Entertainment Magazine: Tucson: Events

Tucson Holiday Events: Christmas & Hanukkah 2022

Despite the ongoing pandemic, some annual Christmas and Chanukah (Hannukah) celebrations in Tucson, Arizona are still being held, but modified this year, some with special COVID health restrictions.

Expect that any indoor or outdoor holiday events in Tucson may require face masks and social distancing. Call ahead of your visit for reservations and protocols.

Below are some of the popular holiday activities and upcoming family daily and weekend winter events in Tucson that are still being held throughout December both indoors, outdoors, or virtually. 

• Channukah First Night: Sunday, December 18, 2022
• Channukah Last Night: Monday, December 26, 2022
• Christmas Day: Saturday, December 25, 2022
• New Year's Eve: Saturday, December 31, 2022

Tucson Holiday Events

November

• Friday, November 25th, and Saturday, November 26th: Mescal Movie Set is hosting a 2-day event that combines shopping, great food, and Christmas cheer. All at the historical film set used in your favorite western movies, such as Tombstone and Outlaw Josey Wales. Conveniently shop over 40 local vendors, including local crafters, authors, artists, and more. The hours will be 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM on both days. Advance tickets or reservations are not needed. Entry is only $10 per car. 1538 N. Mescal Rd, Benson, AZ. www.MescalMovieSet.com

December 2022

• December 2-January 21, 2023: Mescal Movie Set Holiday Tours. Tours are available on Fridays and Saturdays on the following dates.
  December 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 30, 31 / January 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21. Tours promptly run on the hour, starting at 9:00 AM, with the last tour at 2:00 PM.  The walking tour is a quarter mile long and last about one hour.  The cost is only $15 per person, with children 10 and under free.  All proceeds are used to renovate the set to attract future film productions.
  
• December 2,3, 5– 23 Encore Nights: December 26 – 30 ZooLights: Holiday Magic, presented by Tucson Electric Power, returns with thousands of enchanting lights, mesmerizing light shows, and displays and holly jolly fun for all ages. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 Zoo Court. 5-9pm.
  
• December 1, 2022 A Carpenters Christmas, 7:30pm, Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress
  Box Office (520) 547-3040. Ticket Prices range from $25-$40. While The Carpenters are known for over a dozen chart topping hits, they also won over their fans with their Christmas celebrations. Singer and playwright Lisa Rock and her 6-piece backing band are keeping The Carpenters’ holiday traditions alive.
• December 3, 2022: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Holiday 2022, 7:30pm. Fox Tucson, Theatre, 17 W. Congress. Box Office (520) 547-3040. Ticket prices range from $32.50 - $67.50. For 29 years, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s unique take on American swing and jazz music has thrilled audiences around the world.
• December 3-4: Oro Valley Festival of the Arts & Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration. Town of Oro Valley as they partner to present the largest holiday community celebration of arts and culture in Southern Arizona on December 3rd and 4th, 2022, at the Oro Valley Marketplace.
  
• December 9, 2022: In The Christmas Mood, 7:30pm, Fox Tucson Theatre. Liven up your holidays with Tucson’s favorite holiday tradition: In the Christmas Mood: A Holiday Music Spectacular. The show features timeless treasures and new songs that’ll make your season merry and bright. Throughout the 60s and 70s, holiday television specials were the hallmark of the holidays, and most people have a story or two about gathering the family around the television to watch Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, The Osmonds, and others sing the songs of the season.
• Angel Ball, being held on December 10, 2022, from 5pm to 2am at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, Tucson AZ. We are looking for 100+ enthusiastic, high energy, dedicated volunteers to help make this year’s Ball a huge success. Please contact us at 520-326-3686 or [email protected]
• Wednesday, December 14: World Ballet Series: NUTCRACKER at Fox Theatre at 7:30pm. Step into the whimsical, magical world of one of the most beloved fairytales, coming to the Fox Tucson this Holiday Season!  A part of the World Ballet Series, the Nutcracker is performed live by a multinational cast of 50 professional ballet dancers gathered to bring the most beloved holiday tradition to life.
  
• December 16, 2022: Merry-Achi Christmas
  Mariachi Sol De México® de José Hernández ~ 7:30pm, Fox Tucson Theatre. Box Office (520) 547-3040. Ticket prices range from $27.50 - $52.50.  A beloved Tucson annual holiday tradition.
• December 17, 2022: Arizona Women’s Chorus Presents Holiday Concert Ringing in the Holiday Season. The Arizona Women’s Chorus and the Sonoran Hand Bells with present a holiday concert at 3 pm. at St. Francis in the Foothills, 4625 E. River Rd. Tickets are $20.for adults. Children age 12 and under are admitted free.

• December 18, 2022: All is Calm, The Christmas Truce of 1914. 7pm, Fox Tucson TheatreBox Office (520) 547-3040. Tickets range from $35-$62.50. The Western Front, Christmas, 1914. Out of the violence a silence, then a song. A German soldier steps into No Man’s Land singing “Stille Nacht.” Thus begins an extraordinary night of camaraderie, music, peace. A remarkable true story, told in the words and songs of the men who lived it.

Through January, 2023

• Tucson Holiday Ice Rink, hosted by the City of Tucson, returns this year! The rink is located on Church Avenue, south of Broadway, in front of the Tucson Convention Center. Open through January 9 from 2-9:30pm weekdays; noon-9:30pm on weekends. The ice rink is closed on Christmas Day. To accommodate the outdoor ice rink, Church Avenue between Broadway and Cushing Street is restricted to one lane of travel in each direction until Sunday, January 16, 2022. This travel restriction are in place 24-hours a day, seven days a week for the duration of the event. Until Tuesday, January 11, 2022, Church Avenue between Jackson Street and Cushing Street is closed to all travel from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for loading and unloading of the chiller. More information call 520-791-4204 or visit Tucson Holiday Ice and book your reservation online.

Through December 26, 2022

• Winterhaven Festival of Lights returns with in-person viewing from 6-10pm every night. Admission is free. Winterhaven is bounded by Ft. Lowell Road, Prince Road, Tucson Blvd., and Country Club.
  

Marana/Oro Valley Holiday Events

Saturday & Sunday, December 4-5, 2021

• Marana Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony is the biggest Christmas tree and light show in Southern Arizona. Start the holidays with a drive through the Town of Marana's incredible Christmas Cruise & Tree Light Show from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The synchronized tree show will light up your mood to explore, dine, and play golf. Free event.
  

• Oro Valley Festival of the Arts & Holiday Tree Lighting at Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N Oracle Road. The Oro Valley Festival of the Arts and Holiday Tree Lighting is a two-day Festival that adds vibrancy to Oro Valley by creating opportunities for people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds to celebrate the arts alongside a meaningful celebration to welcome the Holidays. The mission of the Festival of the Arts is to connect art and the community by presenting an annual arts festival and by promoting the arts in the Southern Arizona community. In 2021, the event will feature a reduced capacity of artists, featuring space for up to 120 exhibitors, artists, and food vendors. The event will maintain vibrancy by featuring student performances, Tuba Christmas performances, free children's activities, and a modified community gathering around the Holiday tree for a unique tree lighting experience. Free to attend, food available for purchase. Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Road. Art Festival Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. Tree lighting festivities start Saturday, 2pm-6:30pm. Lighting of the Oro Valley Holiday Tree at approximately 6pm.
  

Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus Events & Tree Lot

• The Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus Tree Lot Beautiful fresh cut trees at competitive prices. Douglas Fir, Noble Fir and Nordman Fir. Deliveries available. Fresh wreaths and garland.

• December 18: TUCSON ARIZONA BOYS CHORUS HOLIDAY CONCERT Outdoor socially distanced performance at the UA Crowder Hall. All tickets by advanced reservation only.
  

New Year's Eve 2022-2023

• New Year's Eve Events in Tucson

Tucson Hanukkah Events in 2022

• Jewish Community Center (JCC) Upcoming Tucson Hanukkah events will be posted soon.

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