Celebrate the Holidays in Marana!

From holiday shopping to festivals, to magical light displays, to fun family events, there are many ways for you and your family to have a jolly holiday in Marana!

The Holiday Season means something a little different in Marana. Here, December mornings dawn just cool enough that a hot cup of coffee warms the spirit, but not so cold that your need to bundle up. By the afternoon, the sun’s warmth makes it pleasant to sit outside and enjoy the desert. In the evening, curl up under a blanket and watch the stars. Sure, we’ve got winter, but our winter doesn’t make you want to hibernate until spring. In fact, it makes you want to get out to these seasonal happenings in Marana!

Check Off Your Holiday Shopping List on Black Friday and Beyond!

Get started on your holiday shopping with sweet deals on your favorite brands all over town! Start at Southern Arizona's premier outlet shopping destination, the Tucson Premium Outlets at Marana Center! Score discounts on your favorite premium brands at this beautifully-designed and landscaped outdoor mall. Or, head down to the Arizona Pavilions Marketplace at Cortaro & I-10, with everything you need, from home furnishings, to electronics, to fashion, and more! For the indecisive ones on your list, most of the stores offer gift cards! After a long day of shopping, wind down with a bite to eat and a quick drink at one of the area's restaurants!

Marana Holiday Festival & Christmas Tree Lighting – December 2

Ring in the holiday season and deck Downtown Marana with live music and dance performances, a visit from Santa, activities for the kids, a Holiday Market with local artisan crafts, a wide selection of local food and beverage vendors, and the highlight of the evening, the lighting of the Town Christmas Tree, complete with a light show synchronized to music! The light shows continue in Downtown Marana throughout the month of December, starting every half hour from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.! This year the tallest municipal Christmas tree in Arizona will debut at this event (45 feet tall!) -- don't miss it!

Marana Christmas Express at the Marana Pumpkin Patch

Opens Friday, December 8, and is open Fridays-Sundays through Saturday, December 23, 5-9 p.m. each night. Tickets are on sale now!

Share some holiday cheer on the farm at the Marana Pumpkin Patch, with special holiday-themed attractions, plus some of your favorites from the fall! Ride the Christmas Express through a wonderland of holiday light displays, see Santa Claus, warm up with a hot chocolate, coffee, or fresh-baked pastry (the churros are definitely worth writing home for!) at The Bakery, have a traditional Mexican dinner at the Red Barn Grill, see farm animals, and much more! It's an evening of holiday fun for the whole family!

Holiday Dining Experiences

Start some new holiday traditions this year, complete with gourmet food, luxury service, excellent desert scenery, and the company of family and friends at both The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, and the Omni Tucson National Resort!

Join the Omni Tucson National for a delicious Thanksgiving brunch complete with traditional favorites, a breakfast with Santa, and a holiday celebration with carols, hot beverages, cookies, and two tree lighting ceremonies! It all takes place in the beautiful Casas Adobes area, with excellent views of the Catalina Mountains!

Shop for the Perfect Christmas Tree!

Shop for the quintessential piece of your home's holiday scene - a fresh-cut Christmas tree!

Marana has two locally-owned farms that you can bring your family to for the classic holiday tradition of picking out the perfect tree! There's Santa Marana Christmas Tree Ranch, which makes the activity of shopping for a tree a full experience with visits from Santa, vendor markets, a Christmas store (that's actually open year-round!), and much more!

Or, you can go to one of THREE lots run by Buckelew Farm, located throughout Marana for a selection of pre-cut but still fresh trees, wreaths, hatch chili strings, and more!

Holiday Dining Experiences

For a truly luxurious holiday experience, head up to the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, for special Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's dining experiences. Enjoy premium, extended buffet spreads at Cayton's, with excellent views of The Golf Club at Dove Mountain, in a more casual atmosphere. Or, take it to the next level with Chef-crafted, many-course tasting menus at Core Kitchen and Wine Bar, the Forbes Four-Star-certified signature restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain. Afterwards, head up to Ignite Bar for a drink and live music, and on New Year's Eve, fireworks and a champagne toast to ring in 2024!

A Wild West Holiday Spectacular

Opens Friday, November 21, and is open select days through Christmas Eve, 5-10 p.m.

Celebrate the holidays the old Western way, with Yuletide at Old Tucson! Yuletide is a fully-immersive experience that blends the magic of the holidays with the historic look and feel of Old Tucson. The park will be full of stunning decor, period costumes, live shows, interactive experiences, and the magic of the holidays!

Timed-entry reservations are on sale now! Entries run from 5-7 PM each night, and all guests can stay until closing at 10 PM.

Burn Off Those Holiday Calories!

Dirt Dash: Check-in starts at 7 a.m. on December 16th.

Egg Nog Jog: Check-in starts at 7 a.m. on December 31st.

Stay in shape during the holidays with two RunMarana races in December! For the trail-running type, there's Dirt Dash at the Wild Burro Trail in the Tortolita Mountains on December 16th! If features 6-mile and half-marathon distances on a course along the trails and washes of the Tortolita Mountain Trail System.

For a more straightforward, paved race, compete in the Egg Nog Jog, held the morning of New Year's Eve! It starts at Crossroads at Silverbell District Park, runs along the scenic Santa Cruz River Path, and has 5K and 10K distances, plus a free Kids' Fun Run!

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