- This event has passed.
Tucson Christmas and Hanukkah Events 2023
November 30, 2023 - December 31, 2023
Many annual Christmas and Hannukah celebrations in Tucson will be held again this winter.
This year, Hanukkah (also spelled as Hannukah or Chanukah) falls on the night of Thursday, December 7 through Friday, December 15, 2023.
Dates and times for some of these Tucson holiday events have not been finalized yet. Since they are annual events, follow the links for updated information. More events will be posted as they are announced.
Expect that any indoor or outdoor holiday events in Tucson will require face masks and social distancing.
These are some of the popular holiday activites and upcoming family daily and weekend winter events in Tucson. Submit your free Tucson holiday event to events@emol.org.
Today in Tucson Calendar
2023 Holiday Events in Tucson
Through January 7: Tucson Holiday Ice Skating Rink outside of the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church. Skate sessions run 90 minutes. Prices are $22 for adults, $15 for children under 12 years old. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Skates, ranging from size 8 for kids to 15 for men, included in admission. Socks are required and gloves are recommended.
Through January 7: LightsUp! A Festival of Illumination stroll through Tucson Botanical Gardens with one million twinkling lights and dancing sculpture. 6 nights a week, Tuesday-Sunday, November 24-January 7, 6-9:30om. Cost: $20-50 for adults; $18-$5 for kids depending on the day.
December 1-16: Holiday Nights at Tohono Chul Park with music, home-baked cookies, shopping, holiday dining, stroll through thousands of twinkling lights throughout the Park, live music. Dec. 2, 8-9 and 15-16 from 5:30-8:30pm. Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N. Paseo Del Norte, 520-742-6455.There is an admission fee.
December 1: Loom Holiday Art Market & Silent Auction featuring heritage-based artwork in an open-air winter market featuring artwork by Indigenous, African American and Mexican American heritage-based artists from Loom.Market. Hosted by Southwest Folklife Alliance. The event features live music, artist sales throughout the day and a silent auction at dusk. Light refreshments and hot chocolate will also be available. Purchases and proceeds from the auction directly support heritage-based artists in building their businesses, and their access to professional development opportunities. 11am – 7pm at Pima County Historic Courthouse, in the Courtyard, 115 N Church Ave., Tucson, AZ. This event is free and open to the public. Metered street parking and paid parking is available.
December 2-3: Oro Valley Festival of the Arts & Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration showcases over 100 Southern Arizona artists during a two-day festival from December 2 (10am-6pm) and December 3 (10am-4pm). The 13th Annual Oro Valley Festival of the Arts & Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration is the region’s largest shopping event, kicking off the Holidays in the Oro Valley, AZ community. This highly attended annual juried marketplace features one-of-a-kind seasonal items, high-quality handcrafted goods and holiday gifts, specialty foods, and the most beloved Holiday entertainment event of the year. The tree lighting ceremony is December 2 at 6pm. Held at Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Rd. Free to attend.
December 2: Marana Holiday Festival and Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony is the biggest Christmas tree and light show in Southern Arizona. 30 food vendors, Santa photos, kid-friendly activities like crafts, inflatables and train rides. Held Dec. 2 from 3-10pm at Marana Municipal Complex, 11555 W. Civic Circle Drive. Free event. 40-foot Christmas tree lighting at 6pm.
December 2: 18th Tucson Tamal & Heritage Festival celebrating all things tamales. The Festival features Tamale contest, Live local entertainment, Food vendors, Food trucks, Artisan vendors, Farmers Market vendors. Casino del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road. 10am-5pm. Free event.
December 8-10: Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair is held the first weekend of December all along 4th Avenue near Downtown between Ninth St. and University Blvd. Join tens of thousands of Tucsonans and visitors to see more than 350 arts & craft booths, food, entertainers & musicians from around the US, 2 stages & street performers. Free from 10 am – 6 pm. Free event. Friday & Saturday, Dec. 8-9, 10am-5pm; Sunday, Dec. 10, 10am-4pm.
December 9-25: Winterhaven Festival of Lights is one of the longest running festivals of its kind in the country. The Festival of Lights celebrates its 70th holiday season in Tucson and is visited by hundreds of thousands of people from all over southern Arizona. Free event. Walk-through on Dec. 9-25 from 6-10pm. Winterhaven neighborhood is located north of Ft. Lowell Road and south of Prince Road, west of Country Club Road and east of Tucson Blvd. Free,
December 16: Downtown Parade of Lights celebrates it 29th year. Parade goes through Armory Park this year. Last year, more than 30 floats and 1,000 people participated. Starts at 4pm with food trucks, vendors and music. Festival begins at 6:30pm.
December 16: The Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus annual Holiday Concert on Saturday, December 16 at 3:00pm and 7:30pm at the UA School of Music Crowder Hall. Under the direction of Julian Ackerley, assisted by Jordan M. Shomper, and accompanied by a small orchestral ensemble, the choristers will perform music of the season including Christmas carols, sacred songs, and Hanukkah selections.
The Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus Tree Lot “Home for the Holidays!” The lot will be located on the grounds of the Boys Chorus building at 5770 E. Pima Street between Craycroft and Wilmot. The tree lot is staffed by Chorus members and their parents and has been a traditional holiday fundraiser for the non-profit group.
The Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus Tree Lot will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November 24 through December 24. Hours of operation are Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 9pm and Sundays 10am to 7pm. The lot features fresh cut trees at competitive prices. Trees available include Douglas Fir, Noble Fir, Grand Fir and Nordmann Fir. Deliveries are available. The Chorus also sells fresh wreaths and garland.
Reid Park Zoo Lights may be open with Santa, entertainment, hot chocolate, food and snow. 6pm-8pm. Check web site for updates. Reid Park Zoo, 3400 E. Zoo Court. reidparkzoo.org/event/zoo-lights-2019
Monday, December 25, 2023: Christmas Day in Tucson.
Tucson Hanukkah Events in 2023
- Jewish Community Center (JCC) Upcoming Tucson Hanukkah events will be posted soon.