There's no place like home for the holidays, right? Well, coming from the East Coast and now living in Arizona, Scottsdale is my adopted hometown — and I absolutely love it! With all the dining options, high-end shopping, upscale hotels, and hiking trails, it's no wonder why it's such a popular vacation destination And then there's the holiday season, my favorite time of the year to be here. The lights, the dazzle, the glitz — it's all part of what makes Scottsdale, well, Scottsdale! Here are some of my favorite ways to celebrate the holiday season in Scottdale, Arizona:

Christmas at the Princess

Christmas at the Princess is a dazzling event held annually on the grounds of the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. I have been many times and am still mesmerized by all of the lights and activities at this event. Not only are there millions of twinkling lights but there's a selection of classic and modern Christmas tunes permeating the air, visits with Santa, photo ops with costumed characters, ice skating, amusement rides, fire pits, holiday shopping, food and drinks, and so much more! It's a magical experience that runs from the week before Thanksgiving through the beginning of January. If you haven't been yet, make this the year to go as it's one of my favorite ways to ring in the holiday season.

Scottsdazzle

From the end of November through New Year's Eve, it will be time for Scottsdazzle, a dazzling event throughout Old Town. The event kicks off with a tree-lighting ceremony and a sing-along, and there will be lights galore. What I love to do during this event is walk along the canals to see the lights reflecting in the water. This is also a great time to check out some local boutiques for holiday shopping and maybe try a new-to-you restaurant in Old Town (although I highly recommend getting a reservation this time of year).

Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

Each night in late November through late December from 6-9:30 p.m., McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park shows off its festive side with its Holiday Lights event. Discover the magic of the holiday season with your little ones as the train runs along the track through a wonderland of lights and displays. This is a highly popular event so I suggest you get tickets well in advance!

Winter Wonderland (neighborhood lights display)

It's not just the city, the railroad park, and an upscale hotel that get into the holiday spirit. There's one house in a South Scottsdale neighborhood that puts on such a festive display that hundreds of people come out each night to see it. Located at 8414 E. Valley Vista Dr. in Scottsdale, Winter Wonderland is comprised of 265,000 twinkling lights some of which are synchronized to music. The facade of the house turned into a Disney-esque castle, the pool in the backyard is a winter scene complete with ice skating characters, and the kitchen window is where you can purchase hot chocolate and cookies as you walk through. This is one of my favorite places to visit during the holidays, and it's free (although donations are gratefully accepted).

So, will you celebrate the holiday season in Scottdale, Arizona this year? Maybe I'll see you at one of these events. Happy holidays!

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