Ahwatukee Foothills Festival of Lights

Mark your calendars: The 15th Annual Festival of Lights kick-off party is fast approaching. The event will take place Saturday, Nov. 27, and will host carnival rides, community entertainment, a beer garden, a marketplace street fair and the Harley parade. The Harley parade, which starts up at 6 p.m., features more than 100 riders from the local Harley-Davidson club. Riders will steer their hogs through the hills and into the park, igniting the million white lights along Chandler Boulevard. Lights will remain lighted from Thanksgiving until the New Year. This event is free to the public.  http://folaz.org/.

Lighting of America’s Tallest Christmas Tree

Head out to the Outlets at Anthem on Nov. 20 to see the lighting of America’s tallest fresh-cut Christmas tree. Standing 110 feet above the ground, the white fir is decorated with 50,000 lights, more than 3,000 ornaments and bows and a 3-foot tall star. Santa Claus is slated to come in from the North Pole to lead the count down and flip on the tree’s switch. Notre Dame Preparatory’s Saints Alive choir and local performing artist, Rachael Calvis, will provide entertainment for the event. This is free to the public and will start at 5 p.m. Stores in the surrounding area will be offering special discounts and deals.  www.outletsanthem.com.