Desert Ridge Marketplace announces enchanting line up of holiday festivities | Things To Do

As the air turns crisp and the holidays approach, the community is gearing up for a joyous time filled with family and friends, festive events and delicious food. Desert Ridge Marketplace is excited to present a season full of enchanting events for locals and visitors to enjoy throughout November and December.

Annual Holiday Tree Lighting: On Monday, Nov. 25 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Desert Ridge Marketplace will kick off the holiday season with the annual lighting of its 40-foot tree, officially commencing the start of all things holiday.

Guests can enjoy magical snowfall and photo opportunities with Santa, Mrs. Claus, The Grinch and his pup Max, Frosty the Snowman, the Gingerbread man and more. In addition to the jovial snowfall and photo ops, guests can also enjoy holiday crafts, ugly sweater contests, and revamped entertainment sure to bring the holiday cheer. This event is free to the public, but toy donations are welcome on behalf of the Salvation Army Christmas Angel Tree Program.

Photos with Santa: On select dates throughout December, capture magical memories with the jolly man himself. A professional photographer will be on-site near AMC Theaters on Sunday, Dec. 1 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 5 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 8 from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Guests are invited to take a complimentary digital photo with Santa to share with loved ones or on social media. 

12 Days of Snowfall: A timeless tradition enjoyed at Desert Ridge Marketplace for more than 10 years. Returning this season, Desert Ridge Marketplace invites you to experience 12 days of snowfall inside The District near AMC Theatres, every day from Dec. 13 through Dec. 24. Each night, a 10-minute snowfall will occur at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Then, on Christmas Eve, it snows every hour from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Sip & Stroll: Put a holiday spin on your shopping this season and enjoy Sip & Stroll throughout The District at Desert Ridge Marketplace. Enjoy a cocktail from one of seven participating restaurants and experience all of the holiday cheer, festive community performances, snowfall and more.

New Holiday Décor: Last year, Desert Ridge Marketplace revealed all-new custom décor transforming the property into an elegant and sophisticated desert wonderland. This year, the updates continue with family-friendly photo ops to match the new color scheme including a walk-through star tunnel, nutcrackers, and ornament photo wall. 

“For over two decades, Desert Ridge has been a place for community to gather and celebrate, and what better time to do that than the holiday season,” said Katie Hauptman, marketing director at Desert Ridge Marketplace. “We’re excited to bring back the holiday favorites as well as introduce new festive concepts to The District this year.”

Desert Ridge Marketplace is located at 21001 N. Tatum Blvd. in Phoenix. For more information, visit shopdesertridge.com.