Christmas Events for Kids in Flagstaff (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

Updated 6 min read

Looking for Christmas events in Flagstaff this year? We found 5 for kids and families in 2026, including Holiday Parade of Lights, Winter Wonderland & Tree Lighting and Winter Movie Series. 5 of them are free. We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Arizona Christmas events for kids guide.

The short version

  • 5 Christmas events for kids in Flagstaff
  • The season runs from Snowflake Festival (Flagstaff, December 5) to Noon Year's Eve (through December 31)
  • 5 free, including Snowflake Festival, Winter Movie Series and Winter Wonderland & Tree Lighting
  • Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 4

Christmas events for kids in Flagstaff

5 events in Flagstaff itself, soonest first.

Santa visitFree

Snowflake Festival

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The Snowflake Festival fills the Flagstaff Visitor Center with holiday cheer on Saturday morning, December 5. Children can make crafts, and Santa is on hand for photos. Families are welcome to bring their own camera, or pay $1 for an instant Polaroid.

The festival also includes a holiday art market, so grown-ups can browse local gifts while kids are busy at the craft tables. A toy drive collects new, packaged toys for local children, so bring one along if you would like to give. Admission is free, and the visitor center sits right in the middle of historic downtown, which makes it an easy first stop before the tree lighting later in the day.

Parent tip: Bring a new, packaged toy for the toy drive and a few dollar bills for the Polaroid photo.

Host
Flagstaff Visitor Center (opens in a new tab)
Address
Flagstaff Visitor Center, 1 E Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Flagstaff Visitor Center (opens in a new tab)

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Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 4 more Flagstaff events researched for you.

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Coming up on this page

  • 3 Crafts
  • 2 Santa
  • 2 Lights
  • 1 Parades
  • 5 Free

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Holiday showFree

Winter Movie Series

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The Orpheum Theater turns into a family movie house on three Saturdays in December. Doors open at 9 am and the film starts at 9:30 am on December 5, 12 and 19, so the whole thing fits easily into a morning before lunch.

Admission is free, and seating is first come, first served. Concessions are available if the kids want popcorn. The series shows holiday favorites on the big screen, and the page for each date names the film, so check the Downtown Flagstaff holidays page to pick the day that suits your family best.

Parent tip: Arrive early for the best seats, since seating is first come, first served.

Host
Downtown Flagstaff (opens in a new tab)
Address
Orpheum Theater, 15 W Aspen Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Downtown Flagstaff (opens in a new tab)

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Tree lightingFree

Winter Wonderland & Tree Lighting

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Winter Wonderland is one of downtown Flagstaff's favorite holiday traditions. From 2:30 pm, Heritage Square fills with live music, games, crafts and sweets for all ages, and free hot cocoa is part of the fun.

The evening builds toward the tree lighting. Santa is listed to arrive around 6:15 pm on a big red fire truck, then he and local elected officials gather everyone around the tree to switch on the lights at dusk. The exact lighting time is announced closer to the day, so check the Downtown Flagstaff website or Facebook page. The event is hosted by the Downtown Flagstaff Foundation, the City of Flagstaff and Discover Flagstaff.

Parent tip: Dress in warm layers, since December evenings in Flagstaff get cold. Check the exact lighting time the week of the event.

Host
Downtown Flagstaff Foundation (opens in a new tab)
Address
Heritage Square, 6 E Aspen Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Downtown Flagstaff Foundation (opens in a new tab)

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Holiday paradeFree

Holiday Parade of Lights

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The Holiday Parade of Lights is presented by the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and starts at 6 pm on Saturday, December 12. Floats decked out in lights travel through historic downtown, and families line the streets to watch.

Watching is free. The 2025 parade started on time at 6 pm near Beaver Street and Elm Avenue in downtown, so plan to be in place a little early to claim a spot, and check the chamber's site for the 2026 route before you go.

Parent tip: Bring warm layers and a folding chair or blanket, and arrive early since the parade starts on time.

Host
Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce (opens in a new tab)
Address
Historic Downtown Flagstaff, Beaver St and Elm Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce (opens in a new tab)

New Flagstaff events every week

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Holiday craftsFree

Noon Year's Eve

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Noon Year's Eve lets little ones celebrate the new year without staying up late. From 10 am to noon on December 31, families gather in downtown Flagstaff for a selfie station, cookie decorating and crafts, with a kickoff at Heritage Square.

The morning ends with the Great Pinecone Drop at the Weatherford Hotel at noon. The event is free and listed as family friendly, which makes it an easy way to wrap up the holiday week.

Parent tip: Dress warmly, since part of the fun is outdoors in Heritage Square.

Host
Downtown Flagstaff Business Alliance (opens in a new tab)
Address
The Weatherford Hotel and Heritage Square, 23 N Leroux St, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Downtown Flagstaff Business Alliance (opens in a new tab)

New Flagstaff events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Flagstaff daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Flagstaff.

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Look inside the book

Story time with Santa in Flagstaff? Bring Rally home.

A five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, painted in real watercolor. Turn a few pages now, then save it for bedtime after a big day with Santa.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Arizona Christmas train rides page.

Flagstaff Christmas events for kids at a glance

Kids’ Christmas events
5 confirmed for 2026
Cities
Flagstaff
Season
December 5 to December 31, 2026
Free events
5
Kinds of events
Santa visits, holiday shows, tree lightings and holiday parades
Last checked
See every event on a December calendar

Plan your December

When each Flagstaff Christmas event for kids happens

The first is Snowflake Festival in Flagstaff on December 5; the last runs to December 31. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.

Looking further afield? Our Arizona Christmas events for kids guide lists every confirmed event in the state, and we have city guides for Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Lake Havasu City, Casa Grande and Yuma. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.

A story for the drive home

A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

2026 Christmas events are coming in late November

More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.

The story of Christmas in Flagstaff

In Flagstaff, Santa arrives on a fire truck to light the downtown tree, and the snow can be real. HGTV even named this mountain town one of the best Christmas towns in the country.

How Flagstaff celebrates

Flagstaff's holiday season centers on historic downtown. The Winter Wonderland and Tree Lighting at Heritage Square is called one of the city's favorite holiday traditions. It is hosted by the Downtown Flagstaff Foundation, the City of Flagstaff and Discover Flagstaff, with live music, games and crafts for all ages. Santa and local elected officials gather everyone around the tree at dusk to switch on the lights. The Holiday Parade of Lights, presented by the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, brings lit floats through the downtown streets.

Christmas last year in Flagstaff

The 2025 Holiday Parade of Lights took place on Saturday, December 13, from 6 to 8 pm, and it started on time. Spectators watched for free. The route began at Beaver and Elm in historic downtown and looped by way of Aspen and San Francisco before returning to Elm. Float entries cost $85 each and could carry up to 35 people. Desert Financial Credit Union was the title sponsor, and Arizona Snowbowl was among the main stage sponsors. That fall, HGTV also listed Flagstaff among its 50 best Christmas towns in the United States.

Fun facts about Christmas in Flagstaff

Flagstaff is Arizona's snowiest city, averaging about 90 inches of snow a year, so a white Christmas is a real possibility here. At past tree lightings Santa has pushed a giant candy cane to switch on the lights, and he leaves by waving from a fire truck. HGTV calls the city a picture-perfect pit stop for winter travelers on the way to the Grand Canyon. Historic downtown is known for Christmas light displays, and Lowell Observatory is a top spot for stargazing.

Trains near Flagstaff

Flagstaff is known as a stop for winter travelers heading to the Grand Canyon, and trains are part of that story nearby. Grand Canyon Railway in Williams runs a vintage train to the South Rim, about 2 hours 15 minutes each way. Also in Williams, the Arizona State Railroad Museum displays a cornerstone boxcar at Glassburn Park along Route 66. Farther south, Verde Canyon Railroad in Clarkdale offers a four-hour narrated ride through red-rock canyon with a depot museum.

Traditions today

  • Winter Wonderland and Tree Lighting: A free afternoon of music, crafts and games at Heritage Square, ending when Santa and local leaders light the tree at dusk.
  • Santa's fire truck arrival: Santa arrives on a big red fire truck before the tree lighting, a moment kids can look forward to.
  • Holiday Parade of Lights: A lit-up evening parade through historic downtown, free to watch and presented by the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce.
  • Downtown light displays: Historic downtown is known for Christmas lights and a snowy, festive feel.
  • Stargazing at Lowell Observatory: Families add a winter night of stargazing to their holiday plans.

A fact for kids

Flagstaff is Arizona's snowiest city, with about 90 inches of snow in an average year, so kids here have a real chance at a white Christmas.

Questions about Christmas in Flagstaff

What is Flagstaff's best-known Christmas tradition?

The Winter Wonderland and Tree Lighting at Heritage Square is described as one of the city's favorite holiday traditions. Families enjoy live music, games and crafts all afternoon, and then Santa and local leaders gather everyone around the tree at dusk to light it. The event is free to attend.

Who hosts the Winter Wonderland and Tree Lighting?

The event is hosted by the Downtown Flagstaff Foundation, the City of Flagstaff Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Events Division, and Discover Flagstaff. It is free, and it includes hot cocoa, live music, games and crafts for all ages before the tree is lit at dusk.

How does Santa arrive in Flagstaff?

Santa arrives on a big red fire truck. At past tree lightings he has also pushed a giant candy cane to switch on the lights, and he has left the event waving from a fire truck. Check the current listing for this year's schedule.

When was the Flagstaff Holiday Parade of Lights last year?

The 2025 parade was held on Saturday, December 13, from 6 to 8 pm, and it started on time at 6. Spectators watched for free in historic downtown. Float entries had to register in advance and paid an $85 fee.

Where does the Holiday Parade of Lights go?

The 2025 route started at Beaver and Elm in historic downtown, went from Beaver to Aspen, from Aspen to San Francisco, and from San Francisco back to Elm. Routes can change, so check the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce for the current year before you go.

Who presents the Holiday Parade of Lights?

The Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce presents the parade. In 2025, Desert Financial Credit Union was the title sponsor, and local businesses including Arizona Snowbowl sponsored the main stage. Anyone with a float can enter for a fee. Anyone with a float can enter for a fee.

Does it snow in Flagstaff at Christmas?

Often, yes. Flagstaff is Arizona's snowiest city and averages about 90 inches of snow a year, according to HGTV coverage. That is why winter coats, boots and hot cocoa are a good idea for kids visiting Flagstaff in December, and why a white Christmas is a real possibility here.

Why is Flagstaff called a Christmas town?

HGTV picked Flagstaff as Arizona's entry in its list of 50 best Christmas towns in the United States. It cited the snowy feel, Christmas lights in historic downtown and its role as a picture-perfect pit stop for winter travelers heading to the Grand Canyon.

What is there to see on a winter night besides lights?

Lowell Observatory is described as a top spot for stargazing, which makes a winter evening in Flagstaff feel special for curious kids. Combine a downtown light stroll with a look at the stars, and bring warm layers, since mountain nights are cold.

Where is Heritage Square?

Heritage Square is in historic downtown Flagstaff, and it is where the Winter Wonderland and Tree Lighting takes place. Historic downtown is also known for its Christmas light displays, so families can enjoy the tree lighting and then take a look at the lights nearby. Check the event listing for current details.

What should we wear to the tree lighting?

Dress in warm layers, including hats, mittens and waterproof boots, since December evenings in Flagstaff are cold and there may be snow on the ground. The tree is lit at dusk, so plan for the temperature to drop quickly after the afternoon activities end.

Is the tree lighting good for small children?

Yes, because the afternoon starts at 2:30 pm in 2026 listings with crafts, games, sweets and cocoa, giving little ones time to warm up before the lighting. Come early, take breaks, and check our Flagstaff Christmas events guide on this page for the confirmed 2026 schedule.

How do I find this year's Flagstaff holiday dates?

Dates change every year, so check our Flagstaff Christmas events guide on this page for what we have confirmed for the 2026 season. Last year the Holiday Parade of Lights was on a Saturday evening in mid December, and the tree lighting listing for 2026 is on the Discover Flagstaff page.

Can we watch the Holiday Parade of Lights with toddlers?

Yes, it is free to watch and starts at an early evening hour, around 6 pm in 2025. Bring blankets, a thermos of cocoa and warm layers, and arrive early for a good view. Our Flagstaff Christmas events guide on this page lists the current details.

What other winter fun is near Flagstaff?

Arizona Snowbowl on the San Francisco Peaks offers skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and skating, according to HGTV coverage. For a young child, the nearby snow itself is often the main event, so a short trip to play in the snow can be a great part of a holiday visit.

Are there trains near Flagstaff at Christmas?

Yes, the town of Williams is nearby and home to the Grand Canyon Railway, a vintage train to the Grand Canyon's South Rim, and the Arizona State Railroad Museum. Check each site for holiday schedules before you plan a visit, and see our museum pages for details.

What is the Arizona State Railroad Museum?

It is a Williams nonprofit founded in 2009 that collects historic Arizona rail equipment for a planned museum. It has no regular visiting hours yet, but its cornerstone boxcar is on display at Glassburn Park along Route 66, which is a quick stop for train-loving kids.

Is the Winter Wonderland in Flagstaff free?

Yes, the Winter Wonderland and Tree Lighting at Heritage Square is free to attend, and so is the hot cocoa. Live music, games and crafts for all ages fill the afternoon. The 2026 listing from Discover Flagstaff shows a Santa arrival at about 6:15 pm, with the exact lighting time announced closer to the day.

How can I explain a tree lighting to a child?

Tell your child that the whole town gathers around the tree at dusk, and that Santa and local leaders switch on the lights together. Talk about the dark sky, the sparkle and the music, and let your child watch for Santa's fire truck arriving. It is a shared moment.

How can we make our own Flagstaff Christmas tradition?

Pick one small ritual and repeat it every year, like watching the tree lighting, sipping hot cocoa and then looking at the stars. Take a photo in the same spot each December and watch how much your child grows. Even a small ritual like this can become a family tradition.

Sources

  1. Winter Wonderland & Tree Lighting, Downtown Flagstaff
  2. Santa Claus comes to town for annual Winter Wonderland and tree lighting, Arizona Daily Sun
  3. Holiday Parade of Lights 2025, Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
  4. HGTV named this Arizona city one of the best Christmas towns in the US, AOL
  5. Christmas and winter holidays, Discover Flagstaff
  6. Grand Canyon Railway, Rally Takes the Train
  7. Arizona State Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
  8. Verde Canyon Railroad, Rally Takes the Train

Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every Arizona city.

Flagstaff Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What are the best Christmas events for kids in Flagstaff this year?

Rally Takes the Train has confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in Flagstaff for the 2026 season, and 5 of them are free. Good places to start: Holiday Parade of Lights (Dec 12), Winter Wonderland & Tree Lighting (Dec 5) and Winter Movie Series (Dec 5 to Dec 19). Each one is listed with its dates, times, cost and a link to the host.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Flagstaff?

Yes. All 5 Christmas events for kids in Flagstaff confirmed for 2026 are free. Two worth planning around: Snowflake Festival (Dec 5) and Noon Year's Eve (Dec 31). Some free events still need a reservation, so check the host’s page before you go.

Where can kids meet Santa in Flagstaff?

2 Christmas events in Flagstaff this season include a visit with Santa. Bring your own camera; most visits allow photos.

Where can kids see Christmas lights in Flagstaff?

There are two Christmas light displays and tree lightings in and around Flagstaff this year, including . Most light walks run on set evenings only, so check the host’s dates before you go.

Is anything on for kids in Flagstaff on Christmas Eve or after Christmas?

Yes. Noon Year's Eve runs through Dec 31.

Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Flagstaff?

Yes. Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Arizona Christmas train rides guide. This Flagstaff guide covers story times, Santa visits, light shows and other events off the rails.

How do you confirm these events?

We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 4, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.

Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.

Kelsey Cecil
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