Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. Photo by Derek von Briesen.
SEDONA
If you’re looking to get into the holiday spirit in Sedona, Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village is where you’ll want to start. Tlaquepaque goes all out during the holiday season with a few events and décor nearly everywhere. This year, guests can look forward to visiting with Santa on Dec. 21 and a Hanukkah menorah lighting on Dec. 29. Visit our online calendar to read more about these events. Plus, Tlaquepaque is also filled with plenty of local boutiques where you can buy gifts for yourself, family or friends. Not a fan of crowds? No problem. One of our favorite winter pastimes is strolling through Tlaquepaque during a crisp winter night when all the lights are twinkling. It’s a pretty magical experience that we look forward to every holiday season.
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. Photo by Derek von Briesen.
Every Friday in December from 4 to 6 p.m., L’Auberge de Sedona will be hosting Holiday Illuminations. During these evening celebrations, guests and visitors can revel in holiday lights, festive music, a chocolate bar and plenty of sweets. The luxe property’s on-site restaurant Cress on Oak Creek will also serve a special New Year’s Eve tasting menu if you’re looking to kick off 2025 on a lavish note. Likewise, if you book dinner reservations at Enchantment Resort’s Che Ah Chi or Tii Gavo, post-meal, you can take a spin on the property’s on-site ice skating rink that’s underneath the red rock backdrop of Boynton Canyon.
Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. Photo by Derek von Briesen.
Uptown Sedona’s Amara Resort and Spa will be hosting a variety of holiday events this year. Look forward to a Christmas Day brunch, Christmas Eve dinner and a New Year’s Eve dinner with live music. The property will also host an ugly sweater happy hour and feature daily hot cocoa and hot cider in the lobby. Diners who dine at SaltRock during December will be entered to win a free dinner for two on New Year’s Eve. Amara will host its inaugural holiday pajama dinner at SaltRock. During this dinner, a local photographer will take family holiday photos. Guests also can listen to Christmas carolers and write letters to Santa. All of these are open to the public and hotel guests.
Snow Hike in Sedona. Photo by Kait Simek.
TAKE A SNOW HIKE
With any luck, we’ll get a fresh dusting of snow that will make for some scenic sights. Lace up your hiking boots, and get ready to enjoy Sedona’s red rocks dusted with white powder. It’s something we cherish every year we receive snowfall. See a list of some of our favorite snow hikes online.
Snow Hike in Sedona. Photo by Kait Simek.
A few choice trails we love to hike after the snow falls are West Fork, Airport Loop and the Teacup Trail. Post hike, consider warming up with some hot chocolate. A few of our favorite spots for this classic winter beverage include Synergy and the Black Cow Café.
COTTONWOOD
Cottonwood is celebrating the season in a variety of ways. From now through Dec. 13, you can participate in The Community Angels program to help spread holiday cheer. Drop by the Cottonwood Recreation Center, pick up a tag from the holiday tree, purchase whatever is on the tree and return the item(s) to the front desk. Items must be returned by Dec. 13. On Dec. 14, kids can have Breakfast & Photos with Santa at the rec center from 8 to 10 a.m. This event is free. Wearing your pajamas is encouraged. Children also can mail letters to Santa. Simply have them drop off letters at the rec center along with a return address/self-addressed stamped envelope by Dec. 19. From 7 to 10 p.m. on Dec. 31, families can enjoy a free New Year’s Eve Celebration. Delight in watching holiday movies, playing games and eating cotton candy, popcorn and drinking hot cocoa. The night concludes in the gymnasium where visitors can watch the ball drop in Times Square on television, sip apple cider, and then participate in a balloon drop celebration.
Copper Canyon Christmas, The Christmas Store.
JEROME
We’re big fans of visiting Jerome any time of year. The former thriving mining town turned arts colony serves up stunning, sweeping views of the Verde Valley, and there’s so many quirky shops, hotels and restaurants to visit. But our absolute favorite of the bunch is the open year-round Copper Canyon Christmas, The Christmas Store. The name says it all. Expect to find a plethora of holiday goods here. We’re fond of the variety of ornaments in stock including clay, ceramic cacti and ornaments handcrafted by mostly local artists. We guarantee that you will find a unique ornament for your tree or as a gift for someone else. Ornaments on the website include birds on bikes and a cowboy snowman.
Prescott at Christmas.
PRESCOTT
Prescott is renowned as a Christmas destination across the country and was even given the nickname of “Arizona’s Christmas City” in 1988. We’re fortunate that this city is just a short drive from Sedona. Strolling through Prescott’s Courthouse Plaza when it’s all decked out in lights is an essential holiday experience. We did this one year just as the snow was starting to fall, and it was truly heavenly. Visitors can enjoy a Holiday Light Parade & Bonfire on Nov. 30.
Prescott’s Courthouse Plaza. Photo by Michael Wilson.
Dec. 7 is when most of the holiday action happens. Visitors can enjoy a parade that starts at 1 p.m., and then watch the courthouse lighting that starts at 5 p.m. Yavapai College will host a variety of Christmas performances. Watch “Let the Season Begin” on Dec. 7, catch “Mark O’Connor’s An Appalachian Christmas” on Dec. 11, and see “The Irish Tenors: A Family Christmas” on Dec. 19. The festivities wrap up with the New Year’s Eve Boot Drop that takes places in Courthouse Plaza.
Little America Hotel.
FLAGSTAFF
Flagstaff also celebrates Christmas in some pretty big ways. Head downtown to the historic train station to check out Lights at the Station. The train station will be decorated in plenty of, you guessed it, lights. On Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., head to the Flagstaff Visitor Center for the Snowflake Festival. During this time, you can take pictures with Santa, enjoy crafts, games, and look through goods at a cozy winter art market. Feel free to bring new packaged toys and non-perishable food as both items will be collected during the festival.
Little America Hotel.
The Little America Hotel will be decked out in over 1,000 lights if you want to check out a grand light display when you’re in town. But that’s not all. The hotel is practically the holiday headquarters for Flagstaff. During select days in November and December, guests can reserve breakfast with Santa, and enjoy a buffet from 7 to 11 a.m. with Kris Kringle. On Christmas Day, you can enjoy Christmas dinner either by ordering a take-out menu for two to four people or by digging into a prix-fixe dinner at the Silver Pine Restaurant. But the hotel’s largest holiday celebration is the North Pole Experience.
North Pole Experience.
From Nov. 15 to Dec. 24, children visit the North Pole. Specifically, they can see inside a toy factory, enjoy goods from Mrs. Claus’ Bakery, see Santa’s Sleigh hanger, take photos with St. Nick, and make plenty of lasting holiday memories.
North Pole Experience
From Nov. 29 to Dec. 22, families can watch “Elf: The Musical” as part of the Theatrikos Holiday Show. In this modern holiday classic, a young human boy is raised as an elf and seeks to spread the true spirit of the holidays. On Dec. 8, dress up your dogs, head downtown and take a free festive holiday photo with Santa in Heritage Square. This is part of the Howlidays Pawp-Up and is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Consider donating to the High Country Humane and Coconino Humane Associations – both organizations will be in attendance.
North Pole Experience.
The Orpheum will showcase select Christmas films on Dec. 7 (“Home Alone”), Dec. 14 (“Elf”) and Dec. 21 (“The Polar Express”). This is a free event for families. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. The films start at 10 a.m. Attendees can make crafts too. Visit flagstaffarizona.org for more details. The Weatherford Hotel will host Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 7, 14 and 21. From 9 to 11 a.m. on those days, families can enjoy a buffet-style breakfast, crafts, music and photos with Santa. Purchase tickets from The Weatherford Hotel’s website. For a festive afternoon out, consider heading to 12 Bars of Christmas on Dec. 14 from 2 to 6 p.m. Don your ugly holiday sweaters, and bar hop in downtown Flagstaff. If you’re looking to really let loose during the busy holiday season, this event will be perfect for you. Purchase tickets at downtownflagstaff.org. Many of downtown Flagstaff’s boutiques will be decorating their windows throughout the month of December. Stroll through town checking out these festive displays, shop for presents and enjoy the colorful, creative windows. Vote on the best one at Downtown Flagstaff’s website.
Pinecone Drop.
The holiday season in Flagstaff wraps up with the Pinecone Drop at the historic Weatherford Hotel on New Year’s Eve. Best of all? The hotel even offers a noon drop for families who don’t want to stay up until midnight. Other times to watch the pine cone drop include 10 p.m. and midnight, naturally.
Arizona Snowbowl.
EXPLORE THE SNOWBOWL & THE NORDIC VILLAGE
Seeing as Flagstaff typically receives about 100 inches of snow annually, it makes sense that the city is a classic winter activities destination. If you’re someone who loves winter sports, Flagstaff more than caters to you. Situated on the Western side of Mount Humphreys – the tallest peak in all of Arizona – Snowbowl is where you should go if you love to ski.
Arizona Snowbowl.
The ski resort offers 55 total trails that are appropriate for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. Out of the 55 runs, about 22% are beginner, 43% are intermediate, 22% are advanced and 13% are expert level – providing skiers with a variety of challenges. The longest run is 2 miles. The snow season spans from mid-November through April. If you’re too busy to visit Snowbowl during the holidays, you have plenty of time to spend time on the mountain in 2025.
Arizona Nordic Village.
The Nordic Village offers plenty of wintertime activities that are just a little more low key. Visitors can partake in cross country skiing and snowshoeing. For a truly rustic experience, consider booking one of the on-property yurts or cabins so you can sleep on the grounds.
Grand Canyon Railway’s Polar Express.
WILLIAMS
Every winter, one of Williams’ hotels transforms into a winter paradise. The Grand Canyon Railway’s Polar Express transports guests to the North Pole. The hotel’s trains typically take guests from the historic Williams hotel to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, but come wintertime, they transform into the Polar Express train. During this 90-minute train ride, families board a festive train all decked out in red and green as Santa comes around passing out a keepsake present. Families on the train listen to the classic tale “The Polar Express” while they enjoy chocolate chip cookies along with hot chocolate.
Grand Canyon Railway’s Polar Express.
The Polar Express is available during November and December. The City of Williams will hold a Christmas parade and a tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 30 in downtown Williams. During the parade, families can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The tree will stay up and lit in downtown Williams if you can’t make the special event.
