. From glowing gardens and festive markets to theatrical productions and immersive light trails, Phoenix proves once again that holiday wonder doesn’t require snow—it just requires creativity.
Discover the best 2025 holiday events in Phoenix: light shows, markets, skating, concerts, and festive desert magic across the Valley.
