HOME Travel Guide Common Sense Travel
decorative font style
    Travel >> Holiday Travel >  >> Travel Notes

Las Noches de las Luminarias: Iconic Holiday Magic at Desert Botanical Garden

One of the Sonoran Desert's most cherished holiday traditions, Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden has illuminated the season for 37 years. Wander glowing paths lined with over 8,000 luminaria bags and trees twinkling with thousands of white lights. On crisp, clear nights, savor hot chocolate or cider while the holiday spirit surrounds you.

Live music from 10 groups fills the air throughout the garden, featuring Dickens carolers, bell ringers, Flamenco dancers, steel drums, Mariachi, and more. Returning favorites include Mariachi Pasión, The Sugar Thieves, Will Clipman, Duncan Family, and handbell ensembles nightly, with additional performers on select evenings.

Elevate your visit with dining at Gertrude’s, the garden’s on-site restaurant showcasing local flavors, al fresco meals at the Patio Café, or a lavish holiday buffet in Dorrance Hall. Reservations are recommended for Gertrude’s and required for the buffet.

The event spans 16 nights: November 28-29; December 5-6, 12-13, 19-23, 26-30, from 5:30–9:30 p.m. Opt for 5:30–9:30 p.m. or 7:30–9:30 p.m. entry times—tickets are limited per slot. Book soon via the Desert Botanical Garden website or call 480-481-8188.

Tempe embraces the holiday spirit fully. Discover more events at the Tempe Tourism Office website.

Travel Notes
  • Dallas Holiday Bars: Festive Cocktails & Pop-Up Experiences

    The holidays are rolling in, and with them are plenty of holiday bars, pop-up experiences and seasonal menus. Here are a few of the holiday-themed bars around town, each with their own spin to themed cocktails and twinkling lights. Pick your favorite or check them all out -  they all bring the holiday cheer we all need this year! Miracle at Royal - UptownPractically a Dallas holiday tradition at this point, Miracle returns to Dallas from Nov.

  • -

    With 500,000 lights, daily activities, and holiday treats, the Dallas Arboretum delivers early‑season cheer for the entire family. Stroll through the 12 Days of Christmas exhibit Light‑filled gazebo displays recreate every scene from the classic carol, sure to spark holiday excitement. Visit any time of day or night—daily displays run until Jan. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the illuminated nighttime show is available Wednesday through Sunday. Bring a cup of hot chocolate for the perfect family o

  • Desert Trek: Surviving a Cold Pool in a Canyon

    I’m thigh deep in a frigid, murky pool of water that hasn’t been stirred since the last flash flood. Who knows what bacteria swims within it. It’s beginning to get dark and the shadows have veiled the high walls of the slot canyon we entered hours earlier. As I trudge through the water, my previously numb feet and ankles ache for a second then return, then, to numbness. I can feel my body temperature dropping and I begin to wonder what hypothermia might feel like. There appears to be a hint