DEC 12–25
2026
6pm–10PM Everyday
Made possible by Tucson Electric Power
The 77th year!
Since 1949, the Winterhaven Festival of Lights has grown into a cherished Tucson tradition. Each holiday season, we open our neighborhood to the Tucson community, inviting everyone to celebrate the spirit of the season with us!
Title Sponsor
The Festival of Lights is made possible by the generous support and partnership of Tucson Electric Power.
See the lights on the move
Ride or dance your way through the lights!
Reserve directly with each company.
Assisted Living Drive Through Nights
Made possible by Watermark Communities
Learn more and apply >
Support the Community Food Bank
Donation stations at every entrance available day & night.
The Festival is free to attend.
We ask everyone to bring a donation of food or money for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.
Most needed items:
Peanut butter, oatmeal, cereal, granola bars, canned tomato products, canned tuna & chicken, canned soup, canned vegetables, canned fruit, rice & pasta, shelf stable milk
In 2025, the Tucson community donated an incredible $50,459.24 and 27,813 pounds of food to the Food Bank during the Festival of Lights.
Learn more about supporting the Food Bank
Sustaining Sponsors
Without them the Festival would not be possible. Thank you!
Join us
About
Festival History
In 1949 CB Richards created a cooperative water company and a modern residential development north of what was Tucson at the time. By 1957 all but 19 of the 257 original lots had been developed.
The Festival of Lights began in 1949. Mr. Richards was inspired to create the Festival after visiting a similar display in Beverly Hills, California in the 1930s. He purchased the first set of Christmas lights in 1949 and donated them to the neighborhood. He purchased the Aleppo pines from a local nursery that was going out of business. They were planted at regular intervals throughout the neighborhood and electrical connections were hooked up near each tree for the lights.
For the first few years of the festival Richards personally judged all the displays and the winner was awarded $100.00. After he moved to San Diego, Richards continued to visit Winterhaven for the Festival of Lights.
The Festival has been held continuously since 1949 except for two years: once during the 1970’s energy crisis when the residents of Winterhaven voted to stay dark, and in 2020 due to coronavirus.
77th Annual Festival of Lights
This year marks the 77th Winterhaven Festival of Lights—one of the longest-running holiday light festivals in the country.
For generations, the Festival has brought holiday cheer to hundreds of thousands of visitors while supporting one of Southern Arizona’s most important causes: the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.
This year, we’re working to raise $60,000 to help feed families across our community.
Every dollar donated helps provide three meals for neighbors facing hunger. Together, we can make an even greater impact this holiday season.
Help us light more than our streets—help us light up lives.
Winterhaven Public Events
Festival of Lights Policies
Dogs
Dogs are allowed at The Festival on leashes but the festival can get busy. We ask dog owners to exercise common sense and courtesy.
Smoking
To help provide a safe, family-friendly experience and respect the residents of the Winterhaven neighborhood, we kindly ask that you refrain from smoking, vaping, or using marijuana or other cannabis products within the festival area. We appreciate your cooperation in helping keep the event enjoyable for everyone.
Trash
Please dispose of trash in the many trash cans placed in and around Winterhaven.
Bicycles
Please be safe, use sound judgment and walk your bicycle when crowded.
Sound Amplification
For pedestrian and vehicular safety, and to avoid residential disruption, only residents and approved vendors are approved for sound amplification.
Freedom of Speech
Individuals or groups wishing to use The Festival of Lights (FOL) for display of signage, distribution of materials, solicitation or other advocacy for social, cultural, political, religious or other ideological purposes during the Festival shall be treated the same as other individuals and groups. These individuals and groups are not endorsed by The Festival of Lights (Winterhaven Public Events) or The Winterhaven Neighborhood Home-Owners-Association.
The FOL has large crowds, takes place in a residential neighborhood on public streets, free of charge. FOL is concerned to protect the peace, welfare and safety of all residents, persons attending the Festival.
Individuals or groups wishing to engage in expressive activity may do so as long as they do not block, impede, or otherwise disrupt motorized vehicles, pedestrian traffic, or access to vendors. To safely accommodate these individuals and groups, they must:
– move with pedestrian flow and not be stationary
– not erect a display or structure on Festival streets and sidewalks designated for vehicles, pedestrians and vendors
– not transport a display or structure on Festival streets and sidewalks designated for vehicles, pedestrians and vendors
– not erect signage or sell products; This is a right reserved and paid for by vendors