The most iconic aspects of Arizona’s landscape, such as the state’s prickly saguaros, towering palm trees, and large red rocks, do not exactly evoke images of a traditional Christmas.
But if you wrap some lights around those palm trees and tuck a few rows of shimmering luminarias among the rocks, you’ll have a Christmas scene that is unlike any other you’ve seen before.
During the month of December, while the winter season is turning much of the northern United States into a snow globe, the desert cities of Arizona are often basking in sunny days with temperatures ranging from the 60s to the 70s.
Nevertheless, this does not imply that the State of the Grand Canyon ignores Christmas. In fact, the month of December is when the majority of Arizona’s villages exhibit their most brilliant qualities.
The Best Places to Visit in Arizona in December
Arizona provides a remarkable variety of opportunities to celebrate the holidays, ranging from large urban extravaganzas that draw thousands of holiday revelers each year to intimate get-togethers in small towns that are heavy on history and genuine hospitality. Here are the top ten destinations in Arizona to celebrate December and Christmas.
1. The City of Sedona
Christmas at Sedona’s Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village possesses a unique allure that combines the spirit of a Southwest mission with the most beautiful features of the town’s Red Rocks landscape.
During the holiday season, the main shopping and dining district of Sedona is decked out with hundreds of luminarias, which are essentially paper-bag lanterns that traditionally contain candles placed in the sand within. At Tlaquepaque, the Luminarias, which are a significant symbol of the holidays throughout the Southwest, sparkle along the curving walks and beneath the exquisite archways.
2. The Phoenix
There is no place quite like Phoenix’s Desert Botanical Garden, a gigantic attraction that covers 140 acres and contains 50,000 different types of desert plants, to showcase the splendor of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert.
If you take the traditional celebration of the winter holidays known as Las Noches de las Luminarias and combine it with the desert, you will get true desert magic.
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The garden’s charming pathways are decorated with eight thousand glowing luminaria bags, starting at the beginning of the month of December and going all the way through it. The lights are strategically placed among the towering saguaros and prickly agaves in the garden.
3. Scottsdale
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has perfected the art of a desert Christmas more than any other location. The Christmas at the Princess event at the resort is not something that should be missed.
As soon as guests reach the resort and see the line of illuminated palm trees that serve as a welcome mat, they will have an inkling that they are in for a pleasant surprise during the holiday season.
That’s just the beginning of the extravaganza, which includes more than four million holiday lights, an ice skating rink, train rides, a carousel, a Ferris wheel, ice slides, and a massive S’moresland carnival section that comes replete with fire pits for cooking marshmallows for the classic campfire delicacy.
4. Yuma, Arizona
If you visit Yuma, Arizona, in the month of December, you will find that it is a welcoming and easygoing city with a beautiful view of the Colorado River. The city of Yuma likes to call itself “The Gateway to the Great Southwest.”
This city with a population of more than 97,000 people offers visitors excellent golfing, a variety of aquatic activities, and a genuine taste of Mexican culture.
5. Tempe, Arizona
In the month of December, the temperature in Tempe, Arizona, typically reaches 68 degrees, making it the second warmest city in the United States.
East of Phoenix, you’ll find Tempe. The town is home to two prestigious educational institutions, namely Arizona State University and Benedictine University.
6. Mesa, Arizona
Mesa is a city that is located to the east of Tempe and is a part of the enormous metropolitan area that encompasses Phoenix. Visit Mesa on your route to the Tonto National Forest and the various lakes in Arizona to use it as a jumping-off point.
After leaving Mesa and heading into the Superstition Mountains on the Apache Trail, you’ll have a fantastic day excursion. You can go hiking or sightseeing in the mountains, which are over 6,000 meters high. Make it a point to stop at Lost Dutchman State Park on your way to the lost gold mine so you can look for it on your own.
7. The Fiesta Bowl in Glendale
Fans of many sports eagerly anticipate this monumental football game on an annual basis since it is recognized as a part of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and is included in the College Football Playoffs.
8. The Prescott, Arizona
Since the 1980s, Prescott has been known as “Arizona’s Christmas City,” and the little community in central Arizona more than lives up to its label.
Courthouse Lighting is an event that takes place every year in Prescott and makes full use of the town’s picturesque Courthouse Plaza, which is located in the center of the city.
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The event has been taking place every year on the first Saturday of December for the past 67 years; it kicks off with a Christmas parade in the afternoon and concludes with the customary lighting ceremony in the evening.
9. The Town of Flagstaff
Flagstaff, Arizona, which has an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet, is the ideal destination for those who want to experience a traditional winter Christmas.
Flagstaff, which is located in Arizona and is known as “Arizona’s Official Winter Wonderland,” receives an annual average of 100 inches of snow and is the location in Arizona with the highest probability of having a white Christmas.
The Flagstaff Parks and Recreation Department hosts a Winter Wonderland and Tree Lighting Ceremony in the historic downtown area of the city on the first Saturday of every December. The event includes musical performances, the decorating of luminaria bags, and the drinking of hot cocoa. The event is completely free to attend.
10. The City of Tucson
A well-liked winter street fair has been held on Tucson’s Historic Fourth Avenue for the past 51 years in a row.
Each year, more than 600,000 people make their way to the Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair, which is geared toward families and takes place in the middle of Tucson’s Old Pueblo. The fair features a variety of food stalls, entertainment stages, and activities for children, in addition to attracting craftspeople from all over the world.
Conclusion
The cities and towns of Arizona are fantastic places to visit any time of year, particularly in the month of December when the temperature is still quite warm.
You will have a wonderful time on vacation in Arizona, where you may experience the lively atmosphere of the metropolitan area of Phoenix as well as the laid-back atmosphere of Tucson and Yuma.
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