Places to go on Christmas
After you open the presents, there is still more fun to be had in the Valley. We offer 11 suggestions.
It’s Dec. 25 and you get the dreaded message on Yelp: Check with the business for its holiday hours because it might be closed. ❙ But if you have the day off, Christmas doesn’t have to mean either staying at home or going to the movies. There are plenty of lights displays throughout Phoenix, not to mention outdoor ice-skating rinks and a Christmas-themed farm attraction, that will put you in the holiday spirit. ❙ Or look into live shows and museum experiences, including a limited-time Titanic exhibit that’s in town now. ❙ Take a look at 11 places you can go on Christmas Day.
Christmas at Schnepf Farms
Schnepf Farms promises “the world’s largest inflatable Christmas obstacle course,” a glow-in-the-dark mini golf course, a beer and wine garden, a vintage carousel, a hayride to see Santa’s reindeer and more. Leashed dogs are welcome at the farm, but outside food and drink are not.
Details: 5:30-10 p.m. Schnepf Farms, 24610 S. Rittenhouse Road, Queen Creek. $15-$30. 480-987-3100, schnepfchristmas.com.
‘Old Jews Telling Jokes’
The 90-minute show, recommended for those 17 or older, promises “You’ll laugh ’til you plotz.” Five actors will come to the stage to pay tribute to and reinvent classic jokes.
Details: 7 p.m. Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. $59$74. 602-258-9481, herbergertheater.org.
See the lights of Ahwatukee
Let a million or so white lights light up your evening along a 1-mile stretch of Chandler Boulevard in Ahwatukee Foothills. Want to see all the light shows the Valley has to offer? Check out our comprehensive holiday lights map.
Details: Chandler Boulevard between 24th Street and Desert Foothills Parkway. Free. 928-235-4605, folaz.org.
Drive-through light show
If you need even more holiday lights to brighten up your life, head to Glendale or Tempe and experience the World of Illumination, where you drive through a tunnel of 2 million lights that are synchronized to holiday jingles.
Details: 6797 N. 93rd Ave, Glendale; and Tempe Diablo Stadium, 2200 W. Alameda Drive. $32.99-$40. worldofillumination.com.
Titanic exhibition
It’s one thing to watch Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in the 1997 film “Titanic,” but a wholly different experience to see what objects survived the famous shipwreck more than 100 years ago. Marvel at more than 137 artifacts from the Titanic that were recovered from the ocean floor as well as recreations of the ship’s rooms.
Details: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. OdySea in the Desert, 9500 E Via de Ventura, on the Salt River Reservation near Scottsdale. $14.95-$24.95. 480-291-5083, titanicaz.com.
OdySea Aquarium
Start at the sturgeon cove and make your way down to the sharks — along the way, you’ll come across the two-toed sloth, stingrays and the fan-favorite African black-footed penguin. If you want to plan a day-long family outing, OdySea’s other attractions are open, too: Surprise Your Eyes — a limited time, Instagram-worthy pop-up art experience — Butterfly Wonderland, Pangea Land
of the Dinosaurs and the Laser and Mirror Maze.
Details: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. OdySea in the Desert , 9500 E Via De Ventura, on the Salt River Reservation near Scottsdale. $25.95-$44.95. 480-291-8000, odyseaaquarium.com.
Christmas Dollar Skate
Ice skating is a nice seasonal activity and all, but some people prefer to boogie with DJ Santa at the roller rink. Admission to Skateland Mesa is just $1 on Dec. 25 — though if you don’t bring your own skates, a pair will cost you $3.50 to rent ($4.50 for inline skates).
Details: 5:30-8 p.m. Skateland Mesa, 7 E. Southern Ave., Mesa. $1. 480-8337775, unitedskates.com.
Go on a musical journey
The Musical Instrument Museum will be open on Christmas Day to show you instruments and musical styles from around the world. The current exhibit, “Congo Masks and Music: Masterpieces From Central Africa,” will showcase more than 150 masks, instruments and costumes from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. $10-$20. 480-4786000, mim.org.
Freestyle on the ice
Outdoor ice rinks will be open to put you in the winter spirit on Christmas Day. CitySkate at CityScape in downtown Phoenix will be open throughout the afternoon and costs $15 for adults, $10 for kids. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess winter wonderland, which offers train rides, light shows, s’mores making and more, will have an ice rink open from 4 to 10 p.m.
Details: phxicerink.com, scottsdaleprincess.com.
Christmas drag show
The city’s longest-running drag show is bringing back the annual Pussy LeHoot Christmas Show at Charlie’s Phoenix, the country-themed gay bar. Drag queen Pussy LeHoot will host her friends in a show that will cap off Charlie’s 22 days of Christmas.
Details: Doors open at 6 p.m., show begins at 7. Charlie’s Phoenix, 727 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-2650224, charliesphoenix.com.
Paint and sip
Take to the easel in a guided holiday-inspired painting class with a drink in hand at the 347 Grill. Tickets for the class are $30 online and $40 at the door.
Details: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Ultrastar Multi-tainment Center at Ak-Chin Circle, 16000 N. Maricopa Road, Maricopa. $30-$40. 520-568-3456, ultrastaraz.com