Tucson’s favorite annual holiday tradition, the Winterhaven Festival of Lights, returns for its 74th year this weekend.
The festival kicks off at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 in the Winterhaven neighborhood near East Fort Lowell and North Country Club roads. The festival runs from 6 to 10 p.m. every day through Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
The annual light festival is free to walk through, but visitors are encouraged to bring canned goods to donate to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. There will be donation boxes near each of the neighborhood’s four entrances, according to the festival’s website.
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“In 2022, the Tucson community donated $57,336 and 42,016 pounds of food to the Food Bank during the Festival of Lights,” according to the festival’s website.
The holiday lights come up as the sun goes down on a display at the corner of Kleindale Road and Treat Avenue on the opening night of the 73rd annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights, Tucson, Ariz., December 10, 2022.
A new element at the festival this year is Silent Adventures — a silent-disco-meets-flash-mob tour where attendees can “sing and dance to a festive playlist through the streets of Winterhaven in a 40-minute tour led by talented guides,” according to their website.
But what about the hayrides, trolley tours and party bikes? Don’t fret — those are still transportation options available for an additional cost. However, unlike previous years, there will not be a drive-thru night at this year’s festival.
Hayride prices range from $13 to $21 per person, depending on the day and time. Discounts are also available (most nights) for those who donate food to the food bank, according to Winterhaven Rides’ website.
Trolley tour tickets range from $16 to $20 per person ages 13 and older and $12 to $15 for children ages 5 to 12, according to the Winterhaven Trolley Tours’ Facebook page. Ticket prices vary depending on the week, with higher ticket prices implemented after Dec. 15.
A ride on one of the Arizona Party Bikes will cost you $22 per seat or if you want to rent out the whole bike for you and 13 other friends or family members, it will cost $330, according to Arizona Party Bike’s website.
Reservations are encouraged for hayrides, trolley tours and party bikes.
You can also find vendors at this year's festival, including Star Kettlecorn, Trucking Good Cupcakes and You Sly Dog.
For a list of frequently asked questions regarding this year’s event or a map of the Winterhaven neighborhood, check out the Winterhaven Festival of Lights’ website.
Tucsonans have been checking out the lights of Winterhaven for many years now. The festival runs from 6-10 p.m. daily, Dec. 9-25. There are no drive-thru nights this year.
Elvia Verdugo
Community Sports Editor
