Save the date! Here's the ultimate list of Tucson holiday events 🎄

Come Friday morning, when you turn on the radio or scroll through your Spotify/Apple Music playlists, Christmas tunes are going to drown out Bad Bunny.

And while you pretend to "bah, humbug!" the whole notion of holiday spirit, those songs are going to seep into your subconscious, and before you know it, you're hooked.

Seriously. Happens every year as the clock ticks down to Christmas. "Feliz navidad" becomes the gateway drug to binge-watching "Lifetime" holiday movies.

But there are some of us who need more than "Deck the Halls" coming out of the car stereo.

We got you.

Tucson stages are about to burst at the seams with holiday performances.  

Dancing in the holidays

Nothing says Christmas quite like Tchaikovsky's quintessential "The Nutcracker," the two-act ballet that finds young Clara transported to a magical world where the nutcracker doll she received on Christmas Eve comes to life to fight the Mouse King.

"Nutcracker" has been a universal holiday staple since shortly after the Russian composer staged the first performance in 1892. The ballet is based on Alexander Dumas' 1844 adaptation of German author and composer E.T.A. Hoffman's fairy tale "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," written in 1816.

Ballet Tucson once again teams up with Tucson Symphony Orchestra to stage the work at Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave., Dec. 19-21. This is the fourth collaboration with the ballet and orchestra.  Tickets are at ballettucson.org.

• The Los Angeles-based World Ballet Company brings its Broadway-meets-ballet version of "Nutcracker" to Fox Tucson Theatre, 17 W. Congress St., for two performances Dec. 14. Tickets at foxtucson.com.
• University of Arizona dance will perform Duke Ellington’s big band version of "The Nutcracker" with the TSO Dec. 13-14 as part of "Holidays in Tucson" with Orkesta Mendoza and UA Dance at Linda Ronstadt Music Hall. TSO Music Director Jose Luis Gomez will conduct the performance, which will mix a little classical with some desert rock for an event the orchestra says "only the Old Pueblo can do." Get tickets at tucsonsymphony.org.

Strike up the band

If your idea of creating a holiday mood includes a 70-piece orchestra, head over to Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive, to see guest conductor Nicholas McGegan lead the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and chorus, with a quartet of vocal soloists, in Handel's monumental "Messiah" on Dec. 20-21.

The orchestra is performing the work in its entirety, including that wonderful "Hallelujah Chorus."

Soprano Nola Richardson, contralto Sara Couden, tenor Thomas Cooley and bass-baritone Paul Max Tipton will join the TSO Chorus, directed by Marcela Molina, for 2 p.m. performances each day. For tickets, visit tucsonsymphony.org.

Let them sing on high

Tucson is blessed with some fine choral ensembles, including the two-time Grammy-nominated True Concord Voices & Orchestra, and choirs just love singing those holiday chestnuts.

Arizona Repertory Singers, under the baton of Music Director Ryan Phillips, kicks off the season with the first of three performances of its annual holiday concert on Dec. 7. "Peace and Joy" features 16 choral works from contemplative to exuberant, with traditional carols, well-known holiday standards and contemporary compositions including an updated rendition of “Angels We Have Heard on High” arranged by American composer Dan Forrest.

Performances will be at 4 p.m. Dec. 7
at St. Mark Catholic Church, 2727 W. Tangerine Road, Oro Valley; and 3 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14 at Christ Church United Methodist, 666 N. Craycroft Road. For tickets, visit arsingers.org.

• True Concord, with Eric Holtan at the podium, performs its moving annual "Lessons & Carols by Candlelight: An American Christmas" Dec. 11-14. The choir will be accompanied by a harp, guitar and organ. Performances are at 7 p.m. Dec. 11 and 13 at St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave.; at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Green Valley's St. Francis in the Valley Episcopal Church, 600 S. La Cañada Drive; 3 p.m. Dec. 14 at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 2450 E. Fort Lowell Road; and 7 p.m. Dec. 14 at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 3738 N. Old Sabino Canyon Road. For tickets, visit trueconcord.org.
• Helios Ensemble is tackling Poulenc's "Four Christmas" motets in its "A Poulenc and Esmail Christmas" Dec. 21. The concert, at Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams St., also features Eric Whitacre's "Lux Aurumque" and a chance for the audience to sing along to classic Christmas carols. For tickets, visit heliosensemble.org.

• Patronato’s annual "Christmas at San Xavier" concert is a holiday rite of passage in Southern Arizona and one of the most in-demand holiday events of the season. There's a reason: Sitting in the historic San Xavier Mission chapel, you are surrounded by 333 years of history spanning the Native Americans who settled the land and the Spanish missionaries who tried to tame it. The 29th annual concert includes vocalists from the Tucson Girls Chorus, the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus and Tucson Arizona Young Men's Ensemble. True Concord Voices & Orchestra joins in for the signature concert at 7:45 p.m. on Dec. 10, which is sold out. Performances are at 6 and 7:45 p.m. Dec. 9 and 6 and 7:45 p.m. Dec. 10 at the Mission, 1950 W. San Xavier Road off Interstate 19. Get tickets at patronatosanxavier.org.

Hollywood's holidays

There's nothing like seeing those great Christmas flicks on a big screen. Then you add in the historic setting of Fox Tucson Theatre, a bag of popcorn and a box of Dots, and you've got an afternoon/evening of pure holiday nirvana. 

The Fox, 17 W. Congress St., is screening several holiday classics kicking off with Will Ferrell's hilarious "Elf" at 3 and 7 p.m. Dec. 6. "A Christmas Story" ("You'll shoot your eye out!") has one screening, at 7 p.m. Dec. 11. And, of course, the ultimate and enduring Christmas movie "It's A Wonderful Life," Jimmy Stewart's 1946 reminder that even on a bad day, life is actually pretty terrific. They're showing that twice on Dec. 18. For tickets, visit foxtucson.com.

The Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway, is hosting "The Very Merry Holiday Sing-Along Spectacular" on Dec. 11. It's a chance to sing along to "subtitled Santa-licious musical moments" from seasonal TV shows, movies and music videos. Among the artists represented: Michael Bublé, Nat King Cole, ‘N SYNC, Dolly Parton, Elvis, The Grinch, Sonny & Cher, Mariah Carey, The Muppets, Pee-Wee Herman and Charo. And don't forget to dress in your most over-the-top Christmas fit. We're talking ugly holiday sweater on steroids. For tickets, visit loftcinema.org.

• The Loft is also hosting "The Nightmare Before Christmas" movie party featuring Tim Burton's holiday classic on Dec. 14. Tickets at loftcinema.org.

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Pop go the holidays

Fox Tucson Theatre

17 W. Congress St.; tickets at foxtucson.com

• Country singer Suzy Bogguss kicks off the season with "A Singin' Little Christmas" on Dec. 4.
• Jake Shimabukuro brings his "Holidays in Hawaii" show back on Dec. 5.
• "The Letterman Christmas" with the 1950s-60s trio is here Dec. 12.
• The power funk band Tower of Power plays "Holidays & Hits" on Dec. 13.
• Jazz man Dave Koz hosts his 26th annual "Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour" Dec. 16, with friends Jonathan Butler, Casey Abrams, Haley Reinhart and Kayla Waters.
• Mariachi Sol De México presents “José Hernández’ Merry-Achi Christmas” on Dec. 20.
• Squirrel Nut Zippers' "Holiday Caravan Tour 2025" pulls into Tucson Dec. 21.
• Country singer Leann Rimes sings her "Greatest Hits Christmas" on Dec. 22.

Century Room

311 E. Congress St. in Hotel Congress, hotelcongress.com

• Feliz Navidad with Felíz Torralba!, Dec. 11.
• Liz Cracchiolo sings “Ella Wishes You a Swingin’ Christmas,” Dec. 12.
• The Century Jazz Orchestra plays Ellington's "Nutcracker Suite," Dec. 15 and 22.
• "A Charlie Brown Christmas: Vint, Versace & Black," featuring Join Arthur Vint, Angelo Versace and Scott Black, Dec. 18-21.
• " Twas The Jam Before Christmas," with Max Goldschmid and the Jazz Jam Before Christmas House Band, Dec. 24.

Rialto Theatre/191 Toole

318 E. Congress St., 191 E. Toole Ave.,  rialtotheatre.com. All shows at Rialto unless noted.

• Scott Bradlee's "Postmodern Jukebox: Magic, Moonlight and Mistletoe," Dec. 9.
• The Mark Wood Trans-Siberian Symphony Experience, Dec. 17.
• "Christmas Carnage," Dec. 18, 191 Toole.
• Festivus, Dec. 19.
• The Pangs 69th annual "XXXmas Spectacular," Dec. 20, 191 Toole.

It's a Tucson thing

There are a number of don't-miss Tucson holiday events that have come to define the season, starting with the Downtown Parade of Lights and Festival, presented by Rio Nuevo.

The parade starts at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at East 17th Street and North Stone Avenue before it heads north on Stone and east on West Ochoa Street to East 12th Street and turns south on South Sixth Avenue to Armory Park, 220 S. Sixth. That's where the festival takes place. Details at downtownparadeoflights.com.

Here are a few other events to get you in the yuletide spirit:

• "LightsUp! A Festival of Illumination" is billed as "trees dance under a million lights, tin stars twinkle, luminarias glow." It's at the Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way, Nov. 28 through Jan. 11. Ticket prices range from $17 to $45; children younger than 4 get in free. See TucsonBotanical.org.
• Old Tucson’s annual “Yuletide” holiday experience highlights "the unique Wild West history of Old Tucson," with live shows, interactive experiences and period costumes, during select dates from Nov. 26 to Dec. 31. Visit oldtucson.com for details.
• Ring in the holiday season at Trail Dust Town, Fridays from Nov. 28-Dec. 26 from 4-8 p.m. Daily fake snowfall, hot cocoa and holiday treats, $8 discounted wristbands good for unlimited amusement rides, Christmas stunt shows, the Christmas Express train ride, festive music and more. See traildusttown.com for details.
• Desert Diamond Casino, 1100 W. Pima Mine Road, hosts its seventh annual Holiday Celebration on Nov. 29, with family activities and tree lighting; see ddcaz.com. 
• The sixth annual Tucson Holiday Ice Rink will be open from Nov. 29 through Jan. 4 at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. Info at tucsonaz.gov.
• For 41 years, Tucsonans have gathered downtown to light the city's tallest menorah, a 13-foot gold-colored, nine-branched steel candelabra that weighs 500 pounds. The 42nd annual lighting takes place at 5 p.m. Dec. 14 at El Presidio Plaza, 160 W. Alameda St. The ceremony dates back to 1983 when Rabbi Yossie Shemtov of Chabad Tucson commissioned the event to mark the beginning of the eight-day holiday, which begins this year at sundown Dec. 14.
• It's going to start snowing in the courtyard of La Encantada, at 6 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays from Nov. 28-Dec. 20, for the mall's annual Enchanted Snowfall. Sip complimentary hot chocolate and watch the snowfall at 6 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays from Nov. 28-Dec. 20, followed by What the Dickens singing holiday carols from 6:15-6:45 p.m. Admission is free; laencantadashoppingcenter.com.
• Celebrate the season with the residents of Reid Park Zoo for the zoo's annual ZooLights. It opens Dec. 4 and runs through Jan. 4. Visit reidparkzoo.org/zoolights-2025-tickets for dates.
• Each weekend in December leading up to Christmas, you can celebrate at Tohono Chul’s Holiday Nights. Wander illuminated pathways through the grounds, enjoy live performances, and browse a curated selection of gifts at the Merry Market. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5 and 6; Friday-Saturday Dec. 12-14; and Friday-Saturday Dec. 19-21. Visit tohonochul.org for details.
• Join Pima Air and Space Museum Dec. 13 from 5-8 p.m. for a Christmas Balloon Glow. Watch hot air balloons take to the sky, meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, decorate holiday cookies, and experience stunning feats of traveling circus performers. Visit pimaair.org/christmasballoonglow for details. 
• For two weeks in December, Tucson's Winterhaven neighborhood lights up with elaborate holiday lights and decorations. It's been doing it since 1949, which, when you do the math, is going on 76 years. That's a lot of lights. It's open 6-10 p.m. nightly Dec. 13-27. Visit winterhavenfestival.org for details. 

It's a suburban thing, too 

• Marana's holiday festival and Christmas tree lighting will be held Dec. 6 from 2-9 p.m. Snap a photo with Santa, dine with local food vendors, watch live performances, shop from artisans, and enjoy lots of kid-friendly activities, not to mention a 45-foot-tall Christmas tree and holiday light tunnel. Visit discovermarana.org for details.
• The 13th Annual Oro Valley Festival of the Arts & Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration is the largest shopping event kicking off the holidays in Oro Valley. You’ll find one-of-a-kind seasonal items, high-quality handcrafted goods and holiday gifts from more than 150 artisans, as well as holiday-themed performances on the event mainstage, family art activities, food trucks and more. 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. Visit orovalleyaz.gov for details.
• A snowy event is taking over Oro Valley Dec. 18 from 5-8 p.m. SnO-V will feature snow, visits with Santa, games, crafts, food and drinks. Visit orovalleyaz.gov for details.
• Shop from a vendor market, watch a light parade and a tree-lighting ceremony, order a bite to eat from food trucks and more at Winterfest in Sahuarita. Festivities run from 3-8 p.m. Dec. 13. Visit sahuaritaparksandrec.org for details.
• Up for a longer road trip? The historic arts and shopping enclave of Tubac, 48 miles south of Tucson, glows for Luminaria Nights Dec. 5-6, 5 to 9 p.m. See tubacaz.com/event-details/luminaria-nights.

Bring on the deliciousness

There’s nothing that compares to the flavors of the holidays. Red chile tamales, perfectly spiced gingerbread people and festive mugs of creamy hot chocolate are just a few of the tasty meals served up this time of year. Just imagining a big bowl of pozole is enough to make you start drooling.

With a food scene as vibrant as Tucson’s, of course, there’s some fun, Christmas-themed events that center around all the beloved holiday flavors.

On Dec. 6, Casino Del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road, will throw its 20th Annual Tamal & Heritage Festival, starting at 10 a.m.. This free event celebrates the rich tastes and variations of tamales and includes activities, including a tamale contest, live entertainment, food trucks, local vendors and more. See casinodelsol.com.

It’s the perfect excuse to try all kinds of tamales. That way, you pick the best ones to bring to your Christmas dinner.

Here are a few other foodie holiday events going on this season:

• Loews Ventana Canyon, 7000 N. Resort Dr., will host a Holiday Tea on Dec. 12-13 and 19-20. It features a three-course tea menu, a live music performance, holiday pastries, tea sandwiches and scones with Devonshire cream. Tickets are $70 for adults $32 for children under age 12.
• Omni Tucson National Resort & Spa, 2727 W. Club Dr., will hold a Holiday High Tea on Dec. 14 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. For $65, you’ll sip on elegant afternoon tea in a festive setting while chowing down on finger sandwiches and various desserts.
• Each month, the Forty Niner Country Club, 12000 E. Tanque Verde Road, and its chef, Jake Bloom, make a special three-course meal that showcases the vibrant flavors of a specific global region. In December, the dinner will explore the flavors of Christmas around the world. The dinner takes place Dec. 15- 21 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and costs $40.
• Take your little ones to the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, 3800 E. Sunrise Dr., for breakfast with Santa Claus. From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Dec. 13 and 20, you can enjoy a festive breakfast buffet while Santa Claus greets guests and poses for pictures. For participants 11 and above, tickets cost $29, and for kids ages 10 and under, they're $20.
• If you’re feeling creative, Antsy Nancy, 5655 E. River Road, is hosting a gingerbread decorating class. Each participant will get to decorate a homemade gingerbread house with tons of royal icing and sprinkles. There will also be holiday treats and a hot cocoa bar. The event on Dec. 20 has two time slots available: 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Tickets cost $75.
• The Children’s Museum, 200 S. Sixth Ave., will also hold a gingerbread decorating event for kids on Dec. 3 and 4 at multiple times. A $50 ticket includes a preconstructed house, lots of icing and candy and a photo area. Each ticket also allows up to four guests.