One Million Christmas Lights Bring Holiday Cheer to the West Valley
By Claire Natale -
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
WADDELL, Ariz. – Arizona’s inaugural Desert Farm Lights is bringing light, joy and holiday cheer to the West Valley this winter season. Starting Nov. 25 through Jan. 1, Monday to Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m., families can enjoy three acres of festive illuminated displays, a Christmas maze, bounce houses, countless photo opportunities and more. At the event, which will be located at 14629 W Peoria Ave, children can meet and take photos with Santa from Thursday through Sunday, play in real snow every Wednesday, and get creative on Mondays with free crafts during the event’s duration.
Comprised of nearly one million lights, Desert Farm Lights will feature activations such as a dazzling light path, lit by seven-foot-tall snowmen, gingerbread-themed sleighs, Santa’s trusty elves, and more. A half-acre Christmas maze will center around an impressive 20-foot illuminated tree, a perfect photo opportunity for families. Adults can relax on benches as children play in inflatable bounce houses, obstacle courses, and a gingerbread slide, or get in the action with oversized yard games like Jenga and cornhole. Santa’s Workshop will host Saint Nick himself in the evening from Thursday through Sunday. After photos, families can support local businesses through purchasing gifts from over a dozen Arizona creatives.
Shanelle Kunz, a local blogger and mother of three, was inspired to create Desert Farm Lights to fill a holiday need for the nearly 14,000 West Valley moms and families who follow her. In partnership with Justice Brother’s Ranch, a lush fixture of Phoenix’s West Valley since 1928, and Christmas Light Decorators, which has worked with Glendale Glitters and the Scottsdale Quarter, Kunz aims to make Desert Farm Lights an annual event.
“It’s expensive always driving to the East Valley for entertainment, especially when considering the price of fuel just to get there,†said Kunz. “I wanted to create an accessible, immersive, family-friendly Christmas experience that doesn’t require an hour’s commute across town. Parents can save that time usually spent sitting in traffic for making memories with their children!â€
Fresh food will be served and catered by local food trucks. Hot cocoa and savory popcorn will also be available.
Tickets range from $12-15 depending on the age of attendees and dates of attendance. Businesses interested in sponsoring and supporting Desert Farm Lights for its anticipated 80,000 West Valley families can do so via the event’s website.
About Desert Farm Lights
Desert Farm Lights is a West Valley-based walkable holiday illumination event created by Shanelle Kunz in partnership with Justice Brother’s Ranch and Christmas Light Decorators. A West Valley blogger and mother of three, Kunz conceptualized the event after recognizing a lack of accessible Christmas activities for families in her area. Desert Farm Lights features activities like crafts, real snow, Christmas light mazes, Santa Claus meet-and-greets, obstacle courses, a gingerbread slide and more. For information about hours, location and activities, visit https://www.desertfarmlights.com/.