Old Town is again aglow with holiday lights and a festive atmosphere as Scottsdazzle returns for its seventh year.
Developed by the city of Scottsdale to bring the community together in a fun and magical way, this year’s calendar of holiday events is chock-full of 30 events — some of which are free and some also new.
“We wanted to showcase Old Town Scottsdale as the place to do your holiday shopping, to do your holiday celebrations and come out and just get in the (holiday) mood,” says Karen Churchard, city director of tourism and events.
Old Town is illuminated by a slew of holiday lights draped over frequented businesses and dining establishments that glow throughout the night.
“We put a lot of our efforts into the décor,” Churchard says. “The city spends a lot of money decorating the Arizona canal and other parts of Old Town and the historic art district.”
She hopes the festive décor and engaging events attract flocks of patrons to local businesses.
“The main thing is engaging with our merchants, our restaurants and even some of our bars,” she says. “We intend to showcase more of our quaint local shops.
“We want to make sure people know just to skip over the Marshall Way Bridge, where they have all these amazing quaint merchants and restaurants and areas to go and find unique gifts for the holidays.”
Churchard and her team encourage businesses to join in their efforts to create share the festive mood.
“The businesses are very gung-ho to get to work since it's a busy time of year, so we encourage them to partner with us to do more experiences,” Churchard says.
Among those experiences are several events that Churchard has circled on her calendar.
“I’m excited about the Sugar Plum Tea Party,” she says. “We used to do a bigger event on Fifth Ave. called Sugar Plum Ave., and we tried to change things up from year to year.
“But one of the key elements of the Sugar Plum Ave. event was a sit-down tea party for children, and we are having that on the Marshall Way Bridge this year on December 10.”
Churchard is also excited about the return of magician Craig Davis, performing on December 10 and December 11 on the Marshall Way Bridge.
“We've hired Craig in the past when we've had some events in historic Old Town, and he's always very popular,” she says.
She is also excited to bring back the historic Miracle of the Roses Pageant at the Old Adobe Mission on December 10 and the Live Nativity at the Old Adobe Mission on December 17 and, of course, the annual Scottsdazzle Stroll each Saturday leading up to Christmas Eve.
Though most events are in partnership with businesses, a new event is being put on by the Scottsdale Police Crisis Response Unit, which will be at the Noriega Livery Stable with its K9s and horses and explain what it does with those animals.
“We've always had the Scottsdale Police Department horses out at the Singalong Tree Lighting ceremony to kick things off, and it's always such a favorite thing for the families and the kids to come up close to the horses, so that was the inspiration to do that this year,” Churchard says.
Though the holidays can be especially stressful this time of year, Churchard feels Scottsdazzle has something to offer for everyone to feel merry this season.
“We tried to balance this with some fun things for the family to come out and do, and we feel very fortunate that the city invested a pretty substantial amount in decorating and bringing all of these activities for our community and those in the Valley to come in and enjoy,” she says.
Here is a list of Scottsdazzle events. Information on some was still being updated. See scottsdazzle.com for the latest.
Meet Santa at the Farmers Market
When: 9 a.m. Saturdays December 3, 10, 17
Where: Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market, 3806 N. Brown Avenue
Cost: Free
Holly-Jolly Wine Cork Crafting
When: 10:30 a.m. Saturdays December 3, 10, 17
Where: LDV Winery, 7134 E Stetson Drive, B110
Cost: $40 Per Person
Prancer’s Puzzle Rides
When: Through Saturday, December 31
Cost: $79 Per Person
Info: 602-601-2261
Cellar Room Wine & Bites
When: 6 p.m. November 30, December 7 and 14
Where: Kazimierz Wine & Whiskey Bar, 7137 E. Stetson Drive
Cost: $70 Per Person
Info: kazbarscottsdale.com
Coal or Cabernet
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, December 1
Where: Carlson Creek Vineyard, 4142 N. Marshall Way
Cost: $35 Per Person
Scottsdazzle Stroll
When: 6 p.m. Saturdays December 3, 10, 17
Where: Scottsdale Waterfront, 7135 E. Camelback Road
Cost: Free
Holiday Celebration at the Chef’s Table
When: 6 p.m. Tuesday, December 6
Where: Marcellino Ristorante, 7114 E. Stetson Drive
Cost: $120 Per Person
Info: marcellinoristorante.com, 480-990-9500
Santa’s Wine Flights
When: 6 p.m. Tuesdays December 6, 13, 20, 27
Where: Wine Girl Scottsdale, 4205 N. Scottsdale Road
Cost: $35 Per Person
Info: winegirlscottsdale.com, 480-686-9077
Gold Palette Artwalk
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, December 8
Where: Art Galleries along Main Street and Marshall Way
Cost: Free
Festive Floral Workshops
When: 6 p.m. Fridays December 9, 16, 30
Where: Flower Bar, 4200 N. Craftsman Court
Cost: $85-$115 Per Person
Spirited Dueling Piano Shows
When: 6:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. Friday, December 9
Where: Belle’s Nashville Kitchen, 7212 E. Main Street
Cost: $15 Per Person
Blitzen’s BBQ & Brews
When: 1 p.m. Saturday, December 10
Where: Goldwater Brewing Co., 3608 N. Scottsdale Road
Cost: $30 Per Person
Dazzling Magic Shows
When: Time TBA December 10-11
Where: Marshall Way Bridge, 7124 E. Stetson Drive
Cost: Free
Jingle Barre at the Bridge
When: Various times December 10-11
Where: Marshall Way Bridge, 7124 E. Stetson Drive
Cost: $15 Per Person
Info: cayogabarre.com
Miracle of Roses Pageant
When: 4 p.m. Saturday, December 10
Where: Old Adobe Mission, 3817 N. Brown Avenue
Cost: Free
Sugar Plum Tea Party
When: 11 a.m. Saturday, December 10
Where: Marshall Way Bridge, 7124 E. Stetson Drive
Cost: $25 Per Person
Holly-Jolly Painting Party
When: 2 p.m. Sunday, December 11
Where: Marshall Way Bridge, 7124 E. Stetson Drive
Cost: $40 Per Person
Whiskey Tasting at the North Pole
When: 6 p.m Thursday, December 15
Where: Porters Western Saloon, 3944 N. Brown Avenue
Cost: $80 Per Person
Info: porterswesternsaloon.com, 480-946-0354
Candle Making Classes
When: December 17-18
Where: Noriega Livery stable, 7266 E. Second Street
Cost: $53 Per Person
Info: lightandbark.com
Holiday Hooves & Howls
When: Various times December 17-18
Where: Noriega Livery Stable, 7266 E. Second Street
Cost: Free
The Dazzle of Historic OldTown
When: Various times December 17-18
Where: Noriega Livery Stable, 7266 E. Second Street
Cost: $12 Per Person
Old Adobe Mission Live Nativity
When: 6 p.m. Saturday, December 17
Where: Old Adobe Mission, 3817 N. Brown Avenue
Cost: Free
Christmas Cocktails
When: 4 p.m. Sunday, December 18
Where: Porters Western Saloon, 3944 N. Brown Avenue
Cost: $60 Per Person
Info: porterswesternsaloon.com, 480-946-0354
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Holiday Lights
When: 6 p.m. through Friday, December 30
Where: McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, 7301 E. Indian Bend Road
Cost: $15 Per Person
Scottsdale Wine Trail
When: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 30
Where: Scottsdale Wine Trail, 7134 E. Stetson Drive
Cost: $90 Per Person
Info: ldvwinery.com, 480-664-4822
The Marshall Gallery VIP Meet & Greet with acclaimed artists Douglas and Steve Hickok
When: 5 p.m. Thursday, December 8
Where: The Marshall Gallery, 7106 E. Main Street
Cost: Free
Info: themarshallgallery.com
The Legacy Gallery Annual Holiday Small Works Show
When: 6 p.m. Thursday, December 8
Where: The Legacy Gallery, 7178 E. Main Street
Cost: Free
Info: legacygallery.com, 480-945-1113
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Home for the Holidays
When: 4 p.m. December 9-10 and 16-17
Where: Taliesin West, 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard
Cost: TBA
Info: franklloydwright.org/home-for-the-holidays, 602-800-5480
Frosty Fiesta Margarita and Taco Tour
When: 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday all month long
Where: JoyRidesAZ Scottsdale Tours, 7142 E. First Street
Cost: $45 Per Person
Info: joyridesaz.com/fiesta-margarita-and-taco-tour, 480-675-7857
Scottsdazzle Holiday Lights Tour
When: 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. through Tuesday, December 27
Where: JoyRidesAZ Scottsdale Tours, 7142 E. First Street
Cost: $125 Per Vehicle
Info: joyridesaz.com/scottsdazzle-holiday-lights-tour
Scottsdazzle & Holiday Lights Segway Tour
When: 4:30 p.m. through Saturday, December 31
Where: Scottsdale Segway Tours, 4140 N. Miller Road
Cost: $99 Per Person
Info: scottsdalesegwaytours.com, 1-855-734-8687
Kactus Jock Rydables Old Town Tour
When: 10:30 a.m. through Saturday, December 31
Where: Kactus Jock, 7125 E. Fifth Avenue, Suite 6
Cost: $59 with Promo Code SCTTSDAZL22
Info: 480-933-1125
2023 Brighter Tomorrow Luncheon
When: 11:45 a.m. Friday, January 6
Where: JW Marriot Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, 5402 E. Lincoln Drive
Cost: $200-$275
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