Desert Nights Downtown Lights
Powered by the City of Tucson, Pima County & Rio Nuevo
Desert Nights Downtown Lights, is a holiday promotional and placemaking campaign organized by the Downtown Tucson Partnership (DTP) and sponsored by the City of Tucson, Pima County, and Rio Nuevo. DTP sets the stage for a festive holiday season in Downtown Tucson by tight wrapping 152 trees in LED lights and encouraging property owners to illuminate the tops of their buildings with commercial grade light line and clips. With over five weeks of festivities, over 60 illuminated buildings, 152 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.
Street Illumination
Downtown Tucson Partnership illuminates the main streets of downtown with sponsorship support from the City of Tucson and Pima County. Over 150 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.
Tucson's Christmas Tree
Tucson's Christmas Tree, brought to you by Rio Nuevo, stands at an impressive 46 feet and is located in Jácome Plaza downtown (101 N. Stone Avenue).
We're hosting an Insta photo contest! Take a photo, use #TucsonXmasTree, tag @DowntownTucson, and post it on Instagram. You could win 1 of 2 $100 Downtown Tucson Gift Cards. First place gets reposted on Instagram. The contest ends on January 2.
Shop Small This Season
Shop, dine or support downtown small businesses on Saturday, November 25 and all holiday season long!
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! Arizona Vascular Specialists, Rio Nuevo and the City of Tucson invite you to skate on Tucson's outdoor ice rink over the holidays, November 19, 2023 - January 7, 2024. Learn more about Tucson Holiday Ice and explore other downtown holiday activities at the link below.
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 followed by additional specials and small-scale events through New Years Eve. Stay in the holiday loop by signing up for email updates.
