Winter Wonderland in Glendale features dance performances, snow and Santa visits Dec. 9-10
Snow, Santa, special moments with family and friends and feelings of merriment can turn any place into a “winter wonderland.”
Historic Downtown Glendale will have everything needed for a festive holiday celebration, including its grandiose light display, during Glendale Glitters’ Winter Wonderland Weekend on Dec. 9 and 10.
During each weekend of Glendale Glitters through Dec. 17, the city of Glendale will host special events. The December event series kicked off with the music-themed Jingle Bell Rockin’ Nights weekend on Dec. 2 and 3 and will close on Dec. 16 and 17 with the charity-focused Spirit of Giving Weekend.
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Kim Larson, marketing and communications manager for the city of Glendale, said each special weekend offers something a little different, especially for visitors returning to Glendale Glitters every year or multiple times in a season.
“We try to create a magical atmosphere, whatever the theme might be,” Larson said.
As part of the Winter Wonderland Weekend, children can make snow angels and build snowmen inside a snow field with 12 to 19 tons of snow.
“The kids just love it. We just don’t get that very often in Arizona,” Larson said.
The snow field will be open to children 12 and under and cost $3 for each participant.
Families can also check out screenings of "The Santa Clause" at Murphy Park at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
The weekend’s entertainment lineup will feature youth dance groups from the Dance Shoppe, Innerlight Dance Center, Cannedy Performing Arts and Paula Carr Dance Academy.
Visitors can also see the Arizona Twirling Athletes, a twirling group for kids 6 to 18; the Center Stage Stars youth show choir; 7- to 17-year-old singers and dancers from Spotlight Entertainment Fine Arts Academy and hula dancers from Aloha Hapa Hula Entertainment.
Downtown Glendale will have visits with Santa; craft booths; inflatables and a petting zoo with goats, a pony and ducks.
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During Glendale Glitters, 1.5 million LED lights add sparkle to 16 blocks of Historic Downtown Glendale.
The newest addition to the display, a lighted ornament in Murphy Park offers a colorful backdrop for selfies and holiday photos.
In an area adjacent to the Glendale Civic Center, near 58th Avenue and Glenn Drive, visitors will find a 30-foot tree covered in dazzling Christmas lights.
The holiday light spectacular stays open nightly from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 7. Around 250,000 to 300,000 people visit Historic Downtown Glendale during Glendale Glitters, which started in 1994 as a way to bring Valley residents into a newly-updated Downtown Glendale area. From the start, local business owners, city leaders and residents were involved in the community celebration.
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At local shops and restaurants in the Old Towne and Catlin Court neighborhoods, guests can find unique gift items or try holiday-themed meals or desserts during Glendale Glitters.
Lorraine Zomok, manager for Visit Glendale, said every year local business owners and residents have the chance to show others what makes their community special.
“It really is such a magical time and a chance for us to share the beauty of downtown Glendale with a worldwide audience. Visitors come from all over the world, and they’ve been coming for decades now,” Zomok said. “So, people who came as children are now bringing their own children.”
Zomok said the quaint, small-town feel of the two neighborhoods adds to charm of Glendale Glitters.
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“Visitors love that. They want to experience the local culture, sights and sounds, and Glendale Glitters is just such an authentic, iconic and one-of-a-kind event,” Zomok said.
Many of the local shop and restaurant owners decorate in the spirit of the holidays.
Glass Creations Boutique on 58th Avenue is known for its upside down Christmas tree, and the Cottage Garden on Glenn Drive has each room decorated in a different holiday theme.
During the holidays, Bears and More, a specialty shop on 58th Drive, resembles a gingerbread house.
One of the highlights in the Catlin Court neighborhood is a community tree at the corner of 58th Drive and Palmaire Avenue that honors the military with a display of red, white and blue lights. The tree is adorned with handmade holiday ornaments honoring servicemen and servicewomen who have or are currently serving the country.
“I’m very very proud that my son’s name is on that tree. He just completed his third deployment to Afghanistan,” Zomok said. “It just means so much when I walk by the tree and see his name hanging there.”
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