Ten magical years of wonder, ten enchanted years of light. The celebration begin as the desert transforms into a mesmerizing Christmas headquarters for the tenth annual Christmas at the Princess, welcoming guests from all over the Valley and the world to delight in a decade of Decembers. 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 five-week festival, beginning with public tree lighting on Nov. 26, through the New Year’s Eve finale. This year will feature event favorites, like the glistening four-story musical tree, Desert Ice skating rink, Princess Express trains, Lagoon Lights, holiday characters and Santa’s Secret Headquarters are available again nightly throughout the season, with three new experiences introduced.
New Experiences
Winterland
Winter is coming, and with it brings a brand new magical land of twinkling white lights, romantic igloos, live entertainment and the Love Arbor. Visitors enter the festivities through a 17-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, champagne and more. Hot winter alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available with Mrs. Claus holiday treats. Center stage at Winterland comes alive every night with live performances of popular contemporary holiday music bringing songs made famous by Michael Bublé, Nat King Cole, Mariah Carey and more.
Mrs. Claus’ Corner
Located at La Hacienda Plaza, stay on trend with this year’s newest gift giving shop while enjoying Mrs. Claus’ famous cookies. Mrs. Claus’ Well & Being Beauty Bar showcases her finds from all over the world, curating a collection of beauty and relaxation essentials for you to gift and get, transforming any home into a personal spa oasis this holiday season. Soak in essential oil bath bombs, retreat to slumber in lavish plush PJs, fabulous fitness fashions to get you back in the swing of things, and so many more of the seasons on trend must haves.
The Biggest Little Office Party
‘Tis the season to switch it up. Join us for our first annual un-traditional office party for teams that want a unique experience without all the hoopla. Your team will enjoy a welcome cocktail upon arrival, a delicious chef’s holiday menu, specialty cocktails, and Scottsdale’s hottest DJ. TV personality Teresa Strasser will MC the festive wonderland while creating an innovative fun vibe! Like Christmas Karaoke? Head over to The Plaza Bar for the official after party. $48++ per person, reservations can be made by calling 480.585.2694.
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. Available nightly throughout the season and photo packages are available.
S’mores Land: Polar Glide Ice Slide Frosty’s Ferris Wheel & Build-A-Bear Pop-Up Shop
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 seating up to six passengers. The Build-A-Bear Pop-Up Shop and Graham’s S’more Store round out the fun.
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 18 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 features 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 $25 per person and $7 for skate rental.
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) 585-2694 or email SCP.MagicMemories@Fairmont.com.
Lagoon Lights
The resort shines once again with 4.5 million dazzling lights. Guests can choose to stroll or ride the Princess Express Train through the majestic Lagoon Light to see graceful 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.
Throughout the resort, 280 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
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony – November 26
Entertainment for the whole family begins in the Enchanted Plaza at 6 p.m., with musical performances, Ice Den skaters and the tree lighting. The Desert Ice skating rink, Lagoon Lights, Princess Express Train and all other attractions also open that evening until 9 p.m. Tree lighting event is open to the public and the price for admission/self-parking that evening is a required donation of $25 to Cox Charities benefitting the #LoveUp Foundation for children in foster care. Stay with us and make the experience complete with an incredible $149 rate for a king room and $189 for a double room, and waived resort fee.
Santa Cares Photo Experience – December 1
Santa’s Secret Headquarters welcomes children with all spectrums of special needs to a photo environment supportive of their sensory needs. The event takes place prior to public hours from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., in a comforting, physically accommodating setting designed to lessen behavioral triggers associated with this bustling time of year.
Menorah Lighting
A nightly menorah lighting accompanied with latkes and applesauce takes place in the resort lobby through Hanukkah, 5:30 p.m., December 22 – December 30. To celebrate, the Lagoon Lights also features a 25-foot menorah, a 4-foot dreidel and 4-foot gelt.
The Ice Den Scottsdale Presents Magical Moments on Ice
Guests will enjoy watching skaters from the Ice Den showcasing their talents to holiday music at the Princess’ Desert Ice rink. The shows features youngsters from the Coyotes Skating Club of Arizona, is choreographed by the Ice Den skating staff and is sanctioned by U.S. Figure Skating. Please visit the resort’s website for performance dates and times.
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.
Shopping
The Build-A-Bear Workshop Pop-Up Shop
S’mores Land is where dreams and stuffed animals are made at an interactive bear-and reindeer-creating station, complete with holiday fashion accessories and a “sweet heart ceremony” where guests choose a red satin heart, make a special wish and place it safely inside their stuffed animal. Build-A-Bear pricing from $20.
Kringle’s Korner & Holiday Shopping
The Christmas Shoppe at Kringle’s Korner 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.
Tis the Season to Spa at Well & Being Spa
Sparkling at the spa, holiday pampering includes a cinnamon infused Winter Warm-Up massage, Peppermint Twist facial, Peppermint pedicure, or Butter Rum Sugar Cookie scrub. Spa-goers can spend the day relaxing with full use of the facilities, including the exercise classes, steam room, Swiss shower, whirlpool, rooftop pool and waterfall grotto.
Rooms Packages
Sip, Savor & Celebrate Christmas At The Princess
Enjoy a $75 daily resort 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 10th Annual Christmas at the Princess with our Sip, Savor & Celebrate Package. Rates starting at $259 per room for stays from November 27 to December 31.
Trees of Hope Benefitting Cox Charities and #LoveUp Foundation
The Christmas season is also a time for giving, and Fairmont’s annual Trees of Hope charitable initiative makes it easy for you to give back. For every Trees of Hope package purchased, a portion of proceeds will directly benefit the #LoveUp Foundation. The #LoveUp Foundation’s mission is to improve the lives of children in the Foster Care System by offering assistance, comfort and hope in that one day they will be living in a home full of love and opportunity. #LoveUp is a rapidly growing movement which provides the means to pay it forward by spreading kindness and compassion to one other while aiding in the mission to provide a fulfilled life rich with the love and experience each child deserves. The Trees of Hope Package includes overnight accommodations with a $25 daily resort credit, $10 per room night to charity and 15% off the daily rate. Rates starting at $259 per room, for stays from November 27 to December 31.
Family Celebration package
Celebrate Christmas as a family this year with accommodations in a luxuriously appointed Deluxe or Sunset Beach Signature Room, with opportunity to purchase second room at 50% off, up to four VIP passes to enjoy Christmas at the Princess attractions and preferred restaurant reservations to one of our award winning restaurants.
Fairmont Gold for a VIP Holiday
Unwrap yourself a joyful present this holiday season at the Princess as you enjoy a merry and bright stay in Fairmont Gold. With cheerful wreaths on every guest door and our Holiday Cheer Bar in the Fairmont Gold lounge every day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., create your own hot cocoa your way with your favorite mix-ins and toppings. And enjoy the spirit of Christmas as you join us for happy hour in the lounge for mulled wine!
Dining
Memorable dining experiences range from Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak (where kids 12 and under eat free) to Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar and the iconic La Hacienda by Richard Sandoval, with new and special seasonal menus, Thanksgiving and Christmas ballroom brunches and New Year’s Eve festivities.
Admissions and Parking
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 (Bourbon Steak, La Hacienda, Ironwood American Kitchen or Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar) with a $75 spend, for up to six people. 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 and the all new Winterland.
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 Ferris 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.
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. A dropbox link to images can be found here. This year’s sponsors include BMW North Scottsdale, Barrett-Jackson, Dr. Rick Dentistry, Ice Den and Arizona Foothills Magazine.
