Winterhaven Festival of Lights 2025

Winterhaven Festival of Lights Unveils 2025 Enhancements, New Vendor Opportunities, and Expanded Community Partnerships

Beloved Tucson tradition focuses on safety, accessibility, and community experience—while creating new ways to participate.

TUCSON, AZ — The Winterhaven Festival of Lights, a Southern Arizona holiday tradition for more than 70 years, returns December 13–27, 2025 with improvements designed to make the experience safer, more accessible, and more joyful than ever. Drawing over 200,000 visitors annually, the free, nonprofit-led festival will once again light up the historic Winterhaven neighborhood—with expanded infrastructure, innovative programming, and fresh opportunities to engage with the magic.

A Festival with Purpose

At its heart, the Winterhaven Festival of Lights remains committed to fighting hunger in Southern Arizona. Since its founding, the festival has collected hundreds of thousands of pounds of food and raised critical funds for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona (CFB). Guests are encouraged to bring food or make a monetary donation at festival entrances or via the website.

“We’re delighted to once again sponsor this cherished, family-friendly holiday tradition that brings our community together,” said Susan Gray, TEP President and Chief Executive Officer. “We’re grateful to work with our neighbors in Winterhaven who are so committed to bringing holiday magic to others.”

Highlights of What’s New in 2025

Walking-First Focus – To reduce congestion and improve safety, traditional trolleys and wagons will operate only on select low-traffic nights (Dec. 15–19, 24, 25 & 26), creating calmer walking nights during peak weekends.
Assisted Living Drive-Through Nights – On Dec. 15 and 17, assisted living community buses can apply for free, early-access drive-through times with a designated staging area from 5:30–6:30 PM.

Expanded Restrooms & Lighting – More accessible portable restrooms, improved walkway lighting, QR codes to guide attendees through the festival, enhanced directional signage, and increased trash and recycling bins along the route.

Central Information Tent – A staffed hub for lost-and-found, first aid, and official Winterhaven information.

Streamlined Parking & Shuttle Services – Official parking-lot partnerships with businesses, churches, and organizations to improve safety and reduce neighborhood impact—interactive maps and shuttle info will be available online.

Enhanced Security – Two roaming security guards nightly, increased entrance control, and expanded training for volunteer and staff teams.
New Food & Experience Vendors – Up to three new, strategically placed food vendors.

Suggested-Donation Entry – Winterhaven is moving to a suggested donation format. Entry is not required to be paid, but if you can contribute, your donation supports festival infrastructure and helps feed Southern Arizonans.

Going Cashless – To make giving simpler, safer, and more efficient, Winterhaven will deploy QR codes and a robust online giving campaign across Winterhaven social channels.

Fundraising Goal – Winterhaven aims to raise over $60,000 in cash for CFB in 2025—enough to help feed thousands of neighbors through a season of high need.

Winterhaven Steps Up in a Season of Need

Winterhaven has always been Tucson’s gift to itself—thousands of glowing lights, hundreds of decorated homes, families bundled in the desert “winter,” all coming together for joy. This year, more than ever, Winterhaven is stepping up as a force for good.

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is heading into one of its most demanding seasons in recent memory. Inflation, rising food and transportation costs, and a growing number of households facing food insecurity have stretched capacity.

“Right now, one in seven Arizonans, and one in five children, are facing hunger. Last year alone, CFB provided emergency food to more than 170,000 neighbors across five Southern Arizona counties, reaching many of our community’s most vulnerable.”

Those aren’t just numbers—they represent families, seniors, and children whose plates need filling and whose hope depends on community generosity.
Winterhaven aims to be part of the solution this year.

Community & Sponsorship: Join the Big Light Show of Generosity

Winterhaven is powered by people. Neighbors collectively provide thousands of hours to prepare and present this gift to the community. As popularity grows, so do the needs—infrastructure, safety, maintenance, and volunteer coordination. To keep Winterhaven sustainable, we’re calling on the community:

Ways to help

Become a Friend of the Festival.

Local businesses: sponsor a street or decorate a house—and align your brand with Tucson’s most beloved holiday tradition.

Donate at the entrance, via QR code, or online—every dollar counts.

A full sponsorship packet with levels and benefits is available online.

New Policies & Practical Updates for a Better Experience

We want everyone to enjoy Winterhaven safely, kindly, and sustainably. To that end:

Dedicated parking lots will be available to ease congestion.

Parking restrictions in nearby residential streets will be enforced to protect neighbors and ensure emergency access.

A no-solicitation policy at festival entrances will be enforced to keep the focus on community, lights, and giving.

Why It Matters

A winter walk. A flicker of lights. A familiar carol. When we choose to give, Winterhaven becomes more than a festival—it becomes a lifeline. If Winterhaven hits its $60,000 goal, that means real food on real tables in our community—school-night dinners for kids, nourishment for seniors, and relief for families one setback away from crisis.

138 homes, 1,000+ hours, thousands of lights, tens of thousands of hearts—this season, we’re turning tradition into impact.

Opportunities to Participate

he 2025 festival invites community members, artists, makers, and businesses to apply for the following:

1. Food Vendor Program – High-volume spots at four main entrances, with the potential to reach thousands nightly. Tiered pricing based on setup size. [Details & Apply Online]
2. Trolley, Bus & Wagon Service Partners – Operate on select nights; Winterhaven will promote booking links and provide route coordination and security support. [Details & Apply Online]
3. Official Parking Lot & Shuttle Partners – Local businesses and organizations can apply to be featured on the official parking map with signage, safety guidelines, and promotion as Festival Parking Partners. [Details & Apply Online]
4. Become a Sponsor or “Friend of the Festival” – https://winterhavenfestival.org/sponsor.html

Become a Sponsor or “Friend of the Festival” – https://winterhavenfestival.org/sponsor.html

“This is a pivotal year for Winterhaven,” said Kate Marquez, Festival Chair. “Our changes are rooted in what the community asked for—more amenities, better lighting, safer walkways, less congestion, and exciting new ways to experience the festival—all while keeping the focus on giving back to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and building a sustainable festival that honors the tradition that started over seven decades ago.”

Festival Dates & Details

When: December 13–27, 2025 | Nightly, 6:00–10:00 PM

Where: Historic Winterhaven Neighborhood, Tucson, AZ

Admission: Free | Suggested donation to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and Festival of Lights infrastructure

Website: www.winterhavenfestival.org