Phoenix–Mesa–Chandler · AZ
Things to do with kids in Phoenix — December 2026
90 family events in December 2026. Every listing links to the organizer’s own page. Dates are in Arizona Time.
What’s on now in Phoenix →Events
- Nutcracker and shows
Through Dec 24
A Christmas Carol — Hale Centre Theatre
Hale Centre Theatre
From $40Ages 5+
- Markets and festivals
Tue, Dec 1 · 4:00 PM
Chandler for the Holidays: Lego Winter Village — Hamilton Library
Hamilton Library
FreeAges 6–12
Nov20FriCommunityThrough Jan 2
Christmas at the Princess
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
PaidAll ages
Oct22ThuSTEM & discoveryThrough Apr 30
Dinosaurs in the Desert 2026–27
Phoenix Zoo
From $32.95
Nov27FriCommunityThrough Jan 1
Glendale Glitters 2026
Murphy Park, Historic Downtown Glendale
All ages
Nov18WedArts & craftsThrough Jan 3
Mary Poppins — The Phoenix Theatre Company
The Phoenix Theatre Company — Stephenson Theatre
Paid
Nov27FriLight displaysThrough Dec 30
Mesa Temple Christmas Lights and International Nativity Exhibit
Mesa Arizona Temple grounds (north lawn)
FreeAll ages
- Arts & crafts
Through Dec 27
Miracle on 34th Street — Arizona Broadway Theatre
Arizona Broadway Theatre — Mainstage
Paid
Nov6FriSanta visitsThrough Dec 24
Photos with Santa — Arrowhead Towne Center
Arrowhead Towne Center — near JCPenney
FreeAll ages
- Nov13FriSanta visits
Through Dec 24
Photos with Santa — Chandler Fashion Center
Chandler Fashion Center — near Macy's
FreeAll ages
- Nov20FriSanta visits
Through Dec 24
Photos with Santa — Kierland Commons
Kierland Commons — Center Plaza
FreeAll ages
- Nov13FriSanta visits
Through Dec 24
Photos with Santa — SanTan Village
SanTan Village — Children's Play Area
FreeAll ages
- Nov6FriSanta visits
Through Dec 24
Photos with Santa — Scottsdale Fashion Square
Scottsdale Fashion Square — Palm Court
FreeAll ages
Oct22ThuArts & craftsThrough Dec 31
Playful Painting at idea Studio
idea Museum
With admission
Nov27FriLight displaysThrough Dec 30
Railroad Park Holiday Lights — year conflict
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
From $15All ages
Nov25WedCommunityThrough Jan 15
ZooLights 2026–27
Phoenix Zoo
From $35All ages
Nov3TueSTEM & discoveryTue, Nov 3 · 10:00 AM
Homeschool November unit studies: Earth Science and User-Centered Design
Arizona Science Center
From $70
Dec3ThuNutcracker and showsThrough Dec 27
The Night Before Christmas — puppet show
Great Arizona Puppet Theater
From $8Ages 3+
- Nutcracker and shows
Through Dec 20
A Christmas Carol: The Musical — Fountain Hills Theater
Fountain Hills Theater
Paid
Dec4FriArts & craftsFri, Dec 4
A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail
Valley Youth Theatre
From $22.50All ages
Nov27FriNutcracker and showsFri, Nov 27 · 7:00 PM
Ballet Etudes 40th Anniversary Nutcracker — Chandler
Chandler Center for the Arts — Steena Murray Mainstage
From $42.50
Dec4FriArts & craftsFri, Dec 4 · 10:00 AM
Fall Tempe Festival of the Arts — Kids Block
Mill Avenue, Downtown Tempe
All ages
Dec4FriSanta visitsFri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM
Fill Santa's Sleigh Toy Drive — Scottsdale Quarter
The Quad at Scottsdale Quarter
Dec4FriSports & playFri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM
Free First Friday Night — December 2026
Children’s Museum of Phoenix
Free
- Community
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM
Holidays on the Square — Goodyear Civic Square
Goodyear Civic Square
All ages
Dec4FriTree lightingsFri, Dec 4 · 6:00 PM
QC Hometown Christmas: Tree Lighting
Queen Creek Town Center
- Santa visits
Through Dec 13
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Jr. — East Valley Children's Theatre
Mesa Arts Center
From $24.75
- Community
Fri, Dec 4 · 5:00 PM
Surprise Party Holiday Celebration
Surprise Recreation Campus (Surprise Community Park)
FreeAll ages
Dec5SatParadesSat, Dec 5
Apache Junction Holiday Event and Light Parade
Flatiron Community Park
With admission
Dec5SatCommunitySat, Dec 5 · 7:00 PM
APS Electric Light Parade 2026
Central Ave and 7th St parade route, north-central Phoenix
- Sports & play
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Bike Safety Rodeo — Desert Broom Library
Desert Broom Library
Free
Dec5SatSanta visitsSat, Dec 5 · 8:30 AM
Breakfast with Santa — HD SOUTH
HD SOUTH
From $20All ages
- Community
Sat, Dec 5
Casa Grande Electric Light Parade and Glow Before the Show
Casa Grande Parade Route and Peart Park
Free
Dec5SatLight displaysSat, Dec 5 · 6:45 PM
Chandler Parade of Lights — Spectator Visit
Downtown Chandler
Free
Dec5SatArts & craftsSat, Dec 5 · 9:00 AM
Joy to the World — Musical Instrument Museum
Musical Instrument Museum
With admission
Dec5SatTree lightingsSat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Merry Copa and Tree Lighting — Maricopa
Copper Sky Regional Park
Free
Oct31SatCommunitySat, Oct 31 · 3:30 PM
MIMkids Junior Museum Guides — fall training
Musical Instrument Museum
Paid
Nov7SatOutdoorsSat, Nov 7
Nature Play in the Enchanted Forest
Phoenix Zoo — Enchanted Forest
From $32.95
Dec5SatParadesSat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
QC Hometown Christmas Parade
Queen Creek Town Center
Dec5SatSanta visitsSat, Dec 5
Santa’s House: December Family Photo Sessions
Dr. A.J. Chandler Park
Free
- Community
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Stroll in the Glow — Fountain Hills
Avenue of the Fountains, Downtown Fountain Hills
Free
Dec5SatTree lightingsSat, Dec 5 · 4:30 PM
Tumbleweed Tree Lighting Ceremony
Downtown Chandler
Free
Dec5SatSTEM & discoverySat, Dec 5 · 9:00 AM
Ultimate Family Play Date — Scottsdale Civic Center
Scottsdale Civic Center (outdoors)
FreeAll ages
Dec5SatTree lightingsSat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
WinterFest and Tree Lighting — Avondale
Avondale Civic Center
Free
Dec6SunLight displaysThrough Jan 1
Avondazzle Holiday Light Display
Avondale Civic Center
All ages
- Dec7MonSanta visits
Mon, Dec 7 · 4:00 PM
Santa Ornament Craft — Arabian Library
Arabian Library
FreeAges 6–11
- Arts & crafts
Mon, Dec 7 · 4:00 PM
Watercolor Christmas Cards and Bookmarks for Tweens — Hamilton Library
Hamilton Library
FreeAges 9–12
- Community
Tue, Dec 8 · 8:00 AM
Dog Man 10th Anniversary Scavenger Hunt — Hamilton Library
Hamilton Library
FreeAges 6–12
Oct27TueCommunityTue, Oct 27 · 8:30 AM
Member-Hour Storytime — fall dates
Phoenix Zoo — Critter Corner
With admission
Dec8TueCommunityTue, Dec 8 · 5:30 PM
Sensory-friendly ZooLights 2026
Phoenix Zoo
- Crafts and cookies
Tue, Dec 8 · 3:00 PM
Ugly Sweater Ornaments for Teens — Chandler Downtown Library
Chandler Downtown Library
FreeAges 13–17
- Markets and festivals
Wed, Dec 9 · 5:00 PM
Chandler for the Holidays: Jack's Winter Wonderland — Downtown Library
Chandler Downtown Library
Free
- Arts & crafts
Wed, Dec 9 · 3:00 PM
Gift-Wrapping Workshop for Teens — Chandler Downtown Library
Chandler Downtown Library
FreeAges 13–17
Dec9WedTree lightingsWed, Dec 9 · 5:30 PM
Menorah Lighting Ceremony — Downtown Tempe
Ragsdale–MLK Park
Nov18WedSports & playWed, Nov 18 · 10:30 AM
Read, Move and Groove — Caregiver Story and Gym Play
The Little Gym Litchfield Park
From $5Up to 5
Nov9MonSTEM & discoveryMon, Nov 9 · 8:00 AM
Sensory-friendly Dinosaurs in the Desert
Phoenix Zoo
From $32.95
- Arts & crafts
Through Dec 23
The Nice List — Arizona Broadway Theatre
Arizona Broadway Theatre — Mainstage
From $15All ages
- Parades
Fri, Dec 11 · 4:00 PM
Christmas in the Park and Christmas Light Parade — Coolidge
San Carlos Park
- Community
Fri, Dec 11 · 11:00 AM
Cookies and Crafts with Mrs. Claus — Basha Library
Basha Library
Free
Oct23FriArts & craftsFri, Oct 23
Free Art Friday: Fall Family Series
Edna Vihel Arts Center
FreeAges 0–5
- Santa visits
Fri, Dec 11 · 5:00 PM
Mesa Santa Express
Mesa Drive Park & Ride (light rail), Downtown Mesa
- Community
Fri, Dec 11
Movies By Moonlight — Murphy Park, December
Murphy Park, Historic Downtown Glendale
Dec11FriOutdoorsThrough Dec 22
Riparian After Dark: Holiday Light Trail
Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
Paid
- Markets and festivals
Fri, Dec 11 · 5:00 PM
The Mesa Christmas Market
Mesa Drive Park & Ride, Downtown Mesa
FreeAll ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Through Dec 27
The Nutcracker — Ballet Arizona 2026
Symphony Hall
Paid
Dec11FriSports & playFri, Dec 11 · 6:30 PM
Winter Bounce Blast Parent Survival Night
The Little Gym Litchfield Park
From $45Ages 3–12
Dec12SatNutcracker and showsSat, Dec 12 · 2:00 PM
Ballet Etudes: 40 Years of The Nutcracker — Mesa Arts Center
Mesa Arts Center — Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater
From $45
- Nutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 2:00 PM
CAFE Flutes Holiday Delights Concert — Queen Creek Library
Queen Creek Library
All ages
- Community
Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM
Christmas in the Park — Litchfield Park
Litchfield Square Park
Free
Dec12SatArts & craftsSat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Family Day: Reflections
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum
Free
Dec12SatOutdoorsSat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Family Workshop: All About Trees
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
From $10Ages 5–17
Dec12SatLight displaysSat, Dec 12 · 4:00 PM
Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade
Tempe Beach Park
Free
- Crafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 12 · 11:00 AM
Gingerbread House Craft — Fountain Hills Library
Fountain Hills Library
Ages 3–12
Dec12SatSTEM & discoverySat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM
Girls in STEM: The Magic of Mistakes
CREATE at Arizona Science Center — confirm classroom
Dec12SatCommunitySat, Dec 12 · 6:00 PM
Glow on Monroe Electric Light Parade — Buckeye
Downtown Buckeye — Monroe Ave. (2nd St. to Apache Rd.)
FreeAll ages
Dec12SatArts & craftsSat, Dec 12 · 1:30 PM
MIMkids Musical Adventures: Indonesia
Musical Instrument Museum
From $12Ages 6–10
Dec12SatCommunitySat, Dec 12 · 5:00 PM
Season's Celebration — Fountain Hills Community Center
Fountain Hills Community Center
FreeAll ages
Dec12SatArts & craftsSat, Dec 12 · 2:00 PM
Spirit of Christmas — Christian Dance Company
Chandler Center for the Arts — Steena Murray Mainstage
From $39
- Dec14MonArts & crafts
Mon, Dec 14 · 4:00 PM
Celebrate with Handbells — Arabian Library
Arabian Library
FreeAges 6–11
- Community
Mon, Dec 14 · 5:00 PM
Mrs. Claus Storytime — Georgia T. Lord Library
Goodyear Civic Square park stage (east of Georgia T. Lord Library)
All ages
- Santa visits
Tue, Dec 15 · 10:15 AM
Mrs. Santa Claus — White Tank Library
White Tank Library
All ages
- Crafts and cookies
Wed, Dec 16 · 3:30 PM
Art Club: Wood Holiday Ornament — Guadalupe Library
Guadalupe Library
Ages 5–11
Dec16WedNutcracker and showsWed, Dec 16 · 1:00 PM
Sensory Adapted Nutcracker
Symphony Hall
All ages
Nov19ThuNutcracker and showsThu, Nov 19 · 6:00 PM
Sonoran Sunset Series: Fall and Holiday Concerts
Veterans Oasis Park
Free
- Crafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 19 · 10:00 AM
4 Peaks Kids Holiday Workshop: Monoprint Magic — Fountain Hills Library
Fountain Hills Library
Ages 6–11
- Sports & play
Sat, Dec 19 · 8:00 AM
Avondazzle Dash 1K, 5K and 10K
Avondale Civic Center
Dec26SatArts & craftsSat, Dec 26 · 10:00 AM
Holidays at the Heard 2026
Heard Museum — Virginia G. Piper Courtyard
With admission
Dec29TueCookingTue, Dec 29 · 9:30 AM
Kids Cook Pizza and Pasta
Sweet Basil Culinary Center
From $105Ages 8+
- New Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:30 AM
Countdown Crew Noon Year's Eve Party — El Mirage Library
El Mirage Library
All ages
Dec31ThuArts & craftsThrough Jan 31
The Princess, the Unicorn, and the Smelly-Foot Troll — puppet show
Great Arizona Puppet Theater
From $8Ages 3+