Rekindle the joy and tradition of 11 years of Christmas at the Princess at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. The iconic AAA Five Diamond resort becomes the most festive place this side of the North Pole during its annual Christmas at the Princess six-week festival, beginning Friday, November 20th and through the New Year’s Eve finale. This year’s event will feature all the best loved attractions from Christmas past such as Desert Ice, Lagoon Lights and Princess Express Train along with new traditions to experience such as Twinkle Town, The Lodge and Lanterns of Hope. Of course, guest safety is at the top of Santa’s list this year, masks will be required of all who attend Christmas at the Princess and all recommended precautions will be taken to ensure the safe distancing and enjoyment of the event.
New Experiences
Twinkle Town
Visit a magical land filled with twinkling lights, delectable bites and beverages as you take in incredible sweeping views of the resort. Don’t forget to say hello to our newest holiday friend Twinkles, Santa’s brightest Christmas light! Enjoy chili, corndogs, chicken fingers and specialty waffle fry baskets.
Lanterns of Hope
It’s the season of hope! As the sun begins to set on the evening sky, the resort’s Sonoran Landing Pool begins to shine with the launch of water lanterns. Each group receives their own lantern to decorate. Pen holiday messages of hope, healing, love and peace, or note your intentions for the year ahead. Guests will launch their lanterns with others in a ceremony as we light the water with hope and connection for the community. Ceremony running continuously throughout the evening.
The Lodge Alpine Bar and Kitchen
Introducing craft style favorites surrounded by warm chimneys in a cozy outdoor setting. Featuring rye pretzels, loaded tater tots, elk burgers, crispy chicken schnitzel, bison meatloaf and more. With good tidings, you’ll cheer for hand crafted cocktails and season beer at the newest dining location in La Hacienda Plaza.
Rides and Attractions
Photos With Santa
Santa spends time in his Secret Headquarters mapping his flight plans and building toys, where the young and young-at-heart can write their wish lists, learn the secret elf pledge and have their photo taken with jolly Ol’ St. Nick. Socially distanced and available nightly throughout the season. In order to safely manage capacity, advanced tickets are required and can be purchased at ScottsdalePrincess.com.
S’mores Land: Polar Glide Ice Slide & Frosty’s Ferris Wheel
At S’mores Land, families can visit the s’mores-loving character Graham at his home, roast marshmallows around a campfire in a Christmas Tree Forest, take an icy slide down the four lane Polar Glide, a glittering whirl on the Christmas Carousel or a twirl on Frosty’s Ferris wheel, with 15 gondolas. Guests may also enjoy one of the 60 fire pits available to roast marshmallows and warm their hands and hearts.
Winterland
Winter is coming, and with it brings a magical land of twinkling white lights, romantic igloos and the Love Arbor. Visitors enter the festivities through a 32-foot long infinity tunnel complete with LED bulbs. The Love Arbor is the perfect setting for couples to capture the moment under the mistletoe, ask for your loved one’s hand, or propose all over again. Guests will enjoy an ice bar stocked with iced vodkas and other specialty cocktails. Hot winter alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available with Mrs. Claus’ holiday treats. New this year are 18 fire pits with seating and complimentary igloos to enjoy a bite and beverage in.
Enchanted Plaza Musical Tree & Animated Holiday Light Show
Custom designed for the Princess, the resort’s Christmas tree has 70,000 LED lights that twinkle and dance to 17 holiday songs in Princess Plaza, appropriately named Enchanted Plaza for the holidays. The musical tree plays from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. nightly throughout the season, while the lit palm trees lining the plaza are synchronized to complement the tree’s music.
Add to that, a high definition, one-of-a-kind animated video show featuring five delightful holiday scenes set to music and projected against the resort’s façade. This five minute show plays promptly on the hour from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly in the Enchanted Plaza.
Desert Ice Skating Rink
Made with real ice and surrounded by picturesque saguaros, skaters experience magical snowfalls beneath a star-filled Arizona sky. The 6,000 square-foot rink is open to the public nightly throughout the festival. The price is $35 per person and a $7 discount for guests who bring their own skates.
For the ultimate VIP experience, luxury rink-side fire pit tables with s’mores and blankets are available for evening sessions and include valet parking. For reservations and price information, please call 480.513.6014 or email SCP.MagicMemories@Fairmont.com.
Lagoon Lights
The resort shines once again with 5 million dazzling lights. Guests can choose to stroll or ride the Princess Express Train through the majestic Lagoon Lights to see graceful swans floating on the water, a buccaneer pirate ship, a ballerina, penguins on an iceberg, a whale, dolphin, mermaid, Nessie the 30-foot Loch Ness monster, 14-foot poinsettias, rocking horse, a candy cane forest and more.
Throughout the resort, nearly 300 trees are wrapped in lights, many draped with icicles and snowflakes. Visitors will also see a 20-foot snowman, elves peeking around trees, a giant walk-through ornament as well as families of singing trees, singing snowmen, singing reindeer, singing Grinch and singing lights.
Guests will also see glowing butterflies and hibiscus in Ironwood Circle near the Sonoran Landing Pool and lit reindeer on the forest lawn by Bourbon Steak.
Princess Express Trains
Guests board one of two Princess Express Trains nightly for a ride around the Lagoon Lights. Overnight hotel guests receive a priority boarding pass; non-hotel guests require general festival wristbands to ride.
Special Events
Menorah Lighting
A nightly menorah lighting accompanied with latkes and applesauce takes place in the resort lobby through Hanukkah, 5:30 p.m., December 10-17. In house guests only.
Holiday Characters
Checking in are the resort’s holiday friends: the lovely Princesses Angelica and Noel, a huggable Yeti named Shivers and the squishable Graham, a walking s’more, plus Peppermint Penguin and Selfie Elfie each bringing their own special charm from the North Pole. They can be seen each night with the opening welcome ceremonies at 5 p.m., through the closing ceremonies at 9 p.m. All can be met throughout the resort and come together for a Christmas character farewell in the Enchanted Plaza every evening at 9 p.m. New this year is Twinkles, Santa’s brightest Christmas light, who lives in Twinkle Town.
Shopping
Kringle’s Korner & Holiday Shopping
The Christmas Shoppe allows guests to take the memories of Christmas at the Princess home with our one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts, stuffed animals and pajamas for the entire family. Keep your Christmas at the Princess collection growing with this year’s custom ornament.
Comfort and Joy at Well & Being Spa
‘Tis the Season to Spa at Well & Being Spa
Sparkling at the spa, holiday pampering includes a Hot Toddy for Your Body, the Perky Peppermint Mani/Pedi and the Sugar Plum Fairy Mani/Pedi. Spa-goers can spend the day relaxing with full use of the facilities, including exercise classes, steam room, Swiss shower, whirlpool, rooftop pool and waterfall grotto.
Everyone could use a little relaxation this year, give the gift of comfort and joy with safe, easy and luxurious gift cards to the spa. Gift cards can be purchased at ScottsdalePrincess.com and can be mailed or picked up curbside 24 hours per day.
Rooms Packages – Advanced dining reservations strongly encouraged due to limited capacity
Enjoy a $100 discount on the best available rate and a $50 daily food and beverage credit, VIP lane access to Christmas at the Princess, and more! The entire resort is decked out and we invite you to enjoy resort dining at the 11th Annual Christmas at the Princess with this package. Rates starting at $259 per room for stays from November 20 to December 31.
Enjoy locals only savings on your staycation with our best rates of the season with this unbeatable offer for our local community! A well-deserved Christmas stay is within reach, and there’s no better place than the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess for couples and families to get away and enjoy the magic of the season
Stay Close – BOGO Rate
Let us give you a gift this year. Get a free night for each night purchased. That means you’ll receive one complimentary night for every night’s stay until December 29, 2020. Rate displayed is the average rate per night and includes the complimentary night rate.
Dining – Advanced dining reservations strongly encouraged due to limited capacity
Memorable dining experiences range from Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak to Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar and the iconic La Hacienda by Richard Sandoval. A socially distanced Christmas Brunch will be available beginning at 1 p.m. Christmas Day. For those who would prefer for us to do the cooking and enjoy their meal at home, a take away family brunch kit is available. To book either on property or take away meals, please call 480.585.2694.
• This year more than ever, families are looking forward to enjoying the tradition of togetherness and a bountiful Thanksgiving holiday. Take home a taste of the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess with our Thanksgiving Takeaway Brunch Kit. Ideal for a family of four, this kit contains everything you need for a luxurious, stress-free meal.
• Christmas Cookies aren’t just for Santa. Mrs. Claus offers the season’s most festive flavors, featuring holiday favorites like sugar n’ spice, chocolate chip, gingerbread and more. Also available this year are two kinds of campfire pies: cinnamon apple and sweet cherry, as well as traditional pecan pie. Located at La Hacienda Plaza.
Admission and Parking
• In house guests – express pass event admission is complimentary for registered hotel guests
• Dine at the resort’s signature restaurants and receive complimentary admission and 50% off valet parking with a $75 minimum spend at any of the resort’s signature restaurants.Reservations strongly recommended.
• Self-parking and admission – $60, includes up to four wristbands
• Valet parking and admission – $90, includes up to six wristbands
General admission includes access to Enchanted Plaza with the four-story musical tree, Enchanted Plaza video show, Princess Express Train, a walk-through experience of 4.5 million Lagoon Lights, the Nativity Garden, S’mores Land, Winterland and the all new Twinkle Town.
For guests not staying at the resort, ride sharing or walking in, wristbands are $30 per person to ride the attractions including the Princess Express Trains, Polar Glide, Frosty’s Faris Wheel and the Christmas Carousel. Ice skating, photos with Santa, shopping, dining and spa are priced separately. Wristbands may be purchased at convenient kiosks throughout the resort.
Christmas at the Princess Safety Protocols
We are committed to the responsible management of Christmas at the Princess and greatly appreciate the trust that the community has placed in our resort. We look forward to welcoming families with updated safety guidelines. All staff has received extensive safety training and supplies and must wear masks at all times. The resort’s expansive 65 acres allows for plenty physical distancing for guests, Maricopa County’s mask mandate will be enforced, there will be plenty of hand sanitizer available and staff will increase the frequency of sanitization around property.
For more information on Christmas at the Princess, please visit ScottsdalePrincess.com, or call (480) 585-4848, toll-free (866) 540-4495. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess is located at 7575 East Princess Drive.
