“It’s the most wonderful time, of the year!”
One of our favorite “traditions” every Christmas season is to grab some hot chocolate and check out the holiday light displays in the East Valley.
The kids ask to go every year and we have found some great light displays over the years!
Here are some our favorite holiday light displays in the East Valley for you and your family to enjoy this holiday season!
– While it is not necessarily “East Valley”, it is close enough in my opinion for us to go. We go every year.
ZooLights shines with millions of lights, a three-story lighted tree, hundreds of glimmering light displays, lakeside Music-in-Motion shows and more!
Kids can enjoy the Polar SlideTM, Stingray Bay, the carousel, camel rides, photos with Santa, a nightly snowfall (at 7pm), festive food and drinks, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D Experience® (All of the above are at an additional cost and not included in the ZooLights admission price.)
You can visit ZooLights now until January 8, 2017, from 5:30pm to 10:30pm nightly. (If you visit the Zoo during the day, you will need to exit and purchase a ZooLights ticket to attend the ZooLights. Note: Animal viewing is limited during ZooLights.)
Ticket prices vary on night. Adults, children and seniors all cost the same; children two and under are free.
You can find more information at
Pollack Tempe Cinema Shopping Center
located at 1825 East Elliot Road in Tempe decorates every year. You can drive through the shopping “center” or you can park and see them. He goes all out every year and his lights are fun for the kids!
in Ahwatukee displays millions of white lights from now until New Years Day, nightly from 6pm to 11pm. The lights can be seen from Chandler Boulevard, from 24th Street to Desert Foothills Parkway.
Downtown Chandler
has a tumbleweed Christmas tree every year. You can see the lit up “tree” at 3 South Arizona Avenue (between Chandler Boulevard and Fry Road on Arizona Avenue).
runs November 22, 2016 through January 1, 2017.
You can view their
for events, attractions, and hours.
You can view the attractions and some of the prices located
.
at 525 East Main Street in Mesa can be seen nightly from 5pm to 10pm through December 31st. There are
hundreds of thousands of colorful lights; uniquely illuminated palm trees and flower gardens; an inspiring nativity scene; a display of Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem; recorded messages in English and Spanish and a modern Visitors’ Center open to all. This spectacular annual display, provided by volunteers, is free of charge each evening of the holiday season.
Concert performances by local musical groups and individuals are presented nightly from Monday, December 1st through Christmas day.
Concerts begin each evening promptly at 7:00PM and last approximately 30 minutes. Early seating is encouraged due to the limited space.
can be seen December 9th through December 25th from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. You can get the location, maps, and directions
.
(one of our favorite places to go in the non-holiday season too!) turns into a wonderland on wheels from December 9th to January 1st (excluding December 24, 25, and 31) from 6:30pm to 9pm.
Take a ride on the Paradise & Pacific Railroad through a winter wonderland of lights and displays. Santa will be in attendance nightly through December 23rd. (Photos are $5). Train rides on the Paradise & Pacific Railroad are $4 (two tickets) and rides on the Charros Carousel are $2 (one ticket). Children two and under ride free with a paying adult.
at 6101 East Virginia Street in Mesa, will display “The Christmas Lights Experience” on December 16, 17 and 18 and December 23, from 6pm to 8pm.
located at 1610 E. Hermosa Vista, Mesa, AZ, has Christmas Lights Computer Animated to Music and Video, night from 6 pm to 10 pm, until January 1st.
Additionally, they are collected donations for NurtureOurWorld.net, helping children in need. Nurture Our World is a US 501(c)3 public charity, donations are tax deductible. You can drop off old cell phones and aluminum cans to recycle and benefit children in need.
Natal Circle
is one that we like to go to every year! It is in Mesa, off of Guadalupe, just west of Country Club.
It is not a drive through so you will have to find a place to park and walk through, but it is well worth it. It is a cul de sac that has the entire street – both sides – lit up and the last time we went; one of them had their backyard set up too!
You can visit nightly until January 1st from 6pm to 10pm.
displays more than 110,000 lights and 300 strobe lights, many synchronized to music—tune your radio to 93.9 FM as you drive through to hear it. (Although rumor has it that driving is usually bumper to bumper and many park at Basha Park and then walk over.)
It is located at East Comstock Drive, Gilbert, (enter from East Elliot Road) and can be seen through December 30th.
Specific hours:
Sun-Thurs: 6:00 – 9:00pm (Dancing Lights) & 9:00-10:00 (Static-No Music)
Fri-Sat: 6:00 – 10:30pm (Dancing Lights)
Donations go to Make-A-Wish Arizona
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We found some fun lights the other night in the neighborhood off of McClintock, north of Ray Road on Gail Road. It is a residential neighborhood that has some really fun houses!
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If I missed any, please let me know! I would love to add to our list!
Wishing you and yours a Happy Holidays!