DECK THE HALLS
Vintage Christmas wreaths, garlands and greenery radiate the warmth of the Riordan family home when you visit Riordan Mansion State Historic Park. ‘Tis the season to be jolly when the turn-of-the-century log manor is bedecked with a fir tree trimmed with old-fashioned ornaments. Guided tours include glimpses of folklore and traditions of Christmases past now through Jan. 6. Call 928-779-4395 or visit azstateparks.com/riordan-mansion/events.
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
Floats and vehicles adorned with twinkling lights rev up historic Downtown Flagstaff on Saturday, Dec. 8. The Vora Financial Holiday Parade of Lights lights up the night with cheer. The holiday hoopla begins at 6 p.m. on the corner of Beaver Street and Elm Avenue, proceeds south to Aspen Avenue, heads east past Heritage Square to San Francisco Street and then marches back up to Elm. Bring warm clothes, hats and hot thermoses. Or hope that the food truck with hot chocolate and churros will return again this year. For info, visit business.flagstaffchamber.com/events.
NEIGHBORHOOD LIGHTS
Allow the spirit of the season to enchant you as you walk the Coconino Estates neighborhood when it’s aglow with hundreds of luminarias. Humble paper bags filled with sand and candles, the luminarias are lit Sunday, Dec. 16, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Leave your car at the Marshall Elementary School parking lot (corner of Bonito Street and Thorpe Road), and join the group led by local walking advocate Jack Welsh at 6 p.m. You can also take a self-guided stroll. Follow the sound of music created by the Flagstaff Community Band and wonder at a living nativity featuring live animals. Luminarias, also called farolitos, are a tradition of New Mexican Catholics who lit walkways to their homes in hopes of attracting the spirit of the Christ child.
HOLIDAY FAMILY ADVENTURE
Shhhh! It’s a secret: Santa has set up his workshop just outside of Flagstaff in the middle of the forest. Discover the North Pole Experience from now through Dec. 28. Ride trolleys to Santa’s workshop where elves help children build toys and participate in other interactive fun. You’ll eat cookies and sip snowman soup with Mrs. Claus and later enjoy a private family visit with jolly Old Saint Nicholas. Make reservations as the approximately 1-hour-and-35-minute experience fills up fast. Little America Hotel is the official trolley departure station, and even those without tickets to the North Pole Experience can view the hotel’s grounds, which are decorated with more than one million bedazzling Christmas lights. Buffet breakfasts with Santa from 7 to 11 a.m. are also a favorite holiday tradition (check the website for dates). Call 480-779-9679 or visit northpoleexperience.com.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
The grand finale of the Flagstaff holiday season is the New Year’s Pine Cone Drop. Thousands of people fill the intersection of Aspen Avenue and Leroux Street to watch the 6-foot-tall pine cone descend from the roof of the historic Weatherford Hotel. The spectacle occurs on Monday, Dec. 31, with the first drop at 10 p.m. and the second at midnight. Visit weatherfordhotel.com or call 928-779-1919.
THIS MONTH IN FLAGSTAFF
Dec. 7: First Friday Art Walk, 6-9 p.m.; Downtown Flagstaff; flagartscouncil.org/artwalk
Dec. 16: Best Christmas Pageant Ever, 2 p.m.; Theatrikos Theatre Company; theatrikos.com
Dec. 24: Christmas Brunch, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Silver Pine Restaurant, Little America Hotel; flagstaff.littleamerica.com/dining/silver-pine-restaurant
Stacey Wittig is an award-winning travel writer and author located in Flagstaff, Arizona. For more travel & world-wide adventures visit Stacey’s website at unstoppablestaceytravel.com.
