Flagstaff Holiday Events Fill Upcoming Weekend

Tonight (Friday) join Santa and Flagstaff Mayor Donaldson to light the Holiday tree in Heritage Square in downtown Flagstaff. The lighting at the square will happen between 5:30 and 5:45 p.m. Celebrants will then move to Wheeler Park (west of Humphreys Street between Aspen and Birch) for festivities that will kick off at 6:00 p.m. and continue until 8:00 p.m. in the Wheeler Parking Lot. Holiday music, arts & crafts, hot beverages, and Santa Claus will help everyone ring in the holiday season. Mayor Joe Donaldson and Santa Claus will flip the giant light switch to turn on the amazing holiday light show in Wheeler Park at 6:30 p.m.

You’ll have time to scoot to NAU’s Ardrey Auditorium for the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra and NAU Prep Dancer’s performance of the Nutcracker, beginning at 7:30 (reserve tickets in advance!). The performance will be repeated at the annual Lollipop Concert at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

On Saturday, turquoise lovers at in for a treat at the Museum of Northern Arizona, where a special trunk show will bring artists from Santa Fe and museum staff will be on hand to talk about Arizona turquoise. Bisbee, Morenci, and Kingman, Arizona turquoise mines will be discussed. Arizona sky stones are mined and processed into Native handmade jewelry. The Saturday show begins at 10 a.m. and continues to 4 p.m.  While you’re visiting the museum, you’ll have the opportunity to see the Annual Trappings of the American West and the continuing Mystery of the Sickle-Claw Dinosaur exhibits, as well as the wonderful permanent displays. And, stop in on the Cowboy Poetry Gathering "Riding the Rim" from noon-2 p.m. on Saturday!

Also on Saturday, take advantage of the unusual opportunity to visit some of Flagstaff’s historic downtown homes, a benefit for Friends of Flagstaff Future. The self-guided tour begins at 2 and continues through 7:30 p.m. Homes will be decorated for the holidays and musicians will perform. Call (928) 556-8663 for tickets and reservations.

Here is more to do in Flagstaff, coming up in December, check out this recent post. And for more to do in Flagstaff this weekend and next week, check out the Community Calendar.