TUCSON, AZ — The Winterhaven Festival of Lights, Tucson’s longest-running holiday tradition and the largest free holiday light festival in the Southwest, returns December 13–27, 2025, illuminating more than 200 homes with breathtaking artistic displays, handmade décor, and dazzling light and water installations. For more than 75 years, the festival has united the community in celebration, service, and joy—and this season, the tradition grows even stronger.
Drawing more than 200,000 visitors each year, Winterhaven is entirely volunteer-run, operated by neighbors and community members who collectively donate thousands of hours to prepare, decorate, and host visitors from across Arizona and beyond. This year’s festival features major infrastructure upgrades, expanded amenities, new food vendors, specialty guest experiences, enhanced accessibility, and a renewed focus on hunger relief across Southern Arizona.
In 2025, we are especially grateful to our sponsors and partners, without whom this festival would not be possible. Special thanks to Tucson Electric Power for increasing their supporting contribution in addition to their team of dedicated professionals who help illuminate the Winterhaven community, as well as Cox Communications for their financial and in-kind decoration support.
A Festival With Purpose: Supporting the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
Winterhaven remains dedicated to combating hunger by supporting the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona (CFB). Since its founding, the festival has generated hundreds of thousands of pounds of food and critical funding for families in need.
In 2024, Winterhaven visitors donated 34,134 pounds of food and $33,774 toward CFB’s services across five counties. With 1 in 7 Arizonans and 1 in 5 children facing food insecurity, this year’s need is even higher.
For 2025, Winterhaven aims to raise $60,000 or more in support of CFB—enough to help feed thousands of local families through a season of high need.
Guests may donate through QR codes onsite or online:
https://donate.communityfoodbank.org/give/732930/#!/donation/checkout
What’s New for 2025
Walking-First Experience
Arizona Party Bike — Holiday Group Tours
Climb aboard the Holiday Lit Party Bike for guided rides through decorated streets. Led by a party captain, guests can enjoy festive décor, group singalongs, photo stops, and memorable holiday fun.
Booking: https://www.arizonapartybike.com/tucson/winterhaven-rides/
Silent Holiday Adventures — Mobile Silent Disco Tour
Straight from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Silent Adventures brings a 60-minute guided silent disco walk filled with comedy, choreography, and joyful group antics.
Details: https://silentadventures.com/arizona/
Assisted Living Drive-Through Nights —
In partnership with Watermark Communities, Winterhaven proudly offers early-access drive-through nights to senior living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation communities.
Dates: December 15 & 17, 2025
Time: 5:30–6:30 PM
Registration (free):
https://saaca.formstack.com/forms/winterhaven_festival_of_lights_2025_assisted_living_mobility_drive_through_night
Watermark’s sponsorship ensures that residents with mobility challenges can continue participating in Tucson’s longest-standing holiday celebration safely and joyfully.
New & Returning Food Vendors
Winterhaven’s 2025 food lineup showcases beloved local vendors offering everything from warm seasonal beverages to gourmet hot dogs to Baja-style seafood:
- Trucking Good Cupcakes (Center Island)
- Star Kettle Corn (Center Island)
- Prep & Pastry (Center Island)
- Common Grounds (Center Island and Main Ft. Lowell Entrance)
- La Bufadora Fish Tacos (Main Entrance near Ft Lowell)
- Papa B’s Fried Chicken (Main Entrance near Ft Lowell)
- Paco’s Tacos (Center Island)
- You Sly Dog (Center Island)
Visitors will find food vendors at the center island and main entrance.
Expanded Amenities & Infrastructure
This year’s enhancements focus on visitor experience, safety, and comfort:
- More accessible portable restrooms
- Increased walkway lighting
- QR codes providing navigation and festival information
- Enhanced directional signage
- Additional trash and recycling bins
- A Central Information Tent and First Aid Tent at the Center Island for lost-and-found, first aid, and official festival updates
Streamlined Parking, Shuttle Partnerships, and Transportation
Winterhaven continues to partner with local businesses, schools, and churches to provide Official Festival Parking Lots designed to reduce congestion and protect residential streets.
A live interactive parking and shuttle map launches December 1.
Parking on residential streets is prohibited to safeguard emergency access and neighborhood quality of life.
Enhanced Security
New security measures include:
- Two roaming security guards each night
- Improved access control at festival entrances
- Expanded volunteer and staff safety training
Suggested Donation Entry & Cashless Giving
The festival remains free, but visitors are encouraged to contribute a suggested donation supporting festival operations and hunger-relief efforts. QR codes and online giving will streamline the donation process.
Why Winterhaven Matters: Tradition Turning Into Impact
More than a holiday spectacle, Winterhaven is a social lifeline, cultural anchor, and community-powered act of generosity.
This year’s celebration will include:
- Over 200 artistically illuminated homes
- 1,000+ volunteer hours
- Tens of thousands of visitors
- Thousands of handmade decorations and custom displays
If the festival meets its $60,000 food bank goal, it will directly help feed children, seniors, and families navigating a season of hardship.
“A winter walk. A flicker of lights. A familiar carol,” organizers shared. “When Tucson chooses to give, Winterhaven becomes more than a festival—it becomes a lifeline.”
Community Support through Volunteer & Sponsorship Opportunities
Winterhaven invites the community to help sustain this cherished tradition.
Ways to Support Winterhaven
- Become a Friend of the Festival
- Sponsor a home, street, night, or installation
- Donate at entrances or via QR code
- Volunteer to support nightly operations
- Apply to be an Official Parking Lot or Shuttle Partner
Sponsorship information:
https://winterhavenfestival.org/sponsor.html
Register to Volunteer
Special Thanks to Our 2025 Sponsors & Partners
Title Sponsor
- Tucson Electric Power
Supporting Partners
· Cox Communications
· Watermark Communities (Assisted Living Drive-Through Nights Sponsor)
· City of Tucson
- Servpro
- Tucson Federal Credit Union (Volunteer T-Shirt Sponsor)
- Next Level Remodels (Friend of the Festival)
- Hughes Federal Credit Union (Friend of the Festival)
- Romeo Tree Service (Friend of the Festival)
- Official Pools AZ (Friend of the Festival)
- Turnkey Pros (Friend of the Festival)
Winterhaven is possible because of the generosity of dozens of local businesses, community donors, and volunteer teams who give their time to keep this longstanding tradition alive.
Leadership Perspective
“This is a pivotal year for Winterhaven,” said Kate Marquez, Festival Chair. “Our changes are rooted in what the community asked for—more amenities, better lighting, safer walkways, less congestion, and exciting new ways to experience the festival—all while keeping the focus on giving back to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona and building a sustainable festival that honors the tradition that started over seven decades ago.”
Festival Dates & Details
When: December 13–27, 2025
Hours: Nightly, 6:00–10:00 PM
Where: Historic Winterhaven Neighborhood, Tucson, AZ
Admission: Free; suggested donation encouraged
Beneficiary: Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona
Website: www.winterhavenfestival.org
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