PEORIA, Ariz. (Nov. 14, 2019) – The 32nd annual Old Town Holiday Festival and third Second Saturdays will be on Saturday, Dec. 14. Two large Peoria events are coming together for a night of free holiday fun in Old Town Peoria from 5 to 10 p.m., near 83rd and Grand Avenues.
“This year you get two great events for the price of one just in time for the holidays,” said Marylou Stephens, Peoria arts and events manager.
The city of Peoria moved the Old Town Holiday Festival to a new night. It is now on a Saturday evening instead of Friday to avoid scheduling conflicts and rush hour traffic. The event is also later in the month of December instead of right after Thanksgiving Day, adding to the holiday atmosphere. Attendees can stroll through the historic streets of Old Town Peoria with sweaters and hot cocoa and experience a variety of live entertainment and festivities. Residents can catch a matinee performance of “A Christmas Carol” at the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts and still have time to enjoy the festival. Tickets to “A Christmas Carol” can be purchased at www.theaterworks.org. Included in the festival will be inflatables, roaming high school choirs from Peoria, a crafters market, an award-winning gingerbread house display, holiday photo opportunities, live performances from local musicians and dancers, many food trucks, and a gourmet pop-up restaurant featuring a kids menu.
The highlights of the evening will be a tree lighting ceremony in the heart of Osuna Park and a visit from Santa Claus himself. Every year, members of the Peoria city council gather with residents to turn the Christmas lights on the biggest tree in the park at 7:15 p.m. Also, during the festival, Santa Claus will make a special appearance on his Peoria “sleigh” and then stay for family pictures.
Activity wristbands will be $5 and photos with Santa Claus will be $5. Tickets to the pop-up restaurant will be $30 (plus event fees) for adults and $7 for kids. Seating is limited and tickets are available at
www.eventbrite.com/e/peorias-2nd-saturdays-two-chefs-a-pot-by-chef-nigel-salandy-tickets-80393784975. For more information about the festival, visit
www.peoriaaz.gov/specialevents.
