Phoenix does the holidays in a light jacket. December’s normal high at Sky Harbor is 66°F, a freezing night comes about once a decade in December, and the big holiday events happen outdoors under clear desert skies: candlelit paths through cactus gardens, millions of lights at the zoo, boats parading on Tempe Town Lake. The catch is timing. Christmas in Phoenix runs on dated tickets, and if you wait until December to plan, you’ll be choosing from whichever nights are left. This guide covers the 2026-27 season with dates, prices and when to book, plus what’s open on Christmas Day. For the full year of festivals, see our Phoenix events calendar.
Short answer: The two holiday events to book first are the Desert Botanical Garden’s Las Noches de las Luminarias (26 nights from November 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027, adults $39.95 to $44.95) and the Phoenix Zoo’s ZooLights (November 25, 2026 to January 15, 2027, $35). Add a free parade or light display such as Glendale Glitters, check which museums close on Christmas Day, and expect mild days around 66°F and chilly evenings around 45°F.
Prices, hours and rules in this guide were last checked on October 1, 2026.
Phoenix holiday events at a glance
| Event | Dates (checked Oct 2026) | Where (drive from downtown) | Cost | When to book |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Las Noches de las Luminarias | Nov 27, 2026-Jan 3, 2027 (26 nights), 5-9:30 p.m. | Desert Botanical Garden, Papago Park (17 min) | Adults $39.95-$44.95, children $18.95 | Now; general sales opened Oct 16 |
| ZooLights | Nov 25, 2026-Jan 15, 2027, 5:30-10:30 p.m. | Phoenix Zoo, Papago Park (20 min) | $35; members $30; 2 and under free | A few weeks ahead for weekends |
| Glendale Glitters | Late November to January 1 (2026 dates not yet published) | Downtown Glendale (18 min) | Free to walk in past years | No tickets |
| APS Electric Light Parade | Early December (December 6 in 2025) | Midtown and North Central Phoenix | Free to watch | Arrive early for a curb spot |
| Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade | Mid-December (December 13 in 2025) | Tempe Town Lake (17 min) | Free to watch from shore | Arrive early |
| The Nutcracker, Ballet Arizona | December 11-27, 2026 | Phoenix | Priced by seat | Weeks ahead for weekend matinees |
| Vrbo Fiesta Bowl | December 30, 2026 | State Farm Stadium, Glendale (24 min) | Priced by seat | As soon as the matchup is set |
When should you book Christmas events in Phoenix?
Earlier than you think, and the reason is how the tickets are sold. Las Noches de las Luminarias sells tickets for specific nights, and the garden opened sales to members on October 1 and to everyone else on October 16, 2026 (checked October 2026). Adult prices run from $39.95 to $44.95 depending on the night, which tells you which dates the garden expects to be busiest: the weekends and the stretch between Christmas and New Year. If you want a Saturday in mid-December or a night in Christmas week, book in October or early November, not after you land.
ZooLights works the same way, with tickets for a chosen night at $35, or $30 for zoo members, and children 2 and under free. Zoo members also get Member Mondays, when they can buy up to six ZooLights tickets at $10 each, on November 23 (a member preview), November 30, December 7, December 14, January 4 and January 11 (checked October 2026). For a local family with a membership, that’s $60 for six people against $180 at the member rate, so it’s worth knowing even if you’re visiting friends who belong.
The same pressure shows up in hotels. Scottsdale’s monthly bed-tax collections, a rough gauge of hotel revenue, rose from $2.86 million in November 2024 to $3.45 million in December, and those receipts trail actual stays by about a month (checked October 2026). Christmas week and New Year’s Eve are the tightest dates, especially when the Fiesta Bowl brings fans to town on December 30, so book rooms and flights for those dates early, too.
What is Las Noches de las Luminarias?
Las Noches de las Luminarias is the Desert Botanical Garden’s holiday walk, and it’s the Phoenix holiday event most worth planning around. The garden’s paths are lined with thousands of luminarias, the paper-bag lanterns that are a Southwestern Christmas tradition, glowing among the saguaros, agaves and chollas. The 2026 edition adds an installation called “Super Bloom” by Graphic Rewilding, live music from performers including Traveler World Orchestra, Simply Three and Vinyl Station, dinner at Gertrude’s by Tarbell’s, photos with Sonoran Santa and Mrs. Claus, and personalized tribute luminaria bags, according to the Desert Botanical Garden.
The event runs on 26 nights: November 27 to 29; December 4 to 6, 11 to 13, 16 to 23 and 26 to 31, 2026; and January 1 to 3, 2027, from 5 to 9:30 p.m. General tickets cost $39.95 to $44.95 for adults and $18.95 for children 2 to 17, and members pay $37.95 to $42.95 and $16.95 (checked October 2026). On event dates the garden closes to regular daytime visitors at 4 p.m., so if you want to see the garden by daylight on one of those days, go in the morning.
A few tips make the night better. Arrive near opening, when the light is just fading and the paths are less crowded. Dress for a December evening in the desert: the normal low in December is 45.3°F, and it feels colder standing still among the cacti. Allow about two hours to walk the loops, hear some music and get a hot drink, and if you want dinner at Gertrude’s, reserve that separately and early. The garden is 17 minutes from downtown Phoenix and 9 from Old Town Scottsdale.
What is ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo?
ZooLights is the Phoenix Zoo’s long-running holiday light show, spread along the zoo’s paths and lagoons in Papago Park, next door to the Desert Botanical Garden. For 2026-27 it runs every night from November 25, 2026 to January 15, 2027, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., with tickets at $35, or $30 for members, and free entry for children 2 and under, according to the Phoenix Zoo (checked October 2026).
It suits families with younger children better than Luminarias does: it’s brighter and louder, it stays open later, and it’s built for walking at a child’s pace. Member Mondays are a real saving if you know a member, and weeknights are the easiest to book. The zoo is closed during the day on Christmas Day but opens that evening for ZooLights, which makes it one of the few things to do on Christmas night. It’s 20 minutes from downtown Phoenix and 10 from Old Town Scottsdale, and the two Papago Park events are close enough that some visitors do both on different nights of the same trip.
Which other light displays and parades are worth seeing?
Glendale Glitters. Historic downtown Glendale, around Murphy Park and Catlin Court, covers its blocks in lights each holiday season. In 2024 the tree lighting came on November 29, with a kickoff on November 29 and 30 from 5 to 10 p.m., and the lights stayed up through January 1; in 2025 the display ran from November 28 to January 1. Check the City of Glendale for this year’s schedule. It’s 18 minutes from downtown Phoenix and, in past years, free to walk.
The APS Electric Light Parade. Floats, vehicles and performers covered in lights roll through midtown and north-central Phoenix in early December; the 2025 parade was on December 6. It’s free to watch from the curb, and the best spots fill early, so bring chairs, blankets and a thermos.
The Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade. Decorated boats circle Tempe Town Lake on a December evening; the 2025 parade was on December 13. Watch from Tempe Beach Park or the paths along the lake, then walk up to Mill Avenue for dinner.
Neighborhood lights and drive-throughs. Across the Valley, neighborhoods and private venues put on their own displays each year, from residential streets known for elaborate decorations to ticketed drive-through shows and farm light trails. Dates and prices change every season, so check them close to your trip rather than trusting last year’s lists, which is exactly where many online guides go wrong.
What holiday performances and shopping are there?
The Valley’s stages stage a full holiday season. Ballet Arizona performs The Nutcracker from December 11 to 27, 2026, and Arizona Opera’s season includes holiday concerts called Jingle Bell Jive and Home for the Holidays; the Phoenix Symphony performs at Symphony Hall downtown through the season, so check its December calendar (checked October 2026). Weekend matinees of The Nutcracker are the popular choice for families, so book those first.
For shopping with a local flavor, the Tempe Festival of the Arts fills Mill Avenue with artists’ booths from December 4 to 6, 2026, a good place for gifts made in Arizona. Old Town Scottsdale’s galleries stay open late for the Thursday ArtWalk, and The Square PHX downtown, long known as Heritage Square, runs Rosson House Museum tours Thursday through Sunday; its 1895 Victorian house looks its best after dark.
Christmas at the resorts
Many visitors spend the holidays at a resort, and the big ones decorate on a grand scale, with lobby trees, holiday brunches and Christmas Day dinners that book up weeks ahead. The Arizona Biltmore’s tree, framed by its 1929 architecture, is a classic Phoenix holiday photo. If you’re not staying, a holiday brunch or afternoon drink is the easiest way to see the decorations.
Budget for the extras when you compare holiday stays (checked October 2026). Hotel stays in Phoenix carry 13.07% in taxes, about 14% in Scottsdale, and resort fees run $45 a night at the Arizona Biltmore and $55 at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn. The resort pools stay open, but heated pool temperatures vary, so ask before you plan a swim. Golfers get a seasonal bonus: in 2025 the City of Phoenix moved to winter rates on December 26, and We-Ko-Pa lists $239 for resort guests and $179 with an Arizona ID through January 7, 2027.
Southwestern holiday traditions you’ll see
Christmas in the desert has its own customs, and several of them come from Mexico and New Mexico. Luminarias, small paper bags weighted with sand and lit by a candle, line paths and rooftops across the Southwest on Christmas Eve, which is why the Desert Botanical Garden’s event carries the name. Tamales are the holiday dish in many Mexican-American families, made in big batches at family gatherings called tamaladas and sold by restaurants and bakeries all through December, so order ahead if you want a dozen for Christmas Eve. Las Posadas, the Mexican tradition of re-enacting Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter on the nine nights from December 16 to 24, is still kept by some parishes and community groups. Add a desert twist, such as saguaros wrapped in lights, and a Phoenix Christmas looks quite unlike the snow-globe version.
What is open on Christmas Day in Phoenix?
More than in many cities, but not the big museums. Here’s what the main attractions list for the holidays (checked October 2026).
| Attraction | Christmas Eve | Christmas Day | New Year’s Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musical Instrument Museum | Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Open |
| Phoenix Zoo | Open | Closed by day; open for ZooLights in the evening | Open |
| Heard Museum | Open | Closed | Open |
| Phoenix Art Museum | Open if a regular day | Closed | Closed |
| Taliesin West | Open | Closed | Open |
| S’edav Va’aki Museum | Regular hours | Closed | Closed |
| Cosanti | Closes at 3 p.m. | Closed | Closed; 3 p.m. close on New Year’s Eve |
| Scottsdale trolley neighborhood routes | Running | No service | No service |
| City trails and mountain parks | Open | Open | Open |
Christmas Day itself makes a good outdoor day here. Sunrise is around 7:30 a.m., the trails are open and quiet, and a morning hike on Piestewa Peak or in Papago Park followed by a long lunch and a ZooLights evening is a very Phoenix way to spend it. On Christmas Eve, many families in the Southwest set out luminarias and serve tamales, a tradition you’ll see in some neighborhoods and on restaurant menus.
What is the weather like at Christmas in Phoenix?
Mild by day and cold for the desert at night; for how December compares with the rest of the year, see our month-by-month Phoenix weather guide. Sky Harbor’s December normals are a high of 66.2°F and a low of 45.3°F, with about 0.74 inches of rain spread over roughly two wet days, and on average just 0.1 nights in December fall to freezing (1991-2020 normals). The sun rises around 7:25 a.m. and sets around 5:22 p.m. in mid-December, the shortest days of the year, so evening events start in full darkness.
Pack layers: a T-shirt and light sweater for afternoons, a warm jacket, hat and gloves for Luminarias, ZooLights and parades, when you’ll be standing outside after dark in the 40s or 50s. Rain is uncommon but possible, and a winter storm can postpone or cancel an outdoor event, so check the event’s site on the day if the forecast turns wet. The upside of December is the light: low winter sun makes the desert glow in the late afternoon, and sunsets come early enough to fit before dinner.
Holiday sports: the Fiesta Bowl, the Suns and the Cardinals
The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl is a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on December 30, 2026, according to the Fiesta Bowl (checked October 2026), and it fills Valley hotels for the days around it. The Suns’ NBA season is in full swing downtown at Mortgage Matchup Center, and the Arizona Cardinals play several of their late-season games at State Farm Stadium. Our guide to Phoenix sports teams covers tickets, venues and getting to the games.
A Christmas week in Phoenix
Here’s one way to spend December 22 to 27, using the dates above. On the 22nd, walk the Desert Botanical Garden in the morning, then return at 5 p.m. for Las Noches de las Luminarias, which runs that night. On the 23rd, hike Piestewa Peak at sunrise, spend the afternoon at the Heard Museum and walk Glendale Glitters after dark if it’s running. On Christmas Eve, visit the Musical Instrument Museum, open its regular hours, and have an early dinner. On Christmas Day, hike in the morning, eat a long lunch, and finish at ZooLights. On the 26th, when Luminarias resumes, see it if you missed it, and on the 27th catch the last performance of The Nutcracker. Every one of those nights needs a ticket bought in advance. For other December events across the Valley, see our guide to festivals in Phoenix.
How much does a holiday night out cost?
Here’s what the big ticketed events cost for two adults and for a family of four with two children aged 2 to 17, using October 2026 prices before any fees the ticketing sites add. The free events cost only parking and a warm drink.
| Event | Two adults (checked Oct 2026) | Family of four |
|---|---|---|
| Las Noches de las Luminarias (general) | $79.90-$89.90 | $117.80-$127.80 |
| Las Noches de las Luminarias (members) | $75.90-$85.90 | $109.80-$119.80 |
| ZooLights (general) | $70 | Children 2 and under free; check the price for older children |
| ZooLights on a Member Monday | $20 | $40 |
| Glendale Glitters, APS Electric Light Parade, boat parade | Free to watch in past years | Free to watch in past years |
The cheapest good holiday evening in the Valley is a free one: the boat parade on Tempe Town Lake or a walk through Glendale Glitters, followed by dinner. If you can only afford one ticketed event, Luminarias is the more distinctive of the two, because nowhere else lights a desert garden this way; ZooLights is the better pick with small children.
Christmas in Phoenix with kids
For young children, ZooLights is the obvious first night out: it’s bright, it runs until 10:30 p.m., and children 2 and under get in free. Luminarias works for older children who’ll enjoy the music and the photos with Sonoran Santa and Mrs. Claus, and children’s tickets there cost $18.95 (checked October 2026). A matinee of Ballet Arizona’s Nutcracker suits most ages, and the Musical Instrument Museum, open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, is a good indoor stop when grandparents and cousins need something to do together.
Plan around winter break. Valley schools and colleges let out in late December, so attractions, light displays and restaurants are busiest from about December 20 to New Year’s Day. Weeknights early in the season, in late November and the first half of December, are the calmest time to see the lights with small children, and a Member Monday at ZooLights is the best-value night if you can get one.
New Year’s Eve in Phoenix
The holiday season doesn’t stop at Christmas. Las Noches de las Luminarias runs every night from December 26 to January 3, including New Year’s Eve, and ZooLights continues until January 15, so a lantern-lit walk on December 31 is a quieter alternative to a party. The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on December 30, 2026, brings fans and their parties to town in the days before New Year’s.
On New Year’s Day itself, the Heard Museum, Taliesin West, the Musical Instrument Museum and the Phoenix Zoo list no holiday closure, while the Phoenix Art Museum and the S’edav Va’aki Museum close, and Scottsdale’s neighborhood trolley routes don’t run (checked October 2026). For getting home on New Year’s Eve, plan ahead: the light rail’s last full trips normally start between 10:50 p.m. and 12:10 a.m., rideshare prices climb after midnight, and Arizona’s DUI laws are severe, so book a ride or a Waymo in advance where you can.
Holiday travel tips for Phoenix
The Papago Park events share a road. The Desert Botanical Garden and the Phoenix Zoo both sit on Galvin Parkway, so on busy weekend nights in December traffic and parking around the park slow down; arrive at opening, or take a rideshare or Waymo and skip the parking hunt. Downtown events are easiest on the light rail, which runs every 20 minutes after 7 p.m. on weekdays. If you’re flying, Sky Harbor’s terminal garages charge up to $33 a day and its economy garages $19 (checked October 2026), and the holiday weeks are among the busiest of the year at the airport, so leave extra time. If you’re also planning a Thanksgiving trip, our guide to Phoenix in November covers the start of the season.
Can you find a white Christmas near Phoenix?
Not in the city, but within driving distance. Snow in Phoenix itself is extremely rare, while Flagstaff, 155 minutes north of downtown at about 7,000 feet, gets regular winter storms; the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, 257 minutes away, sometimes has snow on the rim at Christmas, and the park charges $35 per vehicle for a seven-day pass (checked October 2026). Sedona sits in between, with a normal December high of 57.8°F, red rocks and only the occasional dusting. If you drive north in December, check road conditions before you leave, carry warm layers and water, and allow for winter driving on I-17 and I-40.
What to skip
- Waiting until December to buy Luminarias tickets. Sales opened in October, and the weekends and Christmas-week nights cost the most because they’re the most in demand.
- A daytime garden visit after 4 p.m. on Luminarias dates. The garden closes to regular visitors at 4 p.m. on event days.
- A museum day on December 25. The Heard, the Phoenix Art Museum, Taliesin West and S’edav Va’aki are closed; the Musical Instrument Museum is the exception.
- Last year’s list of light displays. Dates and prices change every season, and many online guides recycle old ones.
- Dressing for “desert.” Evening events are in the 40s and 50s. Bring a real jacket.
- Booking a Christmas-week hotel in December. Christmas week and the Fiesta Bowl on December 30 fill rooms early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phoenix a good place to spend Christmas?
Yes, if you like your holidays mild and outdoors. December highs average about 66°F, so you can hike in the morning and walk among luminarias at night. The big events, Las Noches de las Luminarias and ZooLights, are excellent but ticketed by night, so book in October or early November. Several museums close on Christmas Day, but trails, the zoo’s evening ZooLights and the Musical Instrument Museum stay open.
How much are tickets to Las Noches de las Luminarias?
For 2026-27, general tickets cost $39.95 to $44.95 for adults, depending on the night, and $18.95 for children 2 to 17. Members pay $37.95 to $42.95 and $16.95 (checked October 2026). The event runs on 26 nights from November 27, 2026 to January 3, 2027, from 5 to 9:30 p.m., at the Desert Botanical Garden in Papago Park.
When is ZooLights in Phoenix in 2026?
ZooLights runs nightly from November 25, 2026 to January 15, 2027, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Phoenix Zoo. Tickets cost $35, or $30 for members, and children 2 and under are free. Members can buy up to six tickets at $10 each on Member Mondays: November 30, December 7 and 14, and January 4 and 11, plus a November 23 preview.
What is open on Christmas Day in Phoenix?
City trails and mountain parks are open, the Musical Instrument Museum opens from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the Phoenix Zoo closes by day but opens in the evening for ZooLights. The Heard Museum, the Phoenix Art Museum, Taliesin West and the S’edav Va’aki Museum are closed. Restaurants and resorts set their own holiday hours, so reserve meals ahead.
Does it snow in Phoenix at Christmas?
No. Snow in the city itself is extremely rare, and December averages just 0.1 nights at or below freezing at Sky Harbor. Normal December highs are about 66°F and lows about 45°F. For snow, drive north to Flagstaff, about two and a half hours away, where winter storms regularly bring it.
What is the weather like in Phoenix in December?
Mild days and cool nights. Sky Harbor’s normal December high is 66.2°F and the low is 45.3°F, with about 0.74 inches of rain over roughly two wet days. Sunset comes around 5:22 p.m. in mid-December, so evening events start after dark, when temperatures fall into the 40s and 50s.
Is ZooLights or Las Noches de las Luminarias better?
They suit different trips. Luminarias is the quieter, more distinctive night: candlelit paths through a desert garden with live music, for adults $39.95 to $44.95. ZooLights is brighter, busier and better for small children, at $35 with children 2 and under free, and it stays open until 10:30 p.m. (checked October 2026). Both sit in Papago Park, so you can do one each night.
When do Luminarias tickets go on sale?
For the 2026-27 season, Desert Botanical Garden members could buy from October 1, 2026, and general sales opened on October 16. Tickets are sold for specific nights between November 27 and January 3, and weekend and Christmas-week nights cost the most, so book those first and don’t wait until December.
Related Phoenix Guides
- Festivals and events in Phoenix: the full year of events, from spring training to fall festivals.
- Phoenix in November: Thanksgiving, Canal Convergence and the start of the holiday season.
- Phoenix Sports Teams: the Suns, Cardinals, Diamondbacks and Mercury, with tickets and venues.
- Phoenix weather by month: how December compares with the rest of the year.
Sources and verification
This guide is built from research, not hosted visits. Dates, prices, hours and rules were checked on October 1, 2026 (some on September 23-24) against the organizers and agencies listed below.
- Desert Botanical Garden: Las Noches de las Luminarias, plan your visit
- Phoenix Zoo: ZooLights, visit
- City of Glendale: Glendale Glitters
- Performances and events: Ballet Arizona, Arizona Opera, The Phoenix Symphony, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, The Square PHX
- Attractions: Musical Instrument Museum, Heard Museum, Phoenix Art Museum, Taliesin West, S’edav Va’aki Museum, Cosanti
- City of Scottsdale: lodging statistics, trolley guide; City of Phoenix: tax rate chart
- Weather: NOAA 1991-2020 normals for Sky Harbor
Photo Credits
- Las Noches de las Luminarias: photo by Dru Bloomfield from Scottsdale, Arizona, USA, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
- Tempe Town Lake at night: photo by Alan Stark from Goodyear, AZ, United States, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Rosson House at night: photo by Alan Stark from Goodyear, AZ, United States, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Arizona Biltmore Christmas tree: photo by Visitor7, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium: photo by Blervis, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Christmas tree lot in Phoenix (featured image): photo by Visitor7, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)