If your family is searching for a little extra magic this holiday season, there’s one place in the Valley where Christmas truly feels like it’s come to life. Every year, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess transforms into a glowing, glittering, joy-filled wonderland—and this year, the magic reaches a whole new level. Spanning 65 acres of twinkling lights, festive activities, and memory-making moments, Christmas at the Princess is where traditions begin, grow, and shine a little brighter each time you return.
Open nightly through January 3, this event welcomes the public (tickets are required), and families will find countless ways to celebrate together. Whether your kids want to visit Santa, glide across real ice, or hop aboard a train that rides right through a sparkling lagoon, the Princess has built a world where holiday wishes feel possible. Prepare yourself: you may feel just as enchanted as your children!
A New Glow: Starlights — A Spark of Christmas
This year’s shining star is Starlights: A Spark of Christmas, an all-new 8-minute show that blends cutting-edge technology with classic holiday wonder. Imagine brilliant animation dancing across the water, festive music filling the air, and the entire lagoon lighting up in a choreographed glow. It’s immersive, breathtaking, and truly unlike anything else in Arizona.
Kids will be wide-eyed; parents will be impressed. And together, you’ll experience a moment that feels like stepping directly into a holiday movie.
All Aboard the Princess Express!
One of the most beloved traditions at the Princess is the Princess Express Train—a magical journey through more than 16 million sparkling lights. This year’s route debuts the brand-new Starlights experience and even more spectacular scenes along the way.
As the train winds through the resort, families will discover:
Christmas Lands: The Toy Box
A whimsical place where childhood fantasies become larger than life—featuring a 15-foot rocking horse, a giant teddy bear, and a drum wide enough to wow even the youngest riders.
Lagoon Cove
A shimmering world of pirate ships and playful sea creatures, including mermaids, dolphins, whales, and even a twinkling version of the legendary Loch Ness Monster.
The Candy Cane Archway, Twinkle Town & Nativity Scene
Classic Christmas scenes filled with meaning, magic, and the kind of moments that make moms quietly reach for their phones to capture the glow on their kids’ faces.
Before or after hopping aboard, families can stop at Comet’s Caboose for hot cocoa or a festive treat—a cozy pairing with the crisp nighttime air.
Santa’s Mailroom: Where Wishes Begin
No visit to Christmas at the Princess would be complete without a stop at Santa’s Mailroom, where kids can write a letter straight to the North Pole. Whether they’ve been naughty, nice, or a little of both, they can share their holiday wishes before posing for a magical photo in Santa’s sleigh. For many families, these photos become treasured keepsakes, marking the passage of time through each holiday season.
Desert Ice Skating Under the Stars
Where else can your family lace up ice skates under a clear Scottsdale sky? The 6,000-square-foot Desert Ice Rink offers a winter experience right in the middle of the desert. Whether your kids twirl confidently or cling to the rail with laughter, the rink creates the kind of memories that warm everyone up even on a chilly December night.
The Village
Follow the glowing path through The Village and you’ll arrive at a fun, sugary destination where marshmallows rule and the character Graham is king. Families can roast gooey s’mores together among Christmas trees and twinkling lights. And when you need supplies (or just a fun holiday snack), Graham’s S’more Store has everything needed to keep those sweet memories going.
It’s simple, nostalgic fun—the kind that slows everyone down just long enough to enjoy the moment.
Snow Mountain & the Chair Lift Ferris Wheel
For families craving thrills, The Village offers two crowd-pleasing favorites:
Snow Mountain
An eight-lane, 20-foot-tall, 200-foot-long sledding adventure that brings a blizzard’s worth of excitement to Arizona.
The Chair Lift Ferris Wheel
At 120 feet tall, it’s the largest traveling Ferris wheel in the nation—offering incredible aerial views of the entire Christmas at the Princess experience. If your goal is to capture that perfect holiday photo, this is the place.
A Holiday Tradition in the Making
With countless twinkling lights, family-friendly activities, and magical moments around every corner, Christmas at the Princess offers an unforgettable escape from the holiday hustle. It’s an opportunity to slow down, bundle up, soak in the season, and create memories your family will cherish long after the decorations come down.
So, gather your kids, charge your phone, and prepare for a night of wonder. Christmas magic is waiting—sparkling, shining, and ready to be shared. For more information, visit christmasattheprincess.com
Christmas at the Princess offers a mix of free and paid experiences so families can tailor the visit to what works best for them. Hotel guests receive complimentary Express Pass admission, and dining at the resort can earn you free valet parking. General admission wristbands start at $35 and include access to major attractions, while parking and certain activities—like ice skating, Santa photos, and specialty experiences—are priced separately. Overnight packages and Arizona resident discounts are available, and guests arriving by rideshare or on foot can purchase wristbands for rides and attractions.
