
Magical Guide to Christmas in Scottsdale (2025)
Are you planning a trip to Scottsdale, Arizona, this holiday season? If so, you’ll be pleased to learn that there are plenty of places where you can listen to live holiday music, see festive light displays, and enjoy specialty food and drinks to get in the holiday spirit with family and friends!
This Christmas, don’t miss these incredible Christmas activities and holiday happenings that locals and visitors alike will love. Who knows? You may even find a new favorite holiday tradition!
Key Takeaways
- Attend Festive Events and Shows — From Christmas at the Princess and the Scottsdazzle Holiday Extravaganza to Las Noches de las Luminarias and The Nutcracker at Phoenix Symphony Hall, there are dozens of family-friendly events to enjoy during the holiday season in Scottsdale.
- See Beautiful Light Displays — Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park and ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo are a couple of the best places to see holiday lights in Scottsdale.
- Savor Holiday Dining — Sit down for breakfast with Santa Claus, savor fine-dining experiences on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, or enjoy holiday tea time at Scottsdale’s most luxurious resorts, such as The Phoenician and the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North.
Scottsdale Christmas Events & Holiday Festivities
Whether you enjoy a holiday classic, like the Nutcracker Ballet, or something more contemporary, like Christmas at the Princess, you’re sure to find a holiday event you and your family will love from this list when you visit Scottsdale during the Christmas season:
1. Scottsdazzle Holiday Extravaganza

Scottsdazzle is a month-long collection of festivities in Old Town Scottsdale, starting on Thanksgiving and ending on New Year’s Eve. Scottsdazzle begins with the Jingle & Jazz Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Scottsdale Waterfront on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. During this free event in Old Town Scottsdale, you can enjoy live music, marvel at the gorgeous holiday decor, and snack on festive food and seasonal treats, hot chocolate, and coffee from local vendors.
Throughout the month of December, you can also buy tickets to special events in Downtown Scottsdale to continue the Scottsdazzle holiday celebration, including wine and craft workshops, tamale-making events, movie nights, scavenger hunts, shopping events, and more!
Planning a trip to Scottsdale? Don’t miss our Local Guide to Old Town Scottsdale: Attractions & Restaurants You Can’t Miss
2. Christmas at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
During the holidays, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess turns into a winter wonderland for Christmas at the Princess! Hotel guests and visitors can enjoy many festive activities on the resort’s beautiful property, including skating on an outdoor ice skating rink, train rides, and looking at holiday lights.
Just a few highlights you can enjoy during your time at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess include taking photos with Santa Claus at the North Pole, riding through Lagoon Lights on the Princess Express Train, watching the twinkling lights dance to live music on the giant Christmas tree in Princess Plaza, or going on a sledding or skating adventure at Snow Mountain, Alpine Skate Trail, or the Desert Ice Skating Rink.
You can even roast marshmallows or sip on hot cocoa around a cozy campfire, or make dinner reservations at one of the top-rated restaurants on the resort’s property. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Christmas at the Princess takes place from November 21, 2025, to January 3, 2026.
3. Holiday Lights at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
If you’re looking for a dazzling holiday lights display that the whole family will love, look no further than Holiday Lights at the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park.
In addition to taking a train ride through the gorgeous lights, families can enjoy children’s holiday activities, including Christmas carousel rides on the Charros Carousel or drinking hot cocoa from Hartley’s General Store. This festive event offers ticketed timeslots, spaced every hour, from 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM on evenings starting on November 28, 2025, and lasting through December 30, 2025.
4. Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden

Desert plants aren’t the only thing you’ll be able to see at the Desert Botanical Gardens during the holiday season! Las Noches de las Luminarias has been a favorite holiday tradition in Phoenix and Scottsdale since the 1970s. During the holidays, the entire Desert Botanical Garden is decorated with thousands of luminaries, featuring hand-lit candles that illuminate the garden in a magical glow. You can also enjoy live music by local Arizona musicians, adding to the peaceful and romantic ambiance.
Las Noches de las Luminarias start at 5:30 PM and last through 9:30 PM on select evenings during the Christmas season, from November 28, 2025, to December 30, 2025.
5. ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo
If you have kids, paying a visit to ZooLights is a must. The Phoenix Zoo has been hosting this event for decades, and it just keeps getting better every year!
During your nighttime visit to the zoo, you’ll be able to see millions of lights, animal sculptures, and a three-story Christmas tree. ZooLights offers both walk-through and drive-through options, depending on your preference. ZooLights runs every night from November 26, 2025, to January 16, 2026, from 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM, so you have plenty of time to enjoy the festive cheer!
6. The Nutcracker at Symphony Hall

Christmas isn’t complete without watching The Nutcracker at least once—especially if you love to enjoy the fine arts during the holidays.
Scottsdale and Phoenix have two options for watching The Nutcracker. You can either watch the classic performance by Ballet Arizona and the Phoenix Symphony at the Phoenix Symphony Hall or a twist on the original in a more intimate setting at the Orpheum Theater. Performances of The Nutcracker run on select weekend afternoons and evenings in December, starting December 12, 2025.
7. Holiday Tea at The Phoenician
Enjoy a magical high tea experience at The Phoenician Resort during the holidays!
You can savor finger sandwiches, fresh scones with preserves, and a variety of tasty desserts, accompanied by a wide selection of teas, during your afternoon tea experience. You can also upgrade your package to include champagne. The ambiance is spectacular, with classic holiday decor and music setting the mood for a magical holiday experience!
8. Breakfast with Santa at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
From festive afternoon tea and gingerbread house decorating events to high-end holiday breakfasts and dinners, the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North offers a wide range of events during the Christmas season that will certainly get you in the holiday spirit!
However, one of the most beloved holiday events at the Four Season (especially for families with young children!) is Breakfast with Santa, hosted the weekend before Christmas. While munching on delicious goodies from a breakfast buffet, families can enjoy a visit with Santa Claus. This year, Breakfast with Santa is being offered on December 20th and 21st, 2025, with two seatings at 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM.
9. Christmas Lights
In addition to the activities and events listed above, these are some of the best places to see Christmas lights in Scottsdale. Check out our guide: “Best Places to See Christmas Lights in Scottsdale,” for a full list.
- Winter Wonderland Arizona — This residential home in Scottsdale, AZ, decorates its property to look like an “Old Western Christmas Town” with 250,000+ sparkling lights. It’s a must-see during the holidays and is open nightly from 6 PM to 10 PM through the weekend after Christmas.
- Scottsdale Quarter & Kierland Commons — Cross some holiday shopping off your to-do list while admiring the elegant light displays at Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland Commons.
- Stroll in the Glow — The city ofFountain Hills features 650,000+ lights on the Avenue of the Fountains during the holidays, and on the first Saturday in December, the lights are turned on for the “Stroll in the Glow” event, starting right around 5:45 PM.
Book a Short-Term Rental with Stay With Style Scottsdale to Celebrate Christmas in Scottsdale
If you’re planning to stay in Scottsdale, AZ, this Christmas, book a cozy “home away from home” that’s a short distance away from all the events and activites that will add holiday cheer to this festive season!
Stay With Style Scottsdale offers a unique selection of luxury short-term vacation rentals featuring spacious rooms, high-end designer furniture, and top-notch amenities, like gourmet kitchens and resort-style backyards. Browse our current selection of vacation rentals to find the perfect place to stay this holiday season!