The Valley is about to be lit up. We’re in the holiday season. Alarming levels of holiday music will be played, nonstop schmaltz on television, and everything will turn red and/or green.
Oh, and the holiday lights will be switched on almost everywhere from now until New Year’s Day. We’re talking about a lot of cameras. And we’re going to enjoy every minute of it.
Here are 4 of the best holiday light displays in the Valley!
Pelky Family
1335 North Papillon Circle, Mesa
A grand total of 150,000 lights twinkle away within the display at Mike and Shelley Pelky’s home on the eastern edge of Mesa. There’s also a menagerie of animals and an array of different characters, including some inspired by the Island of Misfit Toys from the 1964 animated classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. A nativity scene, candy cane forest, various snowmen, and other seasonal delights are also featured.
Dates and times: Nightly starting at dusk through December 25.
Pinchot Avenue’s Candy Canes
2801 East Pinchot Avenue
During the holidays, the rows of palm trees lining a two-block segment of Pinchot Avenue between 26th and 28th Streets are adorned with dozens of candy cane-shaped lights. Meanwhile, a glowing star and peace symbol both hang overhead from the tree canopy. These decorations are a neighborhood tradition dating back to the late ’80s and help add a festive flair to an otherwise sleepy central Phoenix street.
Dates and times: Nightly starting at dusk until January 1.
Santa’s Runway
2329 North Recker Road, #104, Mesa
Saint Nicholas won’t have much trouble landing his sleigh at Danny Dingman’s east Mesa townhouse. More than 65,000 lights and hundreds of decorations transform the entirety of the property, from its roof to its driveway, into a glowing celebration of the holidays. There are even landing lights to help bring Santa in for a landing, as well as a cavalcade of Disney characters and numerous luminarias. In a humorous note, the townhouse next door features a makeshift sign with an arrow pointing to and stating simply, “My idea.”
Dates and times: Operating nightly through December 31.
Garrison Family Christmas
4420 East Anderson Drive
No one could ever accuse Nikki and Chris Garrison of being Grinches. Take one look at the intricate display covering the couple’s north Phoenix home, and it’s easy to see they’ve got a passion for the holidays. What started with a few dozen strings of incandescent bulbs nine years ago has become a custom-sequenced cavalcade 25,000 of high-intensity LED lights blasting a rainbow of colors while a low-power FM transmitter broadcasts holiday music. “We’ve loved the technological and digital challenge of growing our Christmas lights each year,” the Garrisons state on their website. We look forward to seeing what they come up with next year.
Dates and times: Nightly from 6 to 10 p.m., starting November 29, weather permitting.
Want to find more locations? Click this link: http://bit.ly/HolidayLightsinValley