Winterhaven Festival of Lights 2023 | Tucson Arizona

Tucson’s favorite annual holiday tradition, the Winterhaven Festival of Lights, returned for its 74th year.

The festival kicked off at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 in the Winterhaven neighborhood near East Fort Lowell and North Country Club roads. The festival ran from 6 to 10 p.m. every day through Christmas Day, Dec. 25.

The annual light festival was free to walk through, but visitors were encouraged to bring canned goods to donate to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. There were donation boxes near each of the neighborhood’s four entrances, according to the festival’s website.

“In 2022, the Tucson community donated $57,336 and 42,016 pounds of food to the Food Bank during the Festival of Lights,” according to the festival’s website.

A new element at the festival this year was Silent Adventures — a silent-disco-meets-flash-mob tour where attendees "sang and danced to a festive playlist through the streets of Winterhaven in a 40-minute tour led by talented guides,” according to their website.

Transportation options were available for an additional cost. However, unlike previous years, there was no drive-thru night at this year’s festival.

Hayride prices ranged from $13 to $21 per person, depending on the day and time. Discounts were also available (most nights) for those who donated food to the food bank, according to Winterhaven Rides’ website.

Trolley tour tickets ranged from $16 to $20 per person ages 13 and older and $12 to $15 for children ages 5 to 12, according to the Winterhaven Trolley Tours’ Facebook page. Ticket prices varied depending on the week, with higher ticket prices implemented after Dec. 15.

A ride on one of the Arizona Party Bikes cost $22 per seat or rented out the whole bike for you and 13 other friends or family members, it cost $330, according to Arizona Party Bike’s website.

Reservations were encouraged for hayrides, trolley tours and party bikes.

Vendors at this year's festival, included Star Kettlecorn, Trucking Good Cupcakes and You Sly Dog.

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12/29/23 20:00-21:30