Celebrating Christmas in Mesa, Arizona
Published on Dec. 09, 2025
Welcome to Christmas in Mesa, Arizona! There are so many fun things to do year round, but we want you to celebrate this holiday season to the max. There are many photo ops throughout the city, but these events have some of the best. Grab your hats, coats, and holiday cheer to celebrate Christmas this year.Â
Looking for a holiday outing that feels a little magical? Visit the Christmas Lights at the Mesa Temple now through December 31. It’s just a few miles down the road from Venture Out, though you’ll want to plan for parking. The grounds glow with thousands of shimmering lights, peaceful displays and uplifting music that make for a beautiful evening stroll with family and friends. It’s a calm, memorable way to soak in the season and enjoy one of Mesa’s favorite traditions. Click for directions.
Arizona is often pictured as a land of sun, cactus and open desert, but Chandler adds a fun twist to that idea each December. The annual Tumbleweed Tree, a community tradition since 1956, is now fully lit for the season following its lighting ceremony earlier this month. It’s a great place to stop by for photos, a bit of local history and a unique holiday sight you won’t find anywhere else.
Christmas carols, hot cocoa, cookie decorating, lots of photos, and story times are all great parts of what makes this season bright. Why not pair all of that with holiday crafts, and a meet and greet with Mr. and Mrs. Clause? At The Post on December 18th at 6pm you can do it all at the Cookies & Cocoa with Santa event. Tickets are $10 per person, and lap infants are free with a paid adult.
More to do around the Mesa area
This year, kids won’t be singing Grandma got run over by a reindeer. Instead, they will sing of how she rode one with Rydables Rudolph Run! Throughout December from 12pm – 9pm there will be tours around Downtown Mesa. There will be lots of photo opportunities, Christmas music, and a sweet treat to end the night. Tickets are $55 for ages 12 years and older, and $15 for children ages 4 – 11 years old.Â
Sleigh your boredom at Vertuccio Farms Christmas Fest. From December 1st-23rd, opening gates at 5:30pm. Special pictures with Santa are available December 5th-7th, and December 12th-23rd. Daily activities such as jump pads, the play ground, petting zoo, barn crafts, and more will be available. This family and pet friendly event runs at $15 per person over 2 years old with free parking.Â
Don’t let your heart get icy at the Winter Wonderland Ice Rink. Open nearly every day, there are many special skate events going on throughout the month of December. There are inclusive skate nights for those who want a more sensory-friendly experience for those 3 years and up, and teen skating. Tickets are $11 each for an hour of fun, but please arrive a little early.Â
During the holidays, we always seem to go back to the classics. That is why the Phoenix Zoo Zoolights is such a hit year after year. From late November to mid January, 5:30pm-10:30pm, families from all over the valley flock to see things such as the lake lights show, performances, the wildlife lanterns, and the 170-foot-long light tunnel. Tickets are different prices depending on membership eligibility but offer free parking.Â
Ring in the New Year
Not one to stay up until midnight for the festivities? No worries, the Noon Year’s Eve celebration in Downtown Mesa has you covered. December 31st from 10am-1pm you can enjoy such activities as crafts, face painting, cookie decorating, and many photo opportunities. Mayor Freeman will lead a countdown at 12pm with performances from Firework Productions of Arizona, and a sparkling apple cider toast for everyone to welcome the new year.
As we celebrate ringing in the new year, why not hear such ringing live? The Phoenix Symphony is holding the New Year’s Eve: All-American Dance Party. Listen to vocalists sing some of the best songs to lift your spirits and start 2026 strong. The event starts December 31st at 7:30pm and goes into the new year with a complementary champagne toast for those 21 and older with pricing starting as low as $39.Â
Arizona has so many events to offer you for this season to be better than any you have experienced before. Though we are in a desert, we make it feel like this is where Christmas truly belongs due to the amount of spirit we show. Thank you for celebrating with us this year and we hope that we celebrate with you again for the years to come.