Around Town · Holiday guide
Where to eat, what to see and where to go in southern Arizona, Thanksgiving through New Year’s.
Five resorts have posted Thanksgiving prices so far, and 22 lights, parades, fairs and concerts have dates for 2026, from Marana to Tubac. Each listing links to the venue’s own page and says when we last checked it. Venues still working on their plans are listed at the bottom; we’ll fill them in as they post.
Resort buffets and brunches, a turkey trot, and who’s serving a free meal.
Adult and child prices as each resort posts them; the youngest kids eat free at every one. Tax, gratuity or a service charge may be added on top (the Ritz-Carlton’s is 20%); each listing below has the resort’s own wording.
El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort · Oro Valley
Thursday, Nov. 26 · 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
$98 per adult, plus tax and gratuityKids: $34 ages 6–12; 5 and under free
Carved turkey, prime rib and bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, an omelet station, a chilled seafood display, and a hot buffet that runs from cornbread stuffing to machaca Benedict and pumpkin posole.
Call (520) 544-1255; payment is due at booking.
Source · checked Oct. 4
Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort · Catalina Foothills
Thursday, Nov. 26 · 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
$115 per adultKids: $50 ages 6–12; 5 and under free
Traditional Thanksgiving dishes with a Southwestern twist. The resort says the menu is coming soon.
Call (520) 529-3500.
The resort's page doesn't print the year; we've asked it to confirm these are 2026 details.
Source · checked Oct. 4
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa · Catalina Foothills
Thursday, Nov. 26 · 11 a.m.–3 p.m., LA LUZ Restaurant
$119++ per adultKids: $60 children 10 and under
Chilled Gulf shrimp and snow crab, turkey and prime rib carved to order, the traditional sides, live music and a kids' craft corner.
Book through the resort's OpenTable listing. Book →
Source · checked Oct. 4
Arizona Inn · Central Tucson
Thursday, Nov. 26 · Noon–6 p.m.
$135 per adultKids: $45 ages 5–12; under 5 free
A holiday buffet of traditional Thanksgiving favorites and seasonal specialties.
RSVP required; space is limited. Book on OpenTable or call (520) 325-1541. Book →
Source · checked Oct. 4
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain · Marana
Thursday, Nov. 26 · 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
$165 per adult, plus tax and a 20% service chargeKids: $80 ages 4–12; under 4 free
Seafood, chef-attended stations, premium carving and holiday desserts, with views of the Tortolita Mountains.
Book online through the resort, or call (520) 572-3000. Book →
Source · checked Oct. 4
Nothing here matches those filters.
The busiest day on the calendar is Saturday, Dec. 5: five events, from Marana to Tubac — Marana Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting, Holiday Festival of the Arts & Tree Lighting, Holiday Nights at Tohono Chul, Downtown Parade of Lights and Luminaria Nights.
January
one event nightly lights running (Winterhaven, LightsUp!, Marana’s tree show) Tap a day to jump to it.
Wednesday, Nov. 25
Thursday, Nov. 26
Friday, Nov. 27
Saturday, Nov. 28
Sunday, Nov. 29
Wednesday, Dec. 2
Friday, Dec. 4
Saturday, Dec. 5
Sunday, Dec. 6
Tuesday, Dec. 8
Wednesday, Dec. 9
Friday, Dec. 11
Saturday, Dec. 12
Sunday, Dec. 13
Tuesday, Dec. 15
Friday, Dec. 18
Saturday, Dec. 19
Sunday, Dec. 20
Thursday, Dec. 24
Friday, Dec. 25
Thursday, Dec. 31
Neighborhoods, gardens and resorts lit up for the season.
Historic Village of Tubac · Tubac
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 4–5 · 5–9 p.m.
Cost not stated; we've asked
The village lit with luminarias, with treats, shopping and music.
Source · checked Oct. 4
Ed Honea Marana Municipal Complex · Marana
Nightly through the Sunday after Christmas (Dec. 27) · Shows every half hour, 6–9 p.m.
Free
The town's pages differ on whether the first show is the festival night (Dec. 5) or the next day; we've asked.
Source · checked Oct. 4
Winterhaven neighborhood, near Country Club and Fort Lowell roads · Central Tucson
Nightly from Saturday, Dec. 12 · 6–10 p.m.
FreeDonations to the Community Food Bank encouraged
The 77th year of the neighborhood's lights. Leashed dogs are welcome; parking in the neighborhood is restricted, so check the festival's partner lots.
The festival's site lists the last night as both Dec. 25 and Dec. 26; we've asked which.
Source · checked Oct. 4
Nothing here matches those filters.
Most of these are free.
Oro Valley Marketplace · Oro Valley
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5–6 · Hours not posted yet
Free
Artisans, student performers and the town's tree lighting.
So far the dates appear only on the host venue's events list; we've asked the organizer for hours and the tree-lighting time.
Source · checked Oct. 4
Nothing here matches those filters.
Concerts and performances, ticketed unless noted.
GVR West Center, Green Valley · Sahuarita & Green Valley
Saturday, Dec. 12 · 3 p.m.
$35 general public
Source · checked Oct. 4
GVR West Center, Green Valley · Sahuarita & Green Valley
Tuesday, Dec. 15 · 6 p.m.
$50 general public
Source · checked Oct. 4
Nothing here matches those filters.
Brunches with Santa, Christmas dinners and New Year's Eve, as the resorts post them.
El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort · Oro Valley
Dec. 5–6, 12–13 and 19–20 · 9–11 a.m.
$48 per adult, plus tax and gratuityKids: $25 ages 6–12; 5 and under free
A breakfast buffet, Santa and Mrs. Claus, family photos, cookie decorating and story time.
Reservations required: (520) 544-1255.
Source · checked Oct. 4
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa · Catalina Foothills
Saturday, Dec. 19 · 9 a.m.–noon, LA LUZ Restaurant
$50 per adultKids: $25 children 10 and under
Brunch, Santa visits at the table, and a gingerbread workshop with one kit per child.
Book through the resort's OpenTable listing. Book →
Source · checked Oct. 4
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa · Catalina Foothills
Friday, Dec. 25 · 11 a.m.–3 p.m., LA LUZ Restaurant
$119++ per person
Breakfast favorites, chef-attended action and carving stations, and a sweets display.
Book through the resort's OpenTable listing. Book →
Source · checked Oct. 4
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa · Catalina Foothills
Thursday, Dec. 31 · 5–10 p.m., LA LUZ Restaurant
$129++ per person
A prix fixe that opens with a champagne toast; highlights include Dungeness crab, beef tenderloin and lobster risotto.
Book through the resort's OpenTable listing. Book →
Source · checked Oct. 4
The Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa · Catalina Foothills
Thursday, Dec. 31 · 10 p.m.–1 a.m., Casa 71 Tequila Lounge
$129++ per person (separate from the dinner)
Live entertainment, small bites and a midnight champagne toast.
Book through the resort's OpenTable listing. Book →
Source · checked Oct. 4
Nothing here matches those filters.
Free holiday meals, and who is closed on the day.
Gospel Rescue Mission, 4550 S. Palo Verde Rd. · South side
Wednesday, Nov. 25 · 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Free
The mission's community Thanksgiving meal, the day before the holiday.
The mission's page doesn't say who may attend or whether to sign up; we've asked. Call (520) 740-1501.
Source · checked Oct. 4
Casa Maria Soup Kitchen · South side
Nov. 26 and Dec. 25 · Open 8:30–11:30 a.m. every other day of the year
Casa Maria serves every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Source · checked Oct. 4
Nothing here matches those filters.
Not posted yet: Salvation Army Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. In 2025 both were free and open to all, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain Thanksgiving Brunch at Cayton's, Thanksgiving Dinner at CORE, A Sonoran Grill, Christmas Tasting Menu at CORE, Christmas Breakfast with Mr. & Mrs. Claus
Marana Municipal Complex Marana's Nightly Tree & Musical Light Show, Marana Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting
Oro Valley Marketplace Holiday Festival of the Arts & Tree Lighting
El Conquistador Thanksgiving Brunch, Gingerbread & Tree Light Unveiling, Breakfast with Santa, Christmas Day Brunch, Civic Orchestra Winter Jubilee
Tohono Chul Holiday Nights at Tohono Chul
La Paloma Thanksgiving Buffet, Tree Lighting Ceremony, Brunch with Santa & Gingerbread Workshop, Christmas Eve Dinner, Christmas Day Brunch, New Year's Eve Dinner, New Year's Eve Countdown
Hacienda del Sol Thanksgiving Day Buffet
Catalina Foothills High School Messiah
Winterhaven Winterhaven Festival of Lights
Tucson Botanical Gardens LightsUp! A Festival of Illumination
Arizona Inn Thanksgiving Buffet
El Presidio Plaza Chanukah @ Downtown Tucson
Fourth Avenue Fourth Avenue Winter Street Fair
Jácome Plaza Downtown Parade of Lights
Linda Ronstadt Music Hall The Nutcracker
Reid Park Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair, Thanksgiving XC Classic 5K & Fun Run
Mission San Xavier del Bac Christmas at San Xavier
Sahuarita Lake Park Lakeside Holiday Movie: "Elf"
Sahuarita Town Hall Winterfest
Venues that run holiday events but haven’t announced 2026 details. We check them every week.
How this guide is made: every listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own website, menu or booking page, linked as “Source,” never from another outlet’s roundup or from last year’s listing. Where a venue’s page is unclear we say so and ask them; those notes come off when they answer. Prices are as posted and can change, so confirm when you book.
Reported and written by Nicholas De Leon, with research and drafting assistance from Claude Opus 5.5; published at 10:53 AM MST on October 4, 2026. Read more about how this is made.
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