Christmas in Flagstaff & Holiday Events

Enjoy a snowy Christmas when you celebrate the holidays in Flagstaff. Perched at 7,000 feet amid ponderosa pines, Flagstaff becomes a winter wonderland most Decembers. With an annual average of about 100 inches of snowfall, bluebird skies, and daytime highs in the 40s, Flagstaff is easily one of the best places in Arizona to celebrate the holidays.

Top Christmas Things to Do in Flagstaff 2025

1. Lights at the Station

Bundle up and grab the mittens to capture the magic of the holiday lights at the station located in the heart of historic downtown. This light display is free to all during the holiday season. Be sure to take a short stroll east of the Visitor Center to the corner of Route 66 and San Francisco to the 1911 Baldwin Steam locomotive, Old Two Spot, offering a dazzling light display.

2. Sledding

Sledding & Snow Play Areas-Families can build snowmen, go tubing, and enjoy snowball fun at designated snow-play locations with restrooms and warm drinks. Flagstaff Sledding »

3. North Pole Experience

Be transported through a portal to Santa's Workshop at the North Pole, where all the magic happens! Tour the entire workshop, build toys with the elves, visit the toy factory and enjoy special one-on-one time with Santa! This is an 8500-square-foot workshop, which includes Santa's Toy Hall of Fame, Santa's Toy Building Workshop, a large toy factory where all the real magic happens, Santa's Bakery with hot cocoa and cookies, Elf University, Santa's Office, "Area 47" — Santa's secret sleigh hanger, and of course, hot chocolate and cookies.
North Pole Experience »

4. Holiday Lights at Little America

(Nightly through Jan 2026) - Wander the glowing forest paths and photo spots across Little America’s grounds—one of Northern Arizona’s brightest holiday displays.

5. Polar Express

Ride the Polar Express in your pajamas, for the experience of a lifetime with your children! Every winter the Grand Canyon Railway’s Polar Express comes to life on a journey from the nighttime wilderness of Williams, Arizona, to the enchanted beauty of “the North Pole”—where Santa Claus and his reindeer are waiting with a keepsake present for every good boy and girl. You’ll be smiling from ear to ear, as you watch children’s faces light up when the train arrives, and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while listening to this timeless story.

Go to the Polar Express »

6. Bearizona Wild Wonderland (Weekends in December)

See sparkling lights among wildlife exhibits in nearby Williams, a festive blend of nature and holiday cheer. Go to Bearizona ».

7. Arizona Nordic Village

XC Skiing, Snowshoeing & Yurts - Just 15 miles from downtown, enjoy 40+ km of groomed cross-country trails, 15+ km of snowshoe routes, and cozy yurts or cabins in the Coconino National Forest. Go to Arizona Nordic Village ».

8. Theatrikos Holiday Show 2025: “Elf: The Musical” (Nov 28–Dec 21)

Laugh-out-loud, family-friendly theater in downtown Flagstaff that captures the joy of the season.

Flagstaff Holiday Event Schedule

Date	Event	Location	Time	Details
Dec 5, 2025 (Fri)	First Friday ArtWalk	Downtown Flagstaff	5:00–8:00 PM	Galleries, music, shopping under twinkling lights.
Dec 6, 13, 20 (Sat)	Breakfast with Santa – Weatherford Hotel	Weatherford Hotel	9:00–11:00 AM
Dec 6 (Sat)	Winter Wonderland & Tree Lighting	Heritage Square	2:00–8:00 PM	Free family event; tree lighting at 5:45 PM.
Dec 1–31	Downtown Window Decorating Contest	Downtown Flagstaff	All month	Self-guided holiday window stroll.
Dec 13 (Sat)	12 Bars of Christmas	Downtown Flagstaff	2:00–7:00 PM	Festive bar crawl with holiday cocktails.
Dec 13 (Sat)	Holiday Parade of Lights	Downtown Flagstaff	6:00–8:00 PM	Glowing floats, marching bands, and Santa.
Dec 7 (Sun)	Howlidays – Pet Photos with Santa	Heritage Square	10:30 AM–12:30 PM	Free event; local humane groups on site (weather permitting).
Dec 6, 13, 20 (Sat)	Winter Movie Series	The Orpheum Theater	9:30 AM	Free family films: Home Alone, Elf, The Polar Express.

EXPLORE HOLIDAY EVENTS & SPECIAL PACKAGES

Cross Country Skiing, Cabins, & Yurts at Arizona Nordic Village

Stay in a yurt or cabin at the AZ Nordic Village, a premier outdoor recreation destination just north of Flagstaff. Perfectly situated in the cool pine and aspen forests at 8,000 ft of elevation between Flagstaff and Grand Canyon National Park, the Village offers rustic cabin and yurt rentals year-round, and summer campsites that are RV-friendly. Frontcountry yurts and cabins are available for those seeking easy access, and five backcountry yurts offer solitude and natural settings with more comforts than a typical backpacking adventure. Many miles of hiking and biking trails leave right from the Village, and there are numerous other activities nearby, including the Lava River Cave, Red Mountain, Arizona Snowbowl, the Arizona National Scenic Trail, and many other hiking and biking trails.

In the winter season, the Arizona Nordic Village hosts a groomed trail system for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and fatbiking. Over 20 miles of trails offer opportunities for everybody to have a winter adventure!

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9.5

Find Your Northern Arizona Escape at Village Camp Flagstaff

Surrounded by 1 million acres of national forest, Village Camp Flagstaff blends the beauty of the high country with the comforts of a modern mountain village. With stunning views of Humphreys Peak, it’s the perfect year-round basecamp—offering cool summer escapes and snowy winter advent … More

RV Sites
Spacious, level concrete pads and wide roads make arrival a breeze. Choose from deluxe back-in or pull-through RV sites, each with full hookups (30/50-amp electric, water, and sewer), plus access to our upscale bathhouse and on-site laundry.

Adventure Cabin Rentals
Enjoy the outdoors without giving up the comforts of home in our luxury adventure cabins. Fully furnished with a kitchen, bathroom, private firepit, Wi-Fi, and cable, our cabins sleep anywhere from 4-10 guests and are ideal for families, groups, or anyone craving a modern mountain retreat.

Cabin Ownership
Make the mountains your home away from home. Village Camp Flagstaff offers beautifully designed adventure cabins for purchase—perfect as a second home or vacation basecamp. Owners enjoy full access to resort amenities, exclusive events, and the flexibility to return year-round for every season of adventure. It’s your personal retreat, ready whenever you are.

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Little America Hotel Flagstaff

Little America is truly one of the best Flagstaff hotels. From our 500-acre private forest to our friendly, knowledgeable concierge staff, Little America exemplifies the adventurous spirit and hospitality of Grand Canyon area Flagstaff hotels.

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9.2
2972 reviews

Bearizona Wildlife Park - Williams, AZ

Welcome to Bearizona Wildlife Park. We are a Wildlife adventure, open year round.Located on 160 acres in the city of Williams Az. We are right off Route 66 on the way to the Grand Canyon, just a short drive from Sedona and Flagstaff. The park consists of a 3 mile drive thru and Fort Bearizona. In the drive thru, you will take your own vehicle or our Wild Ride Bus through pristine Natural habitats for many North American Species. In these free roaming areas You will see wolves, bears, bison, and many other large species that can come right up to your car. Where the drive thru ends Fort Bearizona begins. Park your car and come on in. This is where you will find our smaller animals like river otters and bobcats. The barnyard, which is our petting zoo and fun for all ages. The Raptor Free Flight program, where birds of prey fly right over your head. All Shows which include animal meet-n-greets and training presentations. Big Bear Gift shop, over 8,000 sq feet of treasures and also housing Arizonaâ€™s largest model train, a historically accurate replica of the railroad from Williams depot to the grand canyon. For dining options we have the Bearizona Grill for a quick snack or our themed Canyonlands restaurant where you can sit and have a hot meal and a cold beverage overlooking our remarkable jaguar enclosure. You can Hop on our website for all current show times and we hope you can come visit us soon. Not only will you learn about lots of Awesome North American animals but you will also have an amazing time while your doing it.

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9.5

Grand Canyon Railway - Williams, AZ

Visit the official website for Grand Canyon Railway. Book your reservation online for a train tour on one of five classes of service on our vintage train to the Grand Canyon. Or,select a vacation package that includes lodging at our own Grand Canyon Railway Hotel and in Grand Canyon Nation … More