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[vc_custom_heading text=”2019 December Family Events” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:50px|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”]
Dec. 1-29
Candytopia. A family-friendly interactive art installation celebrating everything candy, Candytopia has more than a dozen curated and crafted rooms, including a pool with 300,000 marshmallows. $28; $20 for ages 4-12; free for ages 3 and younger. Candytopia, 15147 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Candytopia.comDec. 6-8
Tempe Festival of the Arts. Knock out all of your holiday shopping at more than 300 artist booths along and near Mill Avenue. A Kids Block features a hands-on interactive area for young artists and a local youth exhibition.Dec. 6-14
Costume Storytime with The Grinch. Enjoy a reading of Dr. Seuss’s holiday classic and get photos with the Grinch himself. Tempe: photos only 6-8 p.m. Dec. 6; storytime 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 7. Changing Hands, 6428 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe. Phoenix: Storytime 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 14; photos only 6-8 p.m. Free. Changing Hands, 300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. changinghands.com
Dec. 6-23
A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail. Valley Youth Theatre’s annual production is a local holiday tradition! Travel to the snow-covered Hundred Acre Wood for Valley Youth Theatre’s 24th annual holiday musical. A.A. Milne’s beloved characters — Pooh, Piglet, Kanga and Baby Roo and Owl — organize a search party to help Eeyore find his lost tail.Dec. 7
Ultimate Play Date. Scottsdale Public Library hosts this annual event on the lawn outside Civic Center Library. Kids can delve into hands-on activities, including art, music, fort building and creative play. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale. scottsdalelibrary.org APS Electric Light Parade. For more than three decades, the APS Electric Light Parade has been bringing the Phoenix community together to celebrate the holiday season. This year’s theme is “Walking in a Desert Wonderland.” 7 p.m. Free. Starts at Central and Montebello avenues, heads east on Camelback Road to Seventh Street and ends at Indian School Road. phoenix.gov Festival of Tales. Enjoy a fun day of reading, literacy and cultural activities for children — including storytelling, arts and crafts, games, face painting, live music and food trucks. The event provides nearly 8,000 free books to children. Staffed and funded by Paradise Valley Community College students and the nonprofit Southwest Human Development. Holiday Balloon Glow. Kick off the holidays with the ninth annual Balloon Glow featuring more than 70 vendors, food trucks, a kids zone, live entertainment, Santa & Mrs. Claus and more. 1-9 p.m. Free. San Tan Village, 2218 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert. shopsantanvillage.com Jingle Bell Hike. This moderate family hike leads to Santa Claus. Children can take part in a hands-on jingle bell craft. Water and a light snack provided. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Bring your camera for photos with Santa. 9-11 a.m. Thunderbird Conservation Park. Free. 59th Avenue between Deer Valley and Pinnacle Peak roads, Glendale. glendaleaz.com Holiday Magic. This free family-friendly outdoor event offers pictures with Santa, a petting zoo, face painting, free trolley rides, food, music, fun and lots of snow (about 65 tons of it). 3-8 p.m. Free. McCormick Ranch’s Mercado on Hayden, 8140 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. mrholidaymagic.com PJs in the Park. Put on your pajamas and head downtown for a free movie under the stars. See “Polar Express” at 5:30 p.m., followed by “Elf” at 7:30 p.m. Hot chocolate and snacks available, plus a visit from Santa. 5:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Civic Space Park, 1 E. Washington St., Phoenix. dtphx.org Sugar Plum Avenue. Fifth Avenue in downtown Scottsdale is transformed into a fairytale village with sugar plum fairies, snow princesses, stilt walkers, aerial performances, candy land bounce houses and a tea party in the street.Dec. 7-8
Joy to the Herd at Shamrock Farms. Grab your mittens! This Stanfield dairy farm transforms its Welcome Barn into a winter wonderland at its annual event featuring Santa, spokescow Roxie, farm tours and face painting. Plus, real snow and holiday crafts.Dec. 7 and 14
Selfies with Santa. Visit this open-air shopping center for some holiday shopping and free photos with Santa Claus. Bring a sweater to uglify at the ugly sweater station (supplies included) or visit the free hot cocoa bar. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. The Promenade, 16243 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. scottsdalepromenade.com
Dec. 7-29
Ella Enchanted. This Childsplay production is based on the 1997 Newbery Honor book. It’s the classic Cinderella story with a twist. See it at Herberger Theater Center.Dec. 13-24
Ballet Arizona’s The Nutcracker. In Ballet Arizona’s popular annual tradition, Clara battles mischievous mice and charms the Sugar Plum Fairy. With 150 performers, 100,000 Swarovski crystals and Tchaikovsky’s cherished score performed live by the Phoenix Symphony at Symphony Hall in Phoenix. Special VIP tickets include pointe shoes, parking and hot chocolate. Family Fun Nights include coloring stations, face painting and storytime.
Dec. 14
Snow Much Fun Day. Play in 40 tons of snow at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix. Have breakfast with Santa or build a gingerbread house for an additional fee (reservations required). Snow play begins at 9 a.m. and is included with museum admission. Peoria’s Old Town Holiday Festival. Take a stroll through Old Town and enjoy a crafters market, a visit from Santa, snow, a gingerbread house contest, live entertainment and a kids zone at Johnny E. Osuna Memorial Park. Tempe Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade. It’s the Valley’s favorite parade that floats as boats light up Tempe Town Lake. (This is also the only time that motorized boats are allowed on the lake). Starting at 4 p.m., 6th Street Market vendors will fill up Tempe Beach Park with hundreds of hand-crafted items for sale. Bring your camera to take free pics with Santa. Free Movie: The Secret Lives of Pets. OdySea in the Desert hosts this free monthly outdoor family event with games, prizes and a free movie screening. 5 p.m. activities; movie begins at sundown. Bring your own blankets or folding chairs. Free. OdySea in the Desert, 9500 E. Via De Ventura, Scottsdale. 480-291-8000 or odyseainthedesert.com Santa’s Workshop. Get some holiday shopping done for friends and family and take a picture with St. Nick. There will be a variety of items to choose from, and everything is $2. Free gift wrapping will be provided by Santa’s elves at the Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center in Phoenix. The 12Ks of Christmas. This family festival celebrates its 10th anniversary of health, fitness and the joy of Christmas with a 12K run, 6K run/walk and a 1.2K Santa “Sled Run,” plus Santa’s Village and a Christmas Bazaar in Gilbert’s Freestone District Park.
Dec. 14-15
Phoenix Festival of the Arts. This annual festival returns to Hance Park with live entertainment, more than 150 artists and vendors, food trucks, a children’s play area and more. Live Nativity. Follow the street lined with luminarias leading to a live nativity. Plus a petting zoo, tractor-pulled hayride, crafts and a photo booth. Enjoy hot dogs and hot chocolate. 6-8:30 p.m.; 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. nativity story presentations. Free. Boulder Mountain Community Church, 9390 E. McLellan Road, Mesa. 480-986-0006 or bmcchurch.org
Dec. 15
Chanukah Storytime with Temple Emanuel. Join Temple Emanuel for stories, songs, and a chance to spin the dreidel at Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe. A portion from book sales will go toward Temple Emanuel’s libraries. Arizona Fried Chicken and Beer Chimac Festival. Celebrate the pairing of fried chicken and beer with more than a dozen local fried chicken businesses at this Asian-inspired food festival. Discover the global popularity of fried chicken cuisine from Korea to Nashville. Disney Junior Holiday Party. At Comerica Theatre, kids and their families can sing and dance to their favorite Disney Junior songs, along with other holiday classics and with their favorite Disney friends, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, the Puppy Dog Pals, Vampirina and even Santa!
Dec. 18
24-hour Star Wars Marathon. Celebrate the end of the Star Wars saga at an epic marathon. Watch all nine films back-to-back, concluding with a screening of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” 6 p.m. $77 ticket includes nine films shown sequentially, a 2020 Harkins loyalty cup, a Star Wars blanket, collector’s pin and commemorative lanyard and unlimited $3 medium popcorn at Harkins Chandler Fashion Center.Dec. 21
Multi-Generational Holiday Tea Party. Enjoy finger sandwiches and candy cane tea while creating gingerbread houses (and lasting memories) with your child or grandchild at Mesa’s i.d.e.a. Museum. Snow Ball. Meet Santa, Mrs. Claus, Buddy the Elf, Snow Queen and the Ice Princess at this free family event at OdySea in the Desert. Play in real snow, enjoy face painting, arts and crafts, a magic mirror photobooth, a book creation station for kids, raffle prizes, giveaways and more than 40 vendors.Dec. 26-29
Zoppé Family Circus. This old-world Italian traditional circus performs in one ring featuring acrobats, equestrian showmanship, canine capers, clowns and audience participation at Chandler Center for the Arts.