We track 14 displays in Scottsdale — the 3rd-densest city for lights in Arizona. 11 of them are free to visit.
Displays here switch on around sunset. In Scottsdale that means about 5:20 PM in early December and 5:21 PM by mid-month — the earliest sunsets of the year fall right in the middle of lights season. It is properly dark by about 5:49 PM, which is when the displays look their best. December nights in Scottsdale typically drop to around 42°F.
| Date | Sunset | Fully dark |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 1 | 5:20 PM | 5:47 PM |
| Dec 15 | 5:21 PM | 5:49 PM |
| Dec 25 | 5:26 PM | 5:53 PM |
We ordered every display in Scottsdale into the shortest sensible driving loop: roughly 34.7 miles and 139 minutes of driving, before you count time spent parked and looking. Start wherever is closest to you and follow it round.
Residential displays have no facilities of their own — no parking, no toilets, nowhere to warm up — so it is worth knowing what is around. Within about three miles of the Scottsdale cluster, OpenStreetMap maps 3 public car parks and 6 public toilets. There is no shortage of cafés and takeaways for a hot drink on the way round.
ticketedattraction6,000,000+ LED lightsice skatinglight showsmarshmallow roastingSanta meet-and-greets
The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess transforms into a holiday wonderland with over six million LED lights, ice skating, light shows, marshmallow roasting and Santa visits. It's among the most elaborate resort displays in the Southwest.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
ticketedattractionindoor illuminated conservatorythousands of lights
Butterfly Wonderland strings thousands of lights through its indoor rainforest conservatory for Glistening Gardens. A rare fully indoor holiday light experience in the Valley.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeattractionlarge treelit palm treesphoto spotsSanta Social event with tree lighting
Scottsdale Quarter's holiday setup features a large tree, glowing palm trees and photo spots throughout the shopping district, plus a Santa Social kickoff event with kids' entertainment and a tree lighting. Browsing the lights is free.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season
Freeattractiontree lighting spectacularweeks of holiday events
Scottsdazzle lights up Old Town Scottsdale's arts district with weeks of holiday programming, kicking off with the Jingle & Jazz tree lighting spectacular. Most events are free to attend.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeattraction30-minute choreographed light showhot cocoa barcookie decorating
Great Wolf Lodge's Snowland features a 30-minute choreographed light show alongside a hot cocoa bar and cookie decorating. It runs from late November through the first week of January.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidential10,000 synchronized lightstune to 93.5 FM
A Scottsdale home running 10,000 lights synchronized to a broadcast on 93.5 FM. Tune in from the car for the full effect.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season
Freeneighborhood100,000 lightsphoto bench and white sleigh photo op
All four homes in this Scottsdale cul-de-sac deck out with roughly 100,000 lights combined. Families can pose for photos in a large white sleigh set out for visitors.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season
Freeneighborhood25,000 animated lightsthemed characters
A themed Scottsdale display with animation, character figures and about 25,000 lights. Easily combined with the nearby Voltaire Avenue lights.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
free entry; train rides ticketedattractionholiday lightsParadise & Pacific Railroad rides
Scottsdale's McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park decorates for the holidays, with rides on the miniature Paradise & Pacific Railroad through the lights. Park entry is free; train rides require tickets.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season
Freeresidential35,000 lightssynced to 15 holiday songs
Scottsdale teen Brolin Cox programmed the 35,000 lights on his family home to sync with 15 different holiday songs. The family began collecting lights when he was 11 and has added more every year since.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeneighborhood50+ homessynchronized to musictune to 98.1 FM
Both sides of East Voltaire Avenue, near Tatum Boulevard and Thunderbird Road, flicker in concert to Christmas music broadcast on 98.1 FM. Dozens of homes participate, with a soundtrack ranging from the Vince Guaraldi Trio to Bing Crosby.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeresidential150,000+ lightssnow and animationwalk-throughhot cocoa and s'mores for sale
A themed walk-through display with snow effects, animation, music and more than 150,000 lights. Plan to park and stroll, and bring cash for hot cocoa and s'mores.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Freeneighborhoodcommunity charity event
A community lights event in Scottsdale's Grayhawk area organized around a charity drive. Neighbors decorate together and collect donations from visitors.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2025 season
Freeneighborhoodcanned food drive
The Montevina neighborhood in Scottsdale's Grayhawk area pairs its holiday lights with a canned food drive. Visitors are encouraged to bring a donation when they come to see the displays.
✓ Last confirmed for the 2024 season
Know a display we're missing in Scottsdale?Add it to the guide.