2025 Holiday Guide: Your EatLoveTravelPlay™ Guide to Celebrate December in the Desert
- Krista Carpenter-Beasley
- 1 day ago
- 16 min read
December in Arizona doesn’t arrive with blizzards and snowdrifts. It slips in quietly at first—the misters click off, sweaters start to appear on patios, and then suddenly the palms are wrapped in lights, farm fields glow at dusk, and trains rumble north toward the “North Pole” with cocoa and cookies in hand.
It’s the month where everything EatLoveTravelPlay™ stands for shows up at once: Eat at tables where the tables tell a story. Love the people you share the season with. Travel across town, up north, or to that resort you’ve been eyeing. Play under twinkle lights, in pop-up bars, and on holiday trains.
In our latest issue of EatLoveTravelPlay Magazine, the Holiday Tables feature celebrates where to gather—chef-driven dining rooms, resort feasts, and neighborhood favorites that invite you to sit, linger, and let someone else handle the dishes.
Think of this guide as your field companion: the planner that helps you decide when and how to experience it all—lights, farms, trains, cocktails, feasts, resets, and New Year’s Eve. You don’t have to do everything. You just have to choose your moments.
How to Make the Most of This Guide
Take your time to explore the content within! Dive into the highlights of December at a Glance, pick out your favorites, or effortlessly navigate to any section using the convenient links below.
December at a Glance
Bookmark this, scribble on it, text it to your group chat—then start circling your must-dos.
Always double-check dates and times on each venue’s official site before you go—details shift year to year.
When (typically) | Experience | Where | Vibe |
Late Nov–early Jan | Phoenix Zoo | Classic, colorful, kid-joy | |
Select nights late Nov–Dec | Desert Botanical Garden, PHX | Candlelit, romantic, desert chic | |
Late Nov–Dec | McCormick-Stillman RR Park | Nostalgia, trains, cocoa | |
Mid–late Dec (select eves) | Riparian Preserve, Gilbert | Neighborhood nature glow | |
Late Nov–early Jan | Tempe drive-through | High-spectacle from your car | |
Late Nov–Dec | Queen Creek | Farmstead Hallmark movie | |
Late Nov–early Jan | Fairmont Scottsdale Princess | Luxe resort wonderland | |
Dec 1–23 (most eves) | Mesa | Small farm, big heart | |
Late Nov–Dec | Chandler | 7-million-light extravaganza | |
Select Nov–Dec dates | Williams | PJ train, cocoa, Santa | |
Late Nov–Dec | Clarkdale / Verde Canyon RR | Storybook canyon train | |
Late Nov–Dec | Floor 13 and BLVD Kitchen & Bar host Miracle, 36 Below Christmas in NYC, Sippin’ Santa at Bitter and Twisted, Get Merry at Little Rituals, Bar Blitzen at Culinary Dropout, Flight to the North Pole at Carry On, Fifty Shades of Rose Presents Whoville, Ho Holidays at the Hotel Valley Ho, Porters Western Saloon, Sea and Smoke National Lampoons Christmas Pop Up | Phoenix and surrounding areas | Pop-up cocktail playgrounds |
Late Nov–Dec | Phoenix and surrounding areas | Group sips + cozy bar nights | |
Christmas Dinners (Eve and Day) | Renatas Hearth (Biltmore), Lons at Hermosa Inn, Carcara, The Italiano , Christopher's at Wrigley Mansion, Royal Palms Resort and Spa, Yellowbell at the Camby, Elements at Sanctuary, Le' Ame' at Global Ambassador, El Chorro, Talavera at the Four Seasons, Different Pointe of View, Talking Stick (Tash, Orange Sky, Ocean Trail), Frost at the Phoenician, Jingle at JW Marriott Desert Ridge | Eat at tables where someone else does the cooking | |
Late Dec | Phoenix and surrounding areas | Host at home, skip the stress | |
All month | Valley-wide | Healthy-ish in between | |
Dec 31 | Gatsby's House at the Renaissance Downtown Phoenix, New Years Eve at Wild Horse Pass, The REMI, Spire Bar at The Biltmore, Midnight Disco, Prix Fixe Dinner & Party at théa Mediterranean Rooftop at The Global Ambassador, Midnight in Paris at Le Âme, Weft & Warp at The Andaz, Phoenix Symphony New Years Eve Event, The Posh Party at Caesars Republic, New Years at The Canopy by Hilton Tempe, New Years at the Omni Montelucia, Champagne Dreams and Caviar Wishes at The Phoenician | Phoenix and surrounding areas | NYE: from desert-luxe to full-tilt |
Chapter 1: Nights That Glow
Phoenix ZooLights – The Classic
Every city has that one holiday tradition that pins the season in place. In metro Phoenix, it’s ZooLights.
By night, the Phoenix Zoo becomes a river of color—millions of lights, glowing animal lanterns, tunnels you walk through instead of drive, and lake shows choreographed to music. Kids point, couples share gloves, grandparents get misty because the toddler on their shoulders is suddenly the same size their own children once were.
Best for:
First-timers to Arizona in December
Families with strollers and snack cups
Multi-generational outings where everyone gets a little bit of wonder
Pair it: Early, kid-friendly dinner from your Holiday Tables list or a casual neighborhood spot, then head to the zoo as dusk hits.
Las Noches de las Luminarias – Desert Botanical Garden
If ZooLights is neon joy, Las Noches de las Luminarias is a glass of deep red wine in candlelight.
Thousands of luminarias line the Desert Botanical Garden’s paths, wrapping saguaros and desert blooms in soft, flickering halos. Live music and carolers tuck into corners; the night smells faintly of pine, citrus, and something warm in your cup. The desert feels like a chapel.
Best for:
Date nights and proposals
Out-of-town guests who “didn’t know the desert could look like this”
A quiet, contemplative version of the holidays
Pair it: Start with a chef-driven dinner—maybe a Holiday Tables steakhouse or hearth-forward menu—then wander the garden in that happy, full-but-not-stuffed glow.
At McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, the holidays come on rails.
You climb into a train car and roll through tunnels of lights and whimsical vignettes while carousels spin and cocoa steams nearby. It’s simple and earnest, and that’s exactly why it lands.
Best for:
Kids in their “choo-choo!” era
Grandparents who love telling train stories
Anyone whose inner child perks up at a whistle
Gilbert’s Riparian Preserve quietly becomes one of the East Valley’s sweetest secrets each December.
For a short run of nights, bridges and paths glow with thousands of lights. It’s stroller-friendly, close-to-home, and feels like your own neighborhood dressed up just for you.
Best for:
Staying local
Low-key dates and family walks
Sneaking in a little magic on a school night
World of Illumination – Tempe and Glendale
When your feet are done but your holiday spirit isn’t, there’s the drive-through.
At World of Illumination, your car becomes the sleigh. Tune to the right station, glide through a mile of animated lights, and let the kids narrate every single thing they see—they will, and it will be delightful.
Best for:
Littles in pajamas clutching plushies
Multi-car friend caravans, windows cracked, music up
“We’re tired, but we still want something special” nights
Chapter 2: Farms & Resorts, Reimagined
Christmas at Schnepf Farms – Hallmark on a Working Farm
By day, Schnepf is farm, family and fields. In December, it’s a Christmas movie somebody left playing on loop—in the best possible way.
Christmas at Schnepf Farms layers snow zones, hayrides, rides, bonfires, movies on the lawn, Santa visits, and a World of Illumination train ride on top of the farm’s bones. It’s charmingly chaotic: boots crunching on gravel, kids streaking past with marshmallow faces, parents bargaining for “just two more rides.”
Christmas at the Princess – The Desert in Sequins
If Schnepf is flannel, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is full-length sequins and a statement coat.
Christmas at the Princess transforms the resort into a full-scale holiday playground: skating rinks tracing the lagoon, a four-story musical tree, Lagoon Lights, fire pits for roasting s’mores, and themed “lands” that feel like little worlds.
Best for:
Resort staycations
Impressing visitors who want “Scottsdale at Christmas”
Families who like their holidays with a side of five-star
At Vertuccio Farms, Christmas feels closer to the ground.
Expect lights, small-scale attractions, and enough open space for kids to run off sugar while you sip something warm and talk with other parents on the sidelines.
Pratt Brothers Christmas at Rawhide – Big-Screen Holiday
On the other end of the spectrum: Pratt Brothers Christmas at Rawhide.
Over seven million lights. A gingerbread house light show. Parades, a Holiday Express train, live entertainment layered over Rawhide’s Western town setting. It’s holiday maximalism, and for many families, that’s exactly the point.
Chapter 3: Trains, Cocoa & Little Road Trips
The Polar Express – Williams
On the Polar Express in Williams, you trade traffic for tracks and to-do lists for hot chocolate.
You board the Grand Canyon Railway in pajamas, sip cocoa, nibble cookies, and listen to the story as you glide through the dark toward a glowing North Pole. Santa appears, bells are passed out, and for a few hours, it feels like the book, the movie, and real life are all happening at once.
Magical Christmas Journey – Verde Canyon Railroad, Clarkdale
Down in Clarkdale, the Magical Christmas Journey follows “Santa’s Secret Tracks” through Verde Canyon.
It’s a shorter ride with storytelling, lights, and a North Pole stop, set against canyon cliffs and winter-bare trees. Less glitz, more story.
Make it a mini-escape:Stay at a charming nearby hotel like the Tavern Hotel in Cottonwood, and let the train be the centerpiece of a weekend.
Chapter 4: Sips, Pop-Ups & Grown-Up Holiday Play
At Miracle, Christmas doesn’t tiptoe—it cannonballs.
On the rooftop at Floor 13 in downtown Phoenix and at BLVD Kitchen + Bar in north Scottsdale, Miracle arrives with wall-to-wall décor, cheeky glassware, and cocktails that taste like someone turned dessert, childhood nostalgia, and a bar program into one big inside joke.
Sippin’ Santa is what happens when tiki runs away with Christmas.
Rum-forward holiday cocktails in tiki mugs, tropical riffs on winter spices, a little bit of mischief, and the bartending chops Bitter & Twisted is known for year-round. It’s vacation-in-a-glass in the middle of downtown.
On the 4th floor above downtown, Little Rituals feels like the secret speakeasy version of Christmas.
The Get Merry pop-up leans into story: a tight menu of cocktails inspired by classic holiday dishes from around the world, pecan pie, tamales, latkes, arroz con dulce—reimagined in glassware instead of bakeware.
At Bar Blitzen, subtlety didn’t get an invite.
Inside Culinary Dropout at The Coop in Gilbert and Tempe, you’ll find over-the-top décor, holiday music, yard games outside, and a menu of festive cocktails that wink at the season. Think espresso-meets-holiday martinis, white-chocolate-and-mint dessert drinks, and plenty of “can I try yours?” moments.
Add Wagyu Pigs in a Blanket or BBQ Pork Belly Nachos, and suddenly your “just drinks” night looks a lot like dinner.
Blanco Cocina + Cantina – Margarita Trees & Holiday Sips
Blanco does December with a sense of humor: Margarita Trees, four mix-and-match margaritas or espresso martinis perched on a metal “tree” and limited-time holiday cocktails playing with eggnog, cranberry, and spice.
The Henry – Arcadia & Uptown
If Blanco and Bar Blitzen are “festive chaos,” The Henry is “festive exhale.”
Expect cozy cocktails like Whiskey & Doughnuts (bourbon, vermouth, spiced apple) and pear-and-cranberry-kissed cosmopolitans. This is where you go to actually talk, to catch up with friends, to linger over one last holiday dinner, to trade “this year was a lot” stories.
Chapter 5: Holiday Tables – Where Christmas Lives on the Plate
While the Holiday Tables feature in the Winter issue dives deep into the rooms, menus, and people behind the season’s most memorable meals, this section zooms in on a handful of Christmas Day and Christmas-adjacent experiences that feel like chapters in the same story.
These are the places you book when you want the meal to be the memory. And while we’re spotlighting just a few here, you’ll find even more ways to feast and celebrate in the December at a Glance guide above.
Pair it: Start with Champagne; finish with something chocolate. December asks for both.
J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician (Scottsdale)
Holiday specials with resort shine; a celebratory steakhouse backdrop for dressed-up December.
Perched high above the Valley at The Phoenician, J&G Steakhouse is where December feels dressed up from the moment you step out of the elevator. Floor-to-ceiling windows turn the city lights into glittering wallpaper, and the room glows with that soft, golden kind of holiday light that makes everything—and everyone—look a little more luminous. Holiday specials layer onto the modern steakhouse menu, so the night feels extra: martinis catching candlelight, perfectly charred steaks arriving like centerpieces, sides that feel indulgent in all the right ways. It’s polished without being stuffy, the kind of place where a little bit of sparkle feels right at home.
If you want something just a touch more relaxed but still festive, Mowry & Cotton downstairs is another way to do Phoenician Christmas. Think fireplace warmth, blond woods, and hearth-driven dishes that feel like an elevated family gathering—cozy, generous, and perfect if you’ve got a mix of friends, kids, or multiple generations at the table.
Book it when: You’re craving a “grown-up Christmas” with skyline views, martinis, and a steakhouse that knows how to do celebration—or when you want the option to keep things slightly softer and more casual at Mowry & Cotton, without losing the holiday glow.
Christmas at the Wrigley Mansion (Phoenix)
A Christmas Story Told in Courses, Candlelight, and Sweeping Phoenix Views
When the holidays roll in, Wrigley Mansion doesn’t just decorate for Christmas—it glows with it. Trees sparkle in tucked-away corners, garland and lights wrap the banisters, and the city twinkles below like an extension of the décor. Holiday melodies drift from the gorgeous Steinway, live music threading through clinking glasses and low conversation.
Upstairs, Christopher’s feels like a jewel box above Phoenix, warm candlelight, big-sky views, and a “Christmas Feast” layered in with the regular menu. Modern hearth cooking leans cozy and bright: think Westholme Wagyu carpaccio, day boat scallops with Kaluga caviar and Semillon verjus, Hudson Valley foie gras soup, Liberty duck with celery root and sherry gastrique, and that iconic “Parnassienne” Chocolate Tower that looks like it walked out of a French pastry dream. Add Champagne, a deep-by-the-page wine list, and the option to dive into caviar service, and it becomes the kind of holiday dinner that lingers in your memory long after the lights come down.
Book it when: You want Christmas to feel cinematic. Think trees, twinkle lights, live piano, sweeping city views, and a long, lingering dinner where someone else handles every last dish.
Insider Tip: Keep an eye on the calendar—Festivin 2026 is right around the corner, and it’s one of the Valley’s not-to-miss wine events. Experiences sell out quickly, especially “Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams,” so you’ll want to grab those bubbles-and-caviar moments as soon as dates drop.
T. Cook’s at Royal Palms (Phoenix)
A Christmas Day classic in one of the Valley’s most romantic rooms—elegant, evergreen, and gift-wrapped in bougainvillea.
T. Cook’s at Royal Palms always feels a little like a secret you’re lucky enough to know. Bougainvillea spills over archways, lanterns glow along the pathways, and the resort’s courtyards curve and twist in ways that make you feel like you’ve slipped out of Phoenix and into a tucked-away Mediterranean villa.
Inside, T. Cook’s hums with that soft holiday energy, clinking glassware, low conversation, fireplaces flickering in the background. On Christmas Day, the restaurant leans into the moment with a three-course Christmas menu in one of the Valley’s most romantic rooms. Think arches and old-world charm, plates that balance tradition with a kiss of Mediterranean brightness, and service that lets you linger as long as you like. It feels timeless, like a chapter you’ll replay in your memory long after the tree comes down.
For those who love a long, lazy holiday morning, Royal Palms also leans festive with a Christmas Day brunch option, daytime feels softer, sun pooling into the courtyard, mimosas in hand, and a spread that lets you graze your way into the afternoon. It’s a beautiful way to celebrate if you prefer your rituals with daylight, citrus, and a side of palm trees.
Book it when: You want romance, ritual, and the feeling that you’ve escaped somewhere far away without ever leaving Phoenix, whether that’s a candlelit Christmas dinner, a slow-brunch kind of morning, or both.
Talavera at Four Seasons Scottsdale (Scottsdale)
Christmas Day brunch on a terrace with Troon North views—seafood, carving stations, and made-to-order treats; festive without the fuss.
Christmas morning at Talavera feels like someone stretched golden hour across the whole day. The terrace looks out over Troon North’s boulders and saguaros, the kind of Sonoran backdrop that makes you pause mid-sip just to take it in. Instead of rushing to get a turkey in the oven, you’re walking out into the sun, napkins folded on laps, plates ready for the first pass at brunch.
On Christmas Day, Talavera leans fully into the moment with a brunch that feels like a holiday playground. Chilled seafood displays glisten on ice, carving stations send out the scent of perfectly roasted meats, and made-to-order favorites; eggs, waffles, maybe something sweet and unexpected, let everyone build their own version of “festive.” Kids wander back and forth, piling plates with new discoveries; grown-ups linger over another round of coffee, mimosas, or a glass of something bubbly.
It’s holiday abundance without the formality, no assigned seats, no frantic kitchen timer, just an easy, sun-soaked rhythm. You eat, you laugh, you go back for seconds, and the best part is what comes after: the entire afternoon left open for naps, movies, board games, or one last wander along the desert paths as the light softens again.
Book it when: You want Christmas in daylight - kids who graze, grown-ups who brunch, and a meal that feels like an event without requiring sequins, stress, or a single dirty roasting pan.
Chapter 6: Feast Plans – Out, In, or Somewhere Between
Option A: Let These Tables Tell the Story
If this is the year you give yourself the gift of not cooking, start with the Holiday Tables lineup above:
Dress up and watch the Valley sparkle at J&G Steakhouse.
Bring the whole family to Mowry & Cotton for a “Christmas Feast” that feels both modern and familiar.
Slip into a timeless, bougainvillea-framed Christmas at T. Cook’s.
Make the day a long, leisurely celebration at Talavera’s brunch.
Or keep it stylish and relaxed at Terra Tempe, with a stroll through downtown after dessert.
Each one is a different chapter—but they all end the same way: with someone else clearing the plates.
Option B: Bring the Restaurant Home
If your favorite holiday table is actually your own, but you’d prefer not to be attached to the oven, Doughbird has your back.
Their holiday feasts to-go typically feature prime rib with all the trimmings: creamy potatoes, broccolini, salad, peppercorn jus, and dessert ready to plate. You pick up, reheat, add your own linens and playlist, and accept compliments as though you were the one basting all day.
Pair it: Start with Champagne, finish with something chocolate. December asks for both.
Option C: Healthy(ish) in the Middle
Flower Child – Nourished Between the Parties
When your body gently suggests that cookies and cocktail garnishes aren’t a complete food group, Flower Child steps in.
Seasonal bowls layered with slow-braised beef and green chile, salads stacked with roasted squash, Brussels sprouts, apples, grains, cranberries, and nuts; sides of butternut squash or umami-rich Brussels and cabbage; pumpkin muffins if you’re not ready to break up with dessert just yet.
Perfect for lunch between events or a weeknight dinner that still feels good the next morning.
Chapter 7: Gather Your People
Private Dining & Group Celebrations
If you’ve become the unofficial cruise director of your friend group, team, or family, private and semi-private rooms at Fox Restaurant Concepts spots are your secret weapon.
From The Henry and Culinary Dropout to Blanco and beyond, you can:
Hand off the logistics (menus, seating, timing).
Focus on the fun (toasts, stories, passing dessert forks).
Leave without a sink full of dishes.
The Holiday Lunch Experience at The Henry Arcadia is especially tempting: multi-course midday menu, curated beverages, and just enough festive detail to make everyone feel celebrated.
Chapter 8: New Year’s Eve — The Countdown Tastes Better at a Great Table
Insider tip: Reserve with credit card in hand and eyes on the cancellation policy. Prime times vanish quickly; bar seating can be a secret weapon.
New Year’s Eve isn’t just about where you are at midnight, it’s about where you were at 9 p.m., what was on the plate in front of you, and who you were clinking glasses with when the seconds started to slip away.
Think of this as your short list of “last meal of the year” moments, each with its own energy, view, and style.
PRIME, A Shula’s Steak House — Wild Horse Pass (Chandler)
150 feet above the desert, rooftop steakhouse glamour for luxe cuts and a midnight toast over the Estrellas.
Perched high above the Gila River landscape, PRIME feels like a desert observatory for good decisions: martinis, perfectly charred steaks, plush banquettes, and a wall of windows framing the Estrella Mountains. On New Year’s Eve, it becomes pure movie scene, sparkling wine in hand, the desert floor quietly humming below.
NYE mood: Elevated, grown-up, “we got dressed for this.”
Insider move: Book a slightly earlier seating, then linger at the bar for a post-dessert pour and a second look at the view.
Le Âme & théa at The Global Ambassador (Phoenix)
Start with a Parisian steakhouse fête at Le Âme, then ride the elevator to théa’s sky-high disco - Mediterranean polish, DJ energy, and Camelback as your confetti.
At Le Âme, the Global Ambassador’s Paris-meets-Phoenix steakhouse, New Year’s Eve feels like a love letter to classic brasseries, caviar and Champagne, sizzling cuts, sauces that demand bread. It’s candlelit, polished, and just the right amount of extra.
Then there’s théa: rooftop, open air, Camelback Mountain leaning in like a witness. DJs, disco energy, curated cocktails, and a countdown under the desert sky.
NYE mood: “We want it all” a proper dinner and a party, with an elevator as your Uber.
Insider move: Secure your dinner reservation first, then lock in théa access so you’re not negotiating at the hostess stand in heels.
Prado at Omni Montelucia (Paradise Valley)
Five courses, live music, and a Champagne moment, your “new year, new chapter” set beneath Spanish arches.
Prado is all Spanish arches and candlelit courtyards, the kind of room that makes everything feel a bit like a dream sequence. On New Year’s Eve, a multi-course menu and live music layer over that architecture: flickering lanterns, clinking coupes, and a courtyard that feels a thousand miles from your weekday life.
NYE mood: Romantic, old-world, “we’re starting the year in a postcard.”
Insider move: Build in time to wander the property before or after, fountain courtyards, little corners, and those Montelucia views deserve a lap.
More Ways to Tell Your Midnight Story
These four give you four distinct endings, desert-rooftop, Euro-glam, Spanish-villa, and coastal-party. If you’re still sketching options, you can also:
Choose desert-luxe with a multi-course NYE dinner and champagne at Talavera & Onyx at Four Seasons Scottsdale.
Lean into golden-age glam at Arizona Biltmore’s Spire Bar, with fire pits, bubbles, and an elevator ride to bed.
Make it Old Town main character energy at The REMI, starting at Kauboi and ending at Allegra’s rooftop.
Crank the volume with Toca Madera Scottsdale and other buzzy spots for DJ-driven countdowns and coursed menus.
Or grab one of the other options available in the December at a Glance guide above.
Curating Your Perfect New Year’s Eve
As you sketch the last page of your year, ask yourself:
Do I want quiet luxury or loud celebration?
Do I want to dress up or lean into comfort?
Is this about just us, our people, or the whole crowd?
Then pick the table that matches that feeling:
PRIME if you want the desert stretched out beneath you.
Le Âme + théa if you want the full “eat + dance + elevator home” trilogy.
Prado if you want to step through a set of arches and into another life.
Cala if you want caviar and coastal energy wrapped around a party.
Because no matter where you land at midnight, the countdown will always taste better at a great table. (And don't forget, there is a bigger list here.
Build Your December Story
Here’s the secret: this isn’t a checklist. It’s a menu.
Try this:
Pick one lights night.
Choose one big wonderland—farm or resort.
Add one festive cocktail adventure.
Decide whether you’re booking a Holiday Table or outsourcing to-go.
Schedule one Flower Child reset.
Plan one gathering that fills your heart more than your calendar.
Lock in one New Year’s Eve ending that feels like you—not like an obligation.
Let the rest be unscripted: neighbor drop-ins, movie nights, impromptu cocoa runs, slow mornings with coffee under the tree or on the patio.
Eat well. Love deeply. Travel—across town, up north, or as far as your calendar allows. Play as often as you can. And happy holidays!
Comments