Unique Holiday Attractions: Phoenix

The perfect addition to your Phoenix travel plans

Trish Hendrickson | Visit Phoenix

Spending the holidays in Phoenix?

A Phoenix winter provides opportunities for fun outdoor activities during the holiday season! Residents and visitors can enjoy the Phoenix Zoo in Christmas glory, experience a Butterfly Winter Wonderland, and stroll through the lit up Desert Botanical Garden with a cup of hot cider and songs sung by Dickens Carolers.

Zoo Lights: Holiday Cheer in Oz
Phoenix, AZ
November 28, 2013 – January 12, 2014
Admission: $9 Zoo Members, $10-Non Members (Sun – Thurs), $13 Members, $14 Non-Members (Any Day), Kids 2 years or younger FREE

Grab your ruby slippers and head to Phoenix Zoo Lights for a “Wizard of Oz” adventure this holiday season! The Phoenix Zoo lights up during the holiday season and joins in the festivities. This year’s show features a yellow brick road with music from the Wizard of Oz and “Wizards in Winter” by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Look out for tin man, the cowardly lion, and more than 20 flying monkeys hidden throughout the zoo. Animal viewing during ZooLights includes Luka, a playful Andean bear cub and Stingray Bay.

Credit: Courtesy of Phoenix Zoo

Butterfly Winter Wonderland
Scottsdale, AZ
November 29, 2013 – January 15, 2014
Admission: Adults $18.95, Kids (Ages 3-11) $9.95

Butterfly Wonderland is the newest destination attraction and the largest butterfly pavilion in America. Beginning November 29th, a flurry of white will transform this attraction into White Christmas Wonderland for the holiday season. Visitors of all ages will be awe-struck as they walk through a “winter wonderland” of 2,000 all-white Morpho butterflies, fluttering freely in the magnificent glass atrium. Butterfly Wonderland features a magnificent glass atrium that brings a tropical rainforest environment to the Arizona desert, as well as educational laboratories and interactive exhibits, a 3D movie theater, gift shop, and a café-style dining area.

Credit: Courtesy of Butterfly Wonderland

Desert Botanical Garden: Lit for the Holidays
Phoenix, AZ
December 1 – 31, 2013
Admission: Adults $30, Kids $12.50 (Ages 3-12)

Las Noches de las Luminarias and Chihuly in the Garden are sure to mesmerize. Discovery and surprise awaits at Desert Botanical Garden as the trails will soon be filled with an explosion of magnificent colors and shapes. Each night of Luminaria, the Garden will come to life with the soft glow from more than 8,000 hand lit Luminaria bags, thousands of white twinkle lights and Chihuly’s vibrant works of art. Guests can enjoy the hot apple cider and partake in festivities as Dickens Carolers spread Christmas cheer throughout the evening.

Credit: courtesy of Desert Botanical Garden, photographer Adam Rodriguez

CitySkate: Ice Rink at CityScape Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ
Nov. 30 – Jan. 13, 2013
Admission: Kids and Adults: $12 each; Military: $6 each; Seniors: $10 each; Kids under 3: $6 each; Students (with i.d.): $10 each; Groups of 10 or more: $10 each

The largest outdoor ice rink in the Valley can be found at CityScape Phoenix, where the rink has become a prominent fixture in Downtown Phoenix, dramatically placed in the center of Central Avenue. Sparkling ice, twinkling lights and hot chocolate wrap up the joy of the holidays for nearly 100,000 Valley residents and visitors each year. The rink will be open daily until January 13, though hours will vary during that time. Proceeds from skate rentals will be donated to Season for Sharing. All season long, Chloe’s Corner is offering a free sugar cookie with the purchase of a hot chocolate or espresso drink. Visitors 21 and older can purchase beer and wine from Chloe’s Corner and enjoy their beverages outdoors in Patriots Square while watching ice skaters and other performances.

Credit: CityScape

Glendale Glitters 20th Anniversary
Glendale, AZ
Nov. 29 – Dec. 21
Friday and Saturday Evenings
Admission: Free

One of Arizona’s largest holiday displays can be found in Downtown Glendale, where visitors can bask in the glow of 1.4 million holiday lights during Glendale Glitters. The lights blaze nightly from 6 to 10 p.m. Also, each weekend in December before Christmas, visitors can enjoy Enchanted Evenings, which feature carols, horse-drawn carriage rides, crafts and visits from Santa. Santa Claus. Glendale’s December Weekends are produced by Glendale’s Office of Special Events. Sponsors for each weekend event include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cerreta Candy Company, The Arizona Republic, ABC15, Monster Energy Drink, KMLE, KOOL, JAMZ, Camelback Ranch-Glendale and Glendale Community College.

Credit: Courtesy of Glendale CVB

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