The greatest thing about living in the Phoenix Valley is the fact there are so many different things to do. Not just for families and couples, but friends who enjoy local music scenes and handcrafted cocktails. I’ve personally curated a list of ten things to do over the next 10 or 12 days that will give you joyful smiles with kids, fill our ears with the sounds of kick ass up and coming Phoenix bands, and an end to your two week jaunt with some revitalizing yoga. Take a look through the top ten things to do in the Valley in the next ten days.
- Free Breakfast With Santa (Photos too)
Two of my favorite words; Free and breakfast. With photos being taken by Arizona photographer Cathie Cenatiempo you can rest assured that photos will turn out great! The only downside to the photos is you must pick them up the following week. The upside in all of this is a safe environment from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm for your kids to meet Santa (free of charge), have their photo taken, and grub on some bagels, eggs, pancakes, hot coco, and more! RSVP on the Facebook event for Saturday, December 10! Need quick directions? Here’s the address for the event: 2353 E Baseline Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85234
2. Riparian Park Holiday Light Walk
Choose from any of the four convenient dates this After Dark event takes place and round up your kids for a nature walk filled with fun holiday lights and some time outside. This event is free but ends at that. Stock up on warm drinks and cuddly blankets for this event and take the little kids in a stroller compatible with rough terrain (just in case).
3. 2016 Tamale Festival and Dinner
Tamales are God’s gift to the southwest. Get your tickets here for the festival, but keep in mind the tamale dinner is completely sold out, and a little out of our pocket range! At $150 per head, I’d stick to the festival and keep it chill. While you can grab tickets the festival is free with a suggested canned food donation. The Tamale Dinner is a Friendly House signature event that has been held for 81 consecutive years, making it the longest, continuous fundraiser in our state. Go Tamales!
4. South Mountain Breakfast With Santa
Taking place partially at South Mountain Farm, enjoy photos and activities at The Farm after you’ve enjoyed your breakfast at Morning Glory Cafe. This Santa breakfast is tricky as you absolutely must for to Morning Glory Cafe and eat breakfast there in order to receive your ticket for entrance to The Farm at South Mountain. Despite this Santa event requiring a purchase of some kind, The Farm at South Mountain is beautiful, and has a longer open period from 10 am to 1 pm Saturday, December 10th.
5. Litchfield Park Christmas Light Walk
Since 1987, Santa and friends have stopped in Litchfield Park for the city’s hometown holiday event: Christmas in the Park. Held in the City’s historic downtown district, you and your family can enjoy a fun-filled day of activities and entertainment. The event opens at 9am Arts and craft vendors will be selling unique items throughout the day. The Christmas parade begins at 10am and concludes with the arrival of Santa. From 11am until 3:30pm, event goers will enjoy Elf’s Alley, entertainment, pictures with Santa, a nostalgic reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and snow!
6. Ugly Sweater Bar Crawl
Get your drink on with this 21 and up holiday event hosted in the city of Tempe. Going down at Handle Bar you can purchase tickets for $20 here and enjoy these benefits:
A unique ugly sweater bar crawl koozie, bar crawl wristband that gets you amazing drink specials and no cover at some of best bars in Tempe and a detailed map of every bar and specials on the crawl so you can join the hundreds of ugly sweater crawlers. Feeling Elfish? Bring an unwrapped Toy to the registration bar and get your holly jolly on.
7. Explore Arizona Holiday Tour
What they don’t tell you about this holiday lights tour is that you can actually DIY! Avoid the hassle of joining hundreds of others on a crowded bus (which is already sold out) and take to your own car ANY night of the week or weekend. You can head here to download the map and learn a little more about where you’ll be going. Choose from Paradise Valley or Mesa as your Christmas lights destination and pack some hot chocolate for the ride. Totalling in 2 hours of tour time, this will be an all evening event for families with young children.
8. El West EP Release Show At The Rebel Lounge
This one is for the Alt Rock lover and youth at heart. Hit up The Rebel Lounge on December 15th for The Valley’s best Alt Rock bands this year. The Sink or Swim, The Real Fits, and Sydney Sprauge join El West in their EP Release album of the year with their debut Self-titled EP on December 15th. Purchase tickets online here and take that cute friend of yours who’s back in town from school for the break. Full of big sound, high energy, and mesmerizing vocals, El West is sure to win your heart and their place on your Spotify playlist (Olivine sure as hell is on mine). Listen to El West Music on SoundCloud and get excited for the show next week.
9. Cocktails and Cookies at House of Tricks
Join the House of Tricks and Ryan Shepherd of Action Wine and Spirits to ring in the spirit of the holidays with seasonally inspired cocktails and cookies. Enjoy three fall/winter inspired cocktails created by their mixology team using the handcrafted, small batch spirits of Action Wine & Spirits paired with cookies created by our own Chef Andrea Bales. Come and enjoy this festive experience and take with you the cocktail and cookie recipes to inspire your own holiday celebrations and parties. The event in total costs $33 so make sure to grab a date and head to this enchanting local favorite, purchase your tickets on eventbrite here.
10. Restorative Yoga Event (With Heat & Aromatherapy!)
After all your insane holiday partying you’ll need to take a load off and relax. Relish in two hours of heavenly relaxation with gentle a restorative yoga sequence in a candle lit room. Heated rice bags to soothe sore muslces will be placed on key areas of the body while in restorative yoga postures. Aroma therapy will be used to calm the mind by diffusing lavender oil in the room. Essential wintergreen oils are used relieve muscle pain/tension in the body. This truly is the ultimate restorative yoga class, treat yourself and join us this holiday season! Replenish and revitalize on December 17th, just in time to end your holiday shenanigans and kick it in high gear getting ready for the big day. Tickets are $25 for one person, and $40 for two. Purchase them here.
Did I miss an event that should be on the list? Comment below with your favorite Phoenix Holiday tradition.
