“It’s the most wonderful time, of the year!”
One of our favorite things to do during the holidays is to check out the light displays in the East Valley – there are some great ones to check out.
Here are the best Christmas light displays in the East Valley for you and your family to enjoy this holiday season!
One of our most favorites isn’t actually considered East Valley, but it’s Zoo Lights at the Phoenix Zoo!
Zoo Lights features 3.8 million lights throughout the zoo and are in shapes and trees! My favorite light displays are the orangutans and butterflies – made out of holiday lights!
One of our favorite spots is the dancing trees and the kids love Jengo the talking giraffe.
Kids can enjoy the carousel, camel rides, wagon rides and some of the animals that are still out and about at night.
Zoo Lights are open November 24th through January 11th at 455 North Galvin Parkway (Phoenix Zoo). Hours are 5:30pm to 10:30pm. General admission tickets are $16-$18 and $14-$16 for members. Children age 2 and younger are free.
You can find more information at phoenixzoo.org
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Pollack Tempe Cineman Shopping Center located at 1825 East Elliot Road in Tempe decorates every year and this year – Mr. Pollack is saying it “will absolutely be the most outrageous and over-the-top display I have ever done at my Tempe Cinemas.”
The lights will be displayed through January 1st and can be seen driving through the parking lot, or you can park and take a peak and walk around the exterior of the shopping center.
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Festival of Lights in Ahwatukee is on display nightly from 6pm to 11pm through January 1st.
The lights are located along Chandler Boulevard from 24th Street to Desert Foothills Parkway.
Learn more at folaz.org
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Downtown Chandler has a 25 foot tall wire frame covered with nearly 1,000 tumbleweeds painted white, dusted with glitter, and decked with 1,200 lights.
You can see the lit tree through January 11th at 3 South Arizona Avenue (between Chandler Boulevard and Fry Road on Arizona Avenue).
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Scottsdale Quarter Holiday Lights contains a 30 foot tree with 18,500 LED lights along with 140,000 lights strung among the quad, fountain and palm trees.
You can see the display nightly through January 1st with some lights remaining until February 1st at Scottsdale Road and Greenway-Hayden Loop.
Get more information at scottsdalequarter.com
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LDS Mesa Arizona Temple at 525 East Main Street includes palm trees wrapped from top to bottom, a nativity scene, and illuminated gardens. In addition, this year, there is a new life-size white sculptured nativity that appears to float in a negative-reflection pools AND a lifelike nativity imported from Italy.
Messages can be heard in English and Spanish, and local music will perform for 30 minutes, nightly, at 7pm through December 25th.
Lights will be on display from 5pm to 10pm through December 31st.
More information can be found at mesachristmaslights.com
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More than 80 homes in a San Tan Valley subdivision make up the Loop of Lights.
The loop is closed to vehicle traffic December 13th through December 25th, but has parking at nearby schools with a trolley shuttle offering transportation on select nights.
The Loop of Lights will be open 6:30pm to 9:30pm from December 5th to December 25th. More information can be found at loopoflights.com
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McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park (one of our favorite places to go in the non-holiday season too!) turns into a wonderland on wheels from December 13th to January 3rd from 6:30pm to 9pm.
Cost is $3 for train rides, $2 for carousel rides, and free for children 2 and younger with a paid adult.
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is located at 7301 East Indian Bend Road and you can get more information at scottsdaleaz.gov/parks/railroadpark
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Talking Stick Trolley Tour – a 2.5 hour trolley tour that winds through the Salt River Reservation, Scottsdale, and north Phoenix.
Tours run Monday through Wednesday at 6pm through December 24th, starting at Pavilions at Talking Stick at Loop 101 and Indian Bend Road. Tickets start at $30. Head over to talkingstickarizona.com for more information.
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Pavilions at Talking Stick has an 80 foot Christmas tree as well as thousands of lights and red and green trimmings that can be seen from the Loop 101.
Various attractions will be held through the season on select Saturdays and Sundays starting at 5pm. You can find more information at thepavilionsattalkingstick.com
The lights will remain on display until January 3rd
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A 4 story Christmas tree that dances to synchronized music; a lagoon that includes light features – including swans; 14 foot poinsettas, 10 foot menorah, candy cane forest, 20 foot snowman, singing trees, toys soldiers, ice skating, snow falls, carolers, nativity garden shows, train rides, pictures with Santa, and a new tree lot can all be found at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess through January 4th.
Christmas at the Princess is located at 7575 East Princess Drive.
Get more information at scottsdaleprincess.com
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Red Mountain Community Church at 6101 East Virginia Street in Mesa has 500,000 lights with lighted animals, a horse drawn sleigh and wagon. Hot chocolate and cookies are served on Friday and SAturday nights.
You can view the lights nightly from 5pm to 10:30pm through December 30th. Lights may be off if it rains.
Get more information at rmcchurch.org/events
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If you are looking for more local lights to see near you, be sure to check out AZ Central’s Holiday Light map to find residential areas near you!
We love to get the kids in their jammies and grab some hot chocolate to drive around our area “oohing and aahing” at lights!
Wishing you and yours a Happy Holidays!
Wow, my neighborhood made the list! We’ve been walking almost every night to see the loop of lights!
I have just moved to queen creek I live in the Villages at queen creek their is a block E Via Del Palo that is lit up. One house in perticular the guy spends 4 weeks in November getting ready, you have to see it.
We’d love to check it out. Send us the address!