As one of the best and brightest places to celebrate the holiday season, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is set to be more magical and more spectacular than ever as it transforms into a desert winter wonderland during its annual Christmas at the Princess festival, November 22 – December 31, 2017. Check out all the highlights for this year’s six-week celebration:
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony – November 22, 6p.
Kick off the season with musical performances, Ice Den skaters and the annual tree lighting. The event is open to the public and the price for admission/self-parking is a suggested$25 donation to Cox Charities benefitting the #LoveUp Foundation for children in foster care. Guests are also encouraged to bring new unwrapped toys, gifts for teenagers and household items for young adults graduating out of the foster care system.
Holiday Characters
Meet and greet with the resort’s holiday friends including Princesses Angelica and Noel, the huggable yeti Shivers and the squishable Graham, a walking s’more, plus Peppermint Penguin and Selfie Elfie.
New! Santa’s Secret Headquarters
Find Santa in his new Secret Headquarters where you can write wish lists, learn the secret elf pledge and have photos taken with him nightly throughout the season.
New! Copper Canyon Village Light Show – December 1-3, 8-10, 15-31.
Enjoy an all-new light show at the new Amazing Christmas Visions Tree located at the resort’s Western town.
New! Build-A-Bear Workshop Pop-Up Shop
Dreams and stuffed animals are made at this bear- and reindeer-creating station, complete with holiday fashion accessories and a “sweet heart ceremony” where guests choose a red satin heart, make a wish and place it inside their creation.
Santa Cares Photo Experience – November 26 & December 4, 3:30p – 4:30p
Santa’s Secret Headquarters welcomes children with all spectrums of special needs to a photo environment supportive of their needs. The event takes place prior to public hours in a comforting, physically accommodating setting designed to lessen behavioral triggers.
Paw-sitively Christmas – December 2, 3p – 5p
Capture holiday photos of your pets with Santa in his Secret Headquarters, along with the resort’s Canine Ambassadors, Bixby & Gibbs.
S’mores Land: Polar Glide Ice Slide Frosty’s Ferris Wheel
Visit s’mores-loving Graham, roast marshmallows around the campfire, take an icy slide down the Polar Glide, a whirl on the Christmas Carousel or a twirl on Frosty’s Ferris Wheel.
Enchanted Plaza Musical Tree & Animated Holiday Light Show – 6p – 10p nightly
The resort’s custom-designed tree has 80,000 LED lights that “twinkle and dance” to 18 holiday songs accompanied by a one-of-a-kind animated video show featuring holiday scenes set to music.
Desert Ice Skating Rink
Made with real ice and surrounded by saguaros, skaters experience magical snowfalls beneath a star-filled Arizona sky on the 6,000 square-foot rink. For the ultimate VIP experience, luxury rink-side fire pit tables with s’mores and blankets are available.
Lagoon Lights
This year the resort shines with 4.5 million LED lights beginning with a 17-foot long infinity tunnel. Stroll or ride through the majestic Lagoon Lights, a fantasy land filled with swans floating on the water, a buccaneer pirate ship, a whale, dolphin, mermaid, Nessie the 30-foot Loch Ness Monster, 14-foot poinsettias, rocking horse, a candy cane forest and more.
Princess Express Trains
Guests board either of two Princess Express Trains nightly for a ride around the Lagoon Lights.
Nativity Garden Light Show – 5p – 9p nightly
The resort’s Fragrance Garden becomes the Nativity Garden, where an 88-foot-long narrated light and music show tells the story of Christmas.
Menorah Lighting – December 12-20, 5:30p
A nightly menorah lighting with latkes and applesauce takes place in the resort lobby while Lagoon Lights features a 25-foot menorah plus 4-foot dreidel and gelt.
The Ice Den Scottsdale Presents “Magical Moments on Ice”
Watch Ice Den skaters showcase their talents to holiday music at the Princess’ Desert Ice rink.
Seasonal Dining Experiences
Memorable dining experiences range from Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak (where kids 12 and under eat free) to Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar and La Hacienda by Richard Sandoval, with special seasonal menus.
Breakfast with Santa & Friends – December 23, 9a – 12p.
This wonderful, whimsical pajama party breakfast, hosted by Mrs. Claus and the Holiday Characters features DJ Jingle, reindeer games, a Legoland Discovery Center play area, photos with Santa, a special daytime skating session, access to S’mores Land and chances to win great prizes such as an American Girl doll.
Kringle’s Korner & Holiday Shopping
The Christmas Shoppe at Kringle’s Korner is a charming boutique offering wintery wear for the whole family, along with festive seasonal décor. The resort is the perfect place for holiday shopping with unique items in Maverick for men, Anna J women’s boutique and Well & Being Spa’s Community Market.
Let It Glow at Well & Being Spa
Holiday pampering includes “Mistle-Toe” pedicures, peppermint manicures, s’mores body treatment and creating customized moisturizers and scrubs at the Sugar ‘n’ Spice Aromatherapy Blending Bar.
Toy Donation Drop-Off
The tree lighting ceremony kicks off the annual Fairmont Scottsdale Princess toy drive, this year supporting the #LoveUp Foundation. The resort is a drop-off location November 22 – December 22, 2017. Anyone wishing to make a donation can pull right up to the front drive/porte-cochere, where a bellman is happy to assist.
Admission Pricing
Christmas at the Princess is open to the public. General admission is complimentary for hotel guests who also receive express VIP access to the rides and attractions. General admission/parking for non-hotel guests is $55 per vehicle for self-parking valid up to six people. Valet/general admission is complimentary when dining at any of the resort restaurants with a $75 spend, up to six people. General admission includes access to Enchanted Plaza with the four-story musical tree, Enchanted Plaza video show, a walk-through experience of 4.5 million Lagoon Lights, the Nativity Garden, S’mores Land and the Copper Canyon Village Light Show. For guests not staying at the resort, ride sharing or walking in, wristbands are $20 per person to ride the attractions including the Princess Express Trains, Polar Glide, Frosty’s Ferris Wheel and the Christmas Carousel. Skating, photos with Santa, shopping, dining and spa are priced separately.
Princess #LoveUp Holiday Vacation Package
The best way to experience Christmas at the Princess and give back to the community: this package includes overnight accommodations with a $50 daily resort credit, a private holiday character meet-and-greet, express VIP access to the rides and one-hour early access to designated festival attractions. Prices start from $199 per room, per night, plus taxes and resort fees. A portion of every package benefits the #LoveUp Foundation.
For more information on Christmas at the Princess visit scottsdaleprincess.com.
