The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess will transform into a winter wonderland in the desert during its 6th annual Christmas at the Princess festival, November 19, 2015 – January 3, 2016. The enchanting AAA Five Diamond resort glistens with holiday splendor featuring a four-story musical tree, Desert Ice Skating Rink, magical snowfalls, 2.8 million Lagoon Lights, three new holiday characters and nightly visits from the jolly ol’ St. Nick himself. Here are a few highlights of the six-week celebration:

  • Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony – Thursday, November 19, 2015

Pre-show family holiday entertainment begins in The Plaza 5:30 p.m.; the tree lighting ceremony is at 6:45 p.m. The Desert Ice Skating Rink, Lagoon Lights and Princess Express Train open that evening. Self-parking is complimentary the night of the tree lighting.

  • New Princess Holiday Character Appearances

The Princess is introducing its new cast of delightful holiday friends who are visiting from the North Pole: Christmas Princess Noel, Peppermint the Penguin and Selfie Elfie.

   Christmas Princess Noel – Princess Noel is one of Santa’s shining stars who lights the North Pole and is bringing her enchanting charm to the Princess to light the resort’s millions of holiday lights. As the reigning president of the Magical Princess Association, she is authorized to induct little princesses, as well as little princes into the Honorary Prince Association, by showing them how to waive, curtsy and bow. She loves joyful music and can be met in the resort’s Enchanted Plaza nightly.

o    Peppermint the Penguin – Peppermint is Christmas Princess Noel’s best friend and he has so much fun skating at the rink or teaching friends how to walk like a penguin. Named after the candy he can’t get enough of, he loves peppermint bark and peppermint mochas and has been known to hand out peppermint candies.

o    Selfie Elfie – Selfie is one of Santa’s more ornery elves. Being the mischievous elf that he is, when he heard that Santa, Princess Noel & Peppermint are headed to Christmas at the Princess, he secretly jumped on the sleigh too. Selfie is very energetic and always looking for fun. He can’t get enough of cameras and loves photo-bombing and taking selfies. Selfie can be spotted most often by the Princess Express Train Depot.

  • Desert Ice Skating Rink

Made with real ice and surrounded by picturesque saguaros, skaters experience magical snowfalls in the warmth of Arizona. The rink is open to the public nightly, November 19, 2015 through January 3, 2016. The price per session is $15 per person and $5 for skate rental. For the ultimate experience, luxury rink-side fire pit tables with s’mores, cocktails, hot cocoa and blankets are available for evening sessions. For reservations and price information, please call (480) 513-6014.

  • Lagoon Lights 

With 2.8 million LED lights illuminating the resort’s majestic lagoons, visitors enter the resort in a walk-through Christmas ornament, then can stroll or ride the Princess Express Train through a lit fantasy land to see graceful swans floating on the water, a buccaneer pirate ship, 14-foot poinsettias, a teddy bear, toy soldiers, a fishing Santa, leaping arches mimicking a water show, Nessie the 30-foot Loch Ness Monster and a candy cane forest.

Throughout the resort, 200 trees are wrapped in lights, many draped with icicles and snowflakes. Visitors will also see a 20-foot snowman, elves peeking around trees, as well as a family of four singing trees and five singing reindeer.

New for 2015 is a 3-D whale, five skating penguins and a 17-foot long infinity tunnel with ever-changing colors from special RGB LED bulbs, capable of 256 million color combinations. Guests will also see glowing butterflies and hibiscus in Ironwood Circle near the East Pool and lit reindeer in the forest lawn by Bourbon Steak.

  • Princess Express Train

Guests board the Princess Express Train nightly for a complimentary ride around the Lagoon Lights. The train depot is located near La Hacienda Trellis and overnight hotel guests receive an express pass to board.

  • Enchanted Plaza: Musical Tree & Animated Holiday Light Show

Specially-designed for the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, the resort’s Christmas tree has 70,000 LED lights that “twinkle and dance” to 14 holiday songs in Princess Plaza, appropriately named Enchanted Plaza for the holidays. The musical tree plays from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. nightly throughout the season while the lit palm trees lining the plaza are synchronized to complement the tree’s music. During the day, this stunning four-story tree is a visual experience, with dozens of glistening snowflakes and a five-foot snowflake tree topper.

Add to that, a high-definition, one-of-a-kind animated video show features five delightful holiday scenes set to music and projected against the resort’s façade. This five-minute show plays promptly at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightly in the Enchanted Plaza from November 20, 2015 – January 3, 2016.

  • New Christmas Petting Zoo

This year, the resort adds the Christmas Petting Zoo, open from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. during the entirety of the festival, featuring sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and an alpaca. This is located on the west side of the property and is complimentary.

  • New S’mores Land & Christmas Carousel

Near the petting zoo is S’mores Land, a Christmas campfire area with seven fire pits where families can roast s’mores with packaged s’mores kits available from Kringle’s Kup. Here, families can also ride the Christmas Carousel, where dozens of galloping horses glitter ‘round and ‘round. It is open evenings and rides are complimentary.

  • Menorah Lighting

A nightly menorah lighting with latkes and applesauce takes place in the resort lobby through Hanukkah, 5:30 p.m., December 6-14. The Lagoon Lights also features a 25-foot menorah and 4-foot dreidel.

  • The Ice Den Scottsdale Presents Magical Moments on Ice

Guests will enjoy watching skaters of all ages from the Ice Den showcasing their talents to holiday music at the Princess’ Desert Ice Rink. The shows feature members of the Coyotes Skating Club of Arizona who currently compete from regional to international levels. The performances are choreographed by the Ice Den skating staff and are sanctioned by the Coyotes Skating Club and U.S. Figure Skating. Performances are the evenings of November 19 & 24 and December 1, 8, 15 and 19, 2015.

  • Arizona Coyotes Fan Nights at Desert Ice

For hockey fans, the Arizona Coyotes’ mascot Howler and the Paw Patrol mix and mingle with skaters on select evenings at Desert Ice throughout the Christmas at the Princess season. Plus, when fans wear an Arizona Coyotes licensed logoed apparel on these fan nights, they will receive half-off parking admission, photos with Santa and skating. Please visit the resort’s web site for dates.

  • Nativity Garden Light Show

The resort’s Fragrance Garden becomes the Nativity Garden, where an 88-foot narrated Nativity light and music show tells the story of Christmas. Seating is provided for the 10-minute program. Shows begin at 5 p.m. and occur every 10 minutes until 9 p.m., nightly throughout the festival.

  • Photos with Santa in Santa’s Workshop

Santa spends time in his workshop at La Hacienda Plaza, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m., Wednesday – Sundays, November 19 – December 22, 2015 (with added dates) where the young and young-at-heart can have their photo taken with Kris Kringle. Photos are $10 and are available for immediate pick-up.

  • Kringle’s Korner & Holiday Shopping

Kringle’s Korner Holiday Shoppe is a charming boutique offering wintery wear such as hats, scarves, mittens and pajamas, along with seasonal décor, hand-painted collectible ornaments, keepsake snow globes, Princess Express train whistles, blinking novelty items, Selfie Elfie and Elf on the Shelf toys and gourmet chocolates. The resort is the perfect place for holiday shopping with unique items in the men’s Maverick store, Anna J women’s boutique or health and beauty items at Well & Being Spa’s Community Market. Complimentary gift wrapping is available on orders of $200 or more.

  • Let It Glow at Well & Being Spa

Sparkling over at the spa, the “Let It Glow” spa day package offers a choice of either a 60-Minute NovoGlow facial or a new, 60-minute Java body scrub, plus a spa lunch, glass of wine and full use of the spa facilities for the day, including the exercise classes, rooftop pool and waterfall grotto. The price is $159 plus taxes and gratuity.

  • Fairmont Tree of Hope

During the festival, purchase a holiday ornament for $20 from the Tree of Hope in Well & Being Spa’s lobby and receive $20 off any a la carte spa or wellness treatment of your choice.  100 percent of proceeds benefits Cox Charities throughout the Valley of the Sun.

  • Toys for Tots

The tree lighting ceremony kicks off the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess’ toy drive for Toys for Tots with the Scottsdale Fire Department. The resort is a drop-off location for Toys for Tots November 19 – December 20, 2015. Local residents can pull right up to the Toys for Tots box at the front drive/porte-cochere, where a bellman is happy to assist with their donation.

  • Admission & Parking

“Christmas at the Princess” is open to the public. Admission is complimentary for hotel guests. Admission/parking for non-hotel guests is $30 for self-parking with up to 10 people per vehicle or $40 for valet after 4 p.m. without dining. Valet/admission for local residents is complimentary when dining at any of the resort restaurants (Bourbon Steak, La Hacienda, Ironwood American Kitchen or Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar) with a $75 spend. The light shows, rides on the Princess Express Train and the Christmas Carousel are complimentary. Skating, photos with Santa, shopping and dining are priced separately.

  • Value Nights

Many nights throughout the festival are “Value Nights” with half-off self-parking admission.  Please check the resort’s web site for the specific list of dates.

  • Magic Memories Holiday Package Benefitting Cox Charities/Boys & Girls Clubs

The Magic Memories package includes overnight accommodations, a skating session with skate rental for two adults and two children, express VIP access to the Princess Express Train and complimentary one-day admission to Well & Being Spa for two adults. The best part is $10 from each package will benefit the Boys & Girls Club through Cox Charities. Prices start from $274 per night, plus taxes and a $29 resort fee. Second rooms on this package may be booked at 50 percent off, not including the amenities listed above. This package is based upon availability November 19, 2015 – January 3, 2016.