The Ultimate List of Holiday Lights in Phoenix
One of my earliest holiday memories is looking at Christmas lights with the family. My parents would have the paper and we would drive around to different neighborhoods enjoying the lights and listening to Christmas music. The light displays have gotten bigger. The maps are digital. The drives have spread out over a much bigger area. The tradition now continues with the next generation as I start my map of lights for my kids.
From residential displays to epic productions, here’s some of the fun, unique, and amazing lights throughout the Valley to check out this year! Note: if you’re interested in a shorter list of the top favorite holiday light shows in Phoenix, click here!
West Valley
Goodyear Glows @ Goodyear Ballpark – arrival of Santa, kid activities, lighting of the tree and more.
Glendale Glitters – 26th Anniversary of Glendale’s magic display of over 1.6 million lights. Opening weekend is November 29 & 30th with lights up through January 1t.h Visit the website for parking information
Zoomtown Lights – Opening November 29 and running every evening through December 31, this event offers guests a unique holiday experience. The light show will feature sparkling displays throughout an approximately 1.6-mile course for guests to enjoy from the comfort of their own vehicles. See website for hours and pricing information.
Illumination – With over 2 million lights and locations in Glendale and Tempe. Prices are per car and less expensive if bough online. Visit the website for more information.
Winter Wonderland Extravaganza – A host of holiday characters, including Rudolph, The Grinch, the stars of Frozen, and St. Nicholas himself, populate the attraction and a soundtrack of seasonal music plays. Operating nightly from 6 to 9pm December 1 – January 10th. Admission is $10, or up to six people for $40. (8609 West Preston Lane, Tolleson)
South Park House – All of your favorite South Park Characters are present and accounted for! On display through January 1st at dusk. (7734 North 41st Avenue, Phoenix 85051)
Sirakis Residence – Siblings spent hours creating this hand painted colorful cutout of Disney characters from Mickey to Frozen. Open at dusk all of December through December 25th. (7914 West Dahlia Drive, Peoria)
A Molar Christmas – With a 2 foot tree, video screens and 18 different holiday songs this show operates nightly from 5 to 10pm through December 31st. (8252 W. Camino De Oro, Peoria)
Tasker Residence – 300,000 lights covering cartoon cut outs and zoo creatures. Monday through Thursday starting at 6, Friday through Sunday starting at 6 through January 2nd.
(8211 South 63rd Avenue, Laveen)
East Valley
Mesa Merry Main Street – Tree lighting and events starting on November 29th with events from ice skating to selfies with Santa. Check the website for more information and the calendar for specific dates.
Vertuccio Farms Light Celebration – The second annual event at the farm starts November 22 and lasts through January 10th. Over 2 million lights on display. As well as a giant bubble Christmas tree, light tunnel, barnyard animals, Santa’s reindeer, snowmen, skate rink, holiday hay maze, pallet maze, mini golf, ping pong, corn hole, animal feeding area, free Christmas photo booth, concession stands, fire pits and sweets for sale. A typical stroll should take 30 to 45 minutes through the farm. Special offers here.
Illumination – With over 2 million lights and locations in Tempe and Glendale. Prices are per car and less expensive if bough online. Visit the website for more information.
Mesa Lights at the Temple – NOTE THAT DUE TO RENOVATIONS LIGHTS HAVE BEEN POSTPONED TILL 2020
Santa Train – Featured on HGTV’s “Outrageous Holiday Houses” this train was born in Baltimore and has been in the valley for almost 30 years. With over 25,000 lights and a long list of fun holiday features, this one is a must visit.
Loop of Lights in Pecan Creek South – Over 120 homes come together. Wall or drive this neighborhood. Be sure to keep a look out for Santa! (38454 N. Carolina Ave. San Tan Valley, AZ 85140)
West Natal Circle in Mesa – A cul-de-sac with 14 houses that each have thousands of lights, blow up decor and more. (Guadalupe and Extension roads in Mesa)
Richins Residence – Chad Richins takes over his house and his neighbors houses with more than 100,000 lights. Operated nightly from 6 to 11 through December 31 (396 West Liberty Lane, Gilbert)
Halloween Christmas House – The Nightmare Before Christmas comes alive at this hose where the couple can’t decide if Halloween or Christmas is their favorite holiday. Open nightly at dusk through January 1st.
(1001 East El Freda Road, Tempe)
Peanuts Airport – The innocent and heartwarming characters From A Charlie Brown Christmas are the theme of this family’s display open from November 25 through January 3rd at 5:30pm (1146 North Quail Lane, Gilbert)
Pelky Family – Mike and Shelly Pelky’s house featuyres over 100,000 lights, a nativity scene, snowman and other seasonal displays. (1335 North Papillon Circle, Mesa)
Brown Family – Disney characters throughout, also seen have been inflatables, shooting starts and regular occurrences of snow! (632 West Aster Court, Chandler)
Christmas on Milky Way – Sychronized lights and holiday carols with the star theme. Nightly from 6 to 10 through January 1st. (4606 West Milky Way, Chandler)
Mesa Christmas – Approximately 30,000 lights nightly from through January 1st from 6 to 10pm. (1610 East Hermosa Vista Drive, Mesa)
Christmas Spectacular – 30 foot tall Santa Claus on display from 5 to 11pm through January 1st
(8535 South Stanley Place, Tempe)
Christmas on Comstock – The snow machines add the special touch to this displat of 110.000 lights and strobes (3642 East Comstock Drive, Gilbert)
Private residence with a manager scene, candy canes and they accept canned food donations accepted for Hope Women’s Center (1335 N. Papillon Circle, Mesa, AZ, 85205)
Phoenix
Zoolights at the Phoenix Zoo- Members only preview on November 25 and 26th. Open to the public starting November 27th and lasting through January 19th. Millions of lights, reindeers, polar slide and hundreds of light displays. This year’s Glow Wild has over 60 animals added to the mix for even more fun.
Lights of the World at Arizona State Fairgrounds – Located at the Arizona State fairgrounds there are over 10 million lights and lanterns, authentic foods, crafts and rides. Prices for admission and parking are available online.
Las Noches De Las Luminarias at Desert Botanical Gardens – Stroll the garden with over 8,000 luminaries. The Wild Rising animals throughout the garden will make this even more entertaining for kids. See website for tickets and all the dates.
Electric Light Parade – The parade is on December 7th this year. See website for the best place to sit on the route and additional information.
Phoenix Winter Wonder – 450 man hours go into every inch of this house being light up. Admission is free. Open nightly at 6 though December. (4237 West State Avenue)
Lee & Patricia Sepanek’s Holiday Lights – For over 30 years Arcadia residents Lee and Patricia Sepanek have put up over a quarter million lights on their family home. You can park and walk through their front yard and enjoy all the displays. (4415 E Calle Tuberia, Phoenix, AZ 85018)
Candy Cane Lane – Every holiday since 1988 families along a 2 block stretch cover their houses with lights. (2801 East Pinchot Avenue)
Voltaire Avenue – Close to 2 dozen residence linked with synchronized lights Nightly starting at 6pm until January 1st (4600-4800 East Voltaire Avenue)
Scottsdale
Holiday Lights at McCormick Stillman Railroad Park – The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park decks out for the holidays with more than 50,000 lights, and a train ride through a winter wonderland. Through Christmas, you can also visit Santa. Dec. 9-23, 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Christmas at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess – Every year the resort transfers to a magical holiday location with over 4 million lights.
Winter Wonderland – The name Chris Birkett may sound familiar. He has won several award for his Halloween and Christmas displays. He owns his own entertainment company and you can see his work throughout the valley. His annual Winter Wonderland display has hit a record of over a quarter a million lights. This is free for the public to view, however donations are accepted. It can get so busy during the holidays that you will have a wait. My family loves to walk by the weeks leading up to see it put together.
Christmas In The Rainforest at Butterfly Wonderland – Starting on Black Friday, visit Butterfly Wonderland for a spectacular fir tree, handblown glass, seasonal performances and more.
Christmas in Scottsdale – John Slade and Caroline Leon’s home in Scottsdale has an animated display with a 25 foot tall tree, singing snowmen and Santa Claus himself! The display comes on at 6 every night through the first weekend in January (8543 East Avalon Drive, Scottsdale)
Christmas Forever – Eye popping choreography with a soundtrack of rock music. (10526 North 119th Street, Scottsdale)
Private residence with 30,000 lights – December 21 – Jan 4 and accept food donations for St Vincents De Paul (11068 E. Laurel Lane, Scottsdale, 85259)
Private residence with 150,000 lights (5923 E. Kings Ave., Scottsdale, AZ, 85254)
North Valley
Lights at Outlets at Anthem – see website for dates
Carefree Desert Garden Glitters – December – January nightly from 5 – 10pm
A noteable private residence to get your picture taken in the Flinstones car (111 E. Blue Eagle Lane, Phoenix, AZ, 85086)
South Valley
Ahwatukee Festival of Lights – The Million White Lights that famously illuminate Chandler Boulevard from 24th Street to Desert Foothills Parkway stands as a remarkable example of community spirit. The Saturday after Thanksgiving they have a Holiday Kick Off Party and a wine and beer tasting in April to fund the illumination of lights.
Taylor Family – Disney characters, a flock of emojis and a 20 foot Frozen castle. (3611 East Kachina Drive)
Lighting Events
Vertuccio Farms Light Celebration – The second annual event at the farm starts November 22 and lasts through January 10th. Over 2 million lights on display. As well as a giant bubble Christmas tree, light tunnel, barnyard animals, Santa’s reindeer, games, free Christmas photo booth, concession stands, and more. A typical stroll should take 30 to 45 minutes through the farm. Special offers here.
11/25 Tree Lighting at Desert Ridge – Tree lighting at 6:45 pm, caroling, Coco, crafts, giveaways and more.
11/26 Westgate Tree Lighting at Fountain Park
11/26 Tree Lighting at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
11/27 Tree Lighting at Tempe Marketplace
11/27 – 1/19 Zoolights – Members only preview on November 25 and 26th. Open to the public starting November 27th and lasting through January 19th. Millions of lights, reindeers, polar slide and hundreds of light displays. This year’s Glow Wild has over 60 animals added to the mix for even more fun.
11/29 – 1/5 McCormick – Stillman Railroad Park – The park decks out for the holidays with more than 50,000 lights, and a train ride through a winter wonderland. Through Christmas, you can also visit Santa
11/29 -12/31 Las Noches De Luminarias – Stroll the garden with over 8,000 luminaries. The Wild Rising animals throughout the garden will make this even more entertaining for kids. See website for tickets and all the dates.
11/29 Downtown Tempe Fantasy Of Lights – Kick off the holiday season with a free parade. Visit the website for parking and additional information.
11/29 Glendale Glitters – 26th Anniversary of Glendale’s magic display of over 1.6 million lights. Opening weekend is November 29 & 30th with lights up through January 1t.h Visit the website for parking information
11/29 The Wigwam Front Lawn – Kick off the Holiday season with FREE family fun! There will e a kids zone, crafts, live musical performances, sweet treats available for purchase and apperances from Santa. United Goodyear Firefighter Charities are accepting donations of new & unwrapped toys, stuffed animals, books, & games.
11/29 Tree lighting and ice skating at CityScape
12/6 Tree Lighting in Carefree
12/6 – 12/7 Party In Surprise – Free entrance with canned food or toy donations, music, tree lighting ceremony
12 /7 APS Electric Light Parade – For more than 3 decades the city of Phoenix has gathered neighbors and businesses downtown for this parade. Visit the website for the start location and the path.
12/7 McCormick Ranch 8th Annual Holiday Magic – Over 60 tons of snow, photos with your fav superheros and princesses, face painting, petting zoo, arts and crafts. This free holiday event is a great way for Ranch residents and their neighbors to enjoy the holiday
12/7 Tumbleweed Tree Lighting – Free festivities starting at 4:30 and events lasting all night with the tree lighting around 8pm.
12/7 Goodyear Glows – Kid activities, the arrival of Santa and the tree lighting.
It’s the week of Thanksgiving! Check out our list of ideas for a family fun week!
