Desert Nights Downtown Lights
Powered by the City of Tucson, Pima County & Rio Nuevo
Desert Nights Downtown Lights, powered by the City of Tucson, Pima County, and Rio Nuevo sets the stage for a festive holiday season in Downtown Tucson. With over five weeks of festivities, over 60 illuminated buildings, 148 trees tightly wrapped with LED lights, dozens of decorated storefronts and hundreds of events, programs and specials, Downtown Tucson is the place to be during the holiday season.
Downtown Tucson Gift Card | Downtown Holiday Activities | Holiday Gift Guide | Parade of Lights | Building Illumination Program | Downtown Events Calendar | Small Business Saturday
Downtown Tucson Gift Card
Give the gift of downtown this holiday season! Share what you love about Tucson with a gift of downtown’s best dining, entertainment, shopping, arts and services. The all NEW Downtown Tucson Gift Card can be used at over 50 downtown businesses. This Card is issued by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC.
Downtown Holiday Activities
There's plenty of festive holiday activities and events happening downtown like Tucson Holiday Ice on Church Avenue! Rio Nuevo and the City of Tucson invite you to skate on Tucson's outdoor ice rink over the holidays, November 20, 2022 - January 8, 2023. Learn more about Tucson Holiday Ice and explore other downtown holiday activities at the link below.
Downtown Holiday Gift Guide
Find unique one-of-a-kind gifts at these downtown small businesses. Scroll through our Holiday Gift Guide to find that special gift to mark off your list. Everything from Southwest Native American merchandise, bikepacking gear and accessories, musical instruments, low waste home and body products, jewelry, vinyl records, natural wine and much more - downtown has something for each person on your list, even those that are hard to buy for.
Downtown Parade of Lights
The Downtown Parade of Lights is back and under new management! Join the fun and celebrate the holidays with the Downtown Parade of Lights presented by Rio Nuevo! The 28th Annual Downtown Parade of Lights takes place on Saturday, December 17, 2022, 6:30PM in Armory Park.
Street Illumination
Downtown Tucson Partnership illuminates the main streets of downtown with sponsorship support from the City of Tucson and Pima County. Over 140 downtown trees are adorned, from trunk to canopy, in thousands of warm white LED lights. Strolling among the downtown lights is the perfect way to enjoy a brisk desert night. Thank you to the City and County for your support!
Building Illumination
What's that shimmering in the nighttime desert sky? Yep, that's downtown. The Building Illumination Program began in 2017 as a unified initiative to illuminate Downtown Tucson's skyline for the holidays and attract people from all over the region to dine, shop, play and stay downtown. Downtown Tucson Partnership encourages property owners to purchase warm white LED light line for this cooperative display of lights. The result is a striking silhouette of the downtown skyline visible from Interstate 10, the Catalina Foothills and beyond.
Cross-Promotional Campaign
Downtown Tucson Partnership cross-promotes dozens of holiday business specials, events and other festive happenings through an extensive five-week holiday marketing campaign. This year, the DTP will focus its campaign efforts on small businesses and encouraging Tucsonans to shop small. The campaign kicks off with Small Business Saturday on November 26 followed by additional specials and small-scale events through New Years Eve. Stay in the holiday loop by signing up for email updates.
Shop Small This Season
Downtown Tucson Partnership is hosting a Small Business Saturday giveaway! Shop, dine or support a participating downtown small business on Saturday, November 26 and you could win 1 of 10, $20 Downtown Tucson Gift Cards. You have to keep your receipt, snap a photo of it and submit it online for your chance to win.
