Phoenix Holiday Events Calendar: November and December 2026 Across the Valley

Happy fall, neighbors. The weather is cooling off, the pumpkins are out, and the holiday season is right around the corner. I have gathered a verified calendar of the best November and December 2026 events across the Phoenix Valley, from marathons and concerts to tree lightings and train rides with Santa, so you and your family can plan ahead. As your Realtor for Life, I also want to share a quick look at where the market stands as we head into the busiest season of the year.

November: Fall Fun Winds Down and Football Takes Over

November opens with the last big weekends of the season. The Arizona State Fair at the Phoenix fairgrounds closes November 1, and the Desert Fall Festival in Surprise (14470 W. Tierra Buena Ln.) wraps up the same night, so catch the corn maze and fair foods while you can. Over in Scottsdale, Canal Convergence lights up the Scottsdale Waterfront with free outdoor art installations through November 15.

If you cheer for the home teams, the calendar is stacked. The Sun Devils play two home games at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe this month: Saturday, November 7 against Colorado (Salute to Service and Family Weekend) and Saturday, November 21 against Oklahoma State (Senior Night and Homecoming). The Arizona Cardinals host the Rams on Sunday, November 15 and the Commanders on Sunday, November 29 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Tickets for all of these are on the official team sites, thesundevils.com and azcardinals.com.

For runners, the Phoenix 10K and Half Marathon is Sunday, November 8, with a 5K and family-friendly Mollen Mile too. Register at phoenix10k.com.

Concerts and Live Music in November

The November concert calendar is one of the best of the year. At Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, Dan + Shay bring The Young Tour on November 5 and Three Days Grace take the stage on November 21. Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale hosts Cristian Castro on November 6, the 90s Corridos Tour with Lupillo Rivera on November 7, and the Jonas Brothers on November 27. Over at Footprint Center, The Neighbourhood plays on November 30. Grab tickets at each venue’s official site: talkingstickresortamphitheatre.com, desertdiamondarena.com, and footprintcenter.com.

Thanksgiving Weekend: The Lights Come On Across the Valley

The day after turkey, the Valley glows. Here is where the magic starts over Thanksgiving weekend:

• ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo opens November 25 and runs nightly through January 15, 2027, from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., with millions of lights and holiday activities. Tickets at phoenixzoo.org.
• Glendale Glitters kicks off in Historic Downtown Glendale on November 27 and 28 and glows through January 1, 2027, with the official lighting ceremony at Murphy Park. Details at visitdowntownglendale.com.
• Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden returns November 27 for 26 nights of glowing luminarias among the cacti, running through early January. Member tickets go on sale October 1 and general admission October 16 at dbg.org.
• Holiday Lights at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale runs November 27 through December 30, nightly 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., with train and carousel rides through the lights. See therailroadpark.com.
• Christmas at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek opens November 27 and runs Thursdays through Sundays through December 27, 5 to 10 p.m., with lights, food, and family fun (closed Christmas Day). Tickets at schnepfchristmas.com.

December: Parades, Tree Lightings, and Community Celebrations

December in the Valley is a hometown celebration. The first full weekend is especially busy:

• Peoria Christmas in the Village, Friday, December 4, at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, with a holiday market and family fun. See christmasinthevillagepeoria.com.
• The 39th Annual APS Electric Light Parade, Saturday, December 5 at 7 p.m., rolls down Central Avenue in Phoenix with floats, bands, and thousands of lights. It is free to watch; route details are on phoenix.gov.
• Chandler’s Tumbleweed Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights, also December 5, lights up Dr. A.J. Chandler Park in the afternoon with the parade stepping off down Arizona Avenue that evening. Free to attend; details at chandleraz.gov.
• The 6th Annual Mele Kalikimaka Market brings Hawaiian holiday shopping to Peoria’s Centennial Plaza on December 5, and Candy Cane Lane at the Peoria Sports Complex runs December 11 and 12.
• The Hot Chocolate Run Phoenix is Sunday, December 6, a fun family race that ends with cocoa and a warm cup of community spirit.

The middle of the month brings two of my favorite community traditions. Christmas in the Park in Litchfield Park, on Saturday, December 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Litchfield Square Park, is a free family festival with 60-plus vendors, live music, and Santa. See litchfieldpark.gov. That same morning, the Phoenix Marathon returns on December 12: full marathon at 7 a.m., half marathon and 10-miler after, with an expo and 5K on Friday the 11th. Register at phxmarathon.com.

Across the West Valley, the cities are rolling out their holiday celebrations. Sparkling Surprise and the Surprise Party festival return to Surprise Community Park each December with a towering light tree, Santa’s workshop, and fireworks, and Desert Lights at Desert Farm Lights (14629 W. Peoria Ave.) opens November 20 and runs through late December with millions of lights at desertfarmlights.com. Holidays on the Square in Goodyear brings The Rinq ice skating rink back to Goodyear Civic Square, and WinterFest in Avondale and the Cotton Fest holiday street fair in Buckeye return with tree lightings and photos with Santa. The cities finalize their exact 2026 dates later in the season, so check each city’s events page when planning, but these are the ones to keep an eye on.

December Shows and the Fiesta Bowl

Music fans have big nights ahead: Rush: Fifty Something plays Desert Diamond Arena on December 1 and 3, and Gracie Abrams brings her tour there on December 9 and 10. Then on Wednesday, December 30, the Fiesta Bowl returns to State Farm Stadium in Glendale as a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at 5:30 p.m., one of the biggest games of the year in our own backyard.

A Quick Word on the Market as the Year Winds Down

Through the busy season I keep watch on what matters to you: our Phoenix market continues to read as balanced, with more inventory, more time to tour, and more room to negotiate than buyers have seen in years. Sellers who price well and prepare their homes are finding buyers ready to move. If you are thinking about your next move, whether that is buying, selling, or investing, this is a good season to start the conversation. I can connect you with trusted local lenders, including options for lower credit scores and ways to buy with as little as $1,500 out of pocket.

I am always available to answer your questions, from "Can I really buy with less than $1,500 out of pocket?" to "What is the right time to sell in my neighborhood?" Call or text me at (623) 640-8840 or reach out online. I want you to have a smooth process and experience from start to finish. That is what it means to be Your Realtor for Life. Have a wonderful start to the holiday season, enjoy everything this beautiful Valley has to offer, and talk to you soon!