All Things Merry and Bright

Flagstaff, Arizona

All Things MERRY and BRIGHT

This month’s issue is chock full of seasonal celebrating ideas. If you find yourself in the state of Arizona, then you’re in luck — we are expert merrymakers. On page 18, we begin our eleven pages of event listings from around this beautiful state of ours. Don’t miss our list on page 79, covering seasonal happenings in outlying areas such as Lake Havasu City, Wickenburg, and Sierra Vista (all worth a visit while you’re here). We’ve designated holiday-themed fun by putting the event date in yellow. I hope this makes it easier for you to get past the hustle & bustle and find more of the merriment & joy!

Is it unusual for a state which is 42% desert to go all-out for winter holidays? Not to us. We have time-honored traditions that you likely won’t find anywhere else in the country. Since 1957, in Chandler, Arizonans have been creating and decorating a 25-foot tall tumblewood tree. That’s right, in September we start collecting the dead bush-balls as they roll across our dusty roadways and amass them into a giant tree by affixing them to a huge wire cone frame. Then, after about 25 gallons of paint and 20 gallons of flame retardant — voila! — we’ve got ourselves one of the most unique Christmas Tree iterations in the US: our famed tumblewood tree. See our event listing on page 20 for more info on viewing this unique Christmas creation in person.

You might wonder if our generally mild winters make us less jolly for the holidays. A resounding NO of course! Arizona even has it’s very own (officially designated by order of the governor) Christmas City! It’s the Central Arizona city of Prescott (pronounced press-kit) which is nestled in the Bradshaw Mountains. Briefly the capital of Arizona, Prescott has a rich history that includes famous residents like Virgil Earp. Though not a huge collecter of snow, Prescott generally sees a light dusting or two each season. Regardless, nothing dampens its spirit — the courthouse square, surrounded by mature elm trees, is decadently decked out each holiday season and is definitely something to see! (Article on page 24.)

Tempe Town Lake, Tempe, Arizona

Another notable boast for Arizona: we often have the tallest tree in the country. The outlets at Anthem erect an anual giant that has soared up to 115 feet high. But, if we’re a bit short on traditional foliage to wrap with lights, we Arizonans just start lighting other things! Tumbleweeds, cacti, boats... whatever we’ve got handy! Both Tempe (page 21) and Lake Havasu City (page 79) have holiday boat parades with large numbers of well-lit watercraft gliding across Arizona’s lakes.

Whether you’re here for the holidays, or perhaps to ring in 2019, we’re glad you came. Enjoy... celebrate... and delight in all Arizona has to offer. AZ ~ Serena Webbe, Editor