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Christmas lights at night in Phoenix
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Christmas lights · Phoenix, AZ

Christmas lights in Phoenix

Christmas lights in the desert: the zoo, luminarias among the cactus at the botanical garden, and two big free displays — the Mesa Temple grounds and downtown Glendale.

4 displays · 2 free · 2 with 2026 dates announced

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Where to see them

Where to go: with kids, on a date, with friends

With kids

Short walks, Santa, rides and something to do besides looking.

For a date

Somewhere to walk slowly, a drink in hand, and look good in the photos.

With friends

Cheap by the carload, or a long evening with food and music.

Walk-through: gardens, zoo, parks

Mostly ticketed per person, and on foot. Check the hours before you set out.

Mesa Arizona Temple Christmas LightsPhoto: Jerry Ferguson · CC BY 2.0
Park·Downtown MesaFree

Mesa Temple Christmas Lights

The Mesa Temple's north lawn lit with thousands of lights among the palms and reflection pools, with a large outdoor nativity under a lighted star and Bible scenes along the paths — plus more than 150 nativities from around the world in the visitors' center. Free, no tickets.

🧒 With kids✨ Date night

What's there

  • Free, no tickets
  • Large outdoor nativity
  • 150+ nativities from around the world
  • Reflection pools and palms in lights

What visitors sayGoogle 4.9 ★ · 2,661 reviews

Visitors of every faith call the grounds peaceful and beautiful, and say Christmas is the best time to come. One tip from a reviewer: late evening around 9 pm, shortly before the 10 pm close, is much less crowded.

One of the loveliest free Christmas evenings in Arizona — go late to avoid the crowd.

2025 season
Nov 28 – Dec 30, 2025
5 – 10 pm nightly
Last year's dates — this year's aren't out yet.
Cost
Free
Where
Mesa Arizona Temple, 101 S. LeSueur, Mesa, AZ

Getting in and parking

  • Free parking is available nearby.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Temple grounds — come for a calm walk, not a party.

Checked 2026-09-23 · The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2025)

Glendale GlittersPhoto: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 2.0
Glendale GlittersGlendale Glitters

Photos: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 2.0

Walk-through·Historic Downtown GlendaleFree

Glendale Glitters

Historic downtown Glendale strung with millions of lights, light sculptures and decorated trees, with food trucks, vendors, shops and restaurants open late — and weekend Santa visits.

🧒 With kids🎉 With friends

What's there

  • Free
  • Light sculptures and decorated trees
  • Food trucks and vendors
  • Santa on weekends

What visitors sayGoogle 4.2 ★ · 4,263 reviews

People love that it's free, family-friendly and runs all season. Recent reviews say it's not what it used to be: fewer lights, pushy vendors selling light-up toys, overpriced food and heavy crowds around Christmas.

A fine free evening on a weeknight early in the season — skip Christmas week.

2026 season
Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027 (lighting ceremony Nov 27, 5:45 pm)
5 – 10 pm nightly
Cost
Free
Where
5750 W Glenn Dr, Glendale, AZ 85301

Getting in and parking

  • Downtown Glendale around Murphy Park. Free parking in the public lots and garage.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Photos with Santa are $5, at 5836 W Palmaire Ave.

Checked 2026-09-23 · City of Glendale

Full 2026 guideOfficial site
ZooLights — illustrationIllustration
Zoo·Papago Park

ZooLights

The Phoenix Zoo lit up with themed light displays along a walking loop, with a lantern area and holiday treats.

🧒 With kids

What's there

  • Themed light displays
  • Walkable loop
  • One ticket for any public night

What visitors sayGoogle 4.5 ★ · 24,225 reviews

Fans say ZooLights never disappoints — beautiful themes and a walk of just the right length. Crowds can be large and it adds up for a family, so buy tickets early.

Phoenix's classic family Christmas night — buy early, go midweek.

2026 season
Nov 25, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027
5:30 – 10:30 pm
Where
Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008

Getting in and parking

  • Phoenix Zoo in Papago Park, off the 202 at Priest Drive or from Galvin Parkway. Parking is free.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Pets aren't allowed, except service animals.

Checked 2026-09-23 · phoenixzoo.org

Official site
Las Noches de las Luminarias — illustrationIllustration
Garden·Desert Botanical Garden

Las Noches de las Luminarias

Thousands of paper luminaria bags glowing along the paths of the Desert Botanical Garden among saguaros and agaves, with live music on select December nights — a Southwestern Christmas tradition.

✨ Date night

What's there

  • Thousands of luminarias
  • Live music
  • Desert plants lit at night
  • Gertrude's restaurant on site

What visitors sayGoogle 4.8 ★ · 23,218 reviews

The garden is one of Arizona's best-rated places, and visitors who come for its night lighting say the way the lights pick out the plants is stunning — best approaching sunset.

The most romantic Christmas evening in Phoenix — book early, nights sell out.

Season
Select nights in December; this year's dates and prices are on dbg.org.
Where
1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008

Getting in and parking

  • Desert Botanical Garden on Galvin Parkway, next to the zoo. Free parking with a rideshare drop-off area.

On the map

Worth knowing

  • Las Noches de las Luminarias is a separate ticket from daytime entry.
  • The garden is wheelchair-accessible and most trails work for strollers.

Checked 2026-09-23 · dbg.org

Official site

Before you go

Why some dates say 2025

Most displays announce the season in October or November. Until they do, we show last year's dates and say so, rather than guess this year's. Every card shows the day we last checked it and where the facts came from.

Santa services in the USChristmas markets in Phoenix

Christmas lights in other cities

Questions

Which Christmas lights in Phoenix are free?
Mesa Temple Christmas Lights (Downtown Mesa), Glendale Glitters (Historic Downtown Glendale). None of them sell tickets, but some charge for parking and the busiest neighborhoods have long lines, so check each card and go on a weeknight.
When do the Phoenix light displays open this year?
So far Glendale Glitters (Nov 27, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027 (lighting ceremony Nov 27, 5:45 pm)) and ZooLights (Nov 25, 2026 – Jan 15, 2027) have announced their 2026 dates. The rest publish in October and November; until then this page shows last year's dates, marked as such.