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Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration & Community Fundraiser

Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration & Community Fundraiser

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The festive season is getting turned up a little bit with the resort’s illuminated display.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is hosting its annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration and Community Fundraiser from 5 – 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 8.

‘Tis be a delightful time at the resort this year.

Aside from the lighting of the tree, this year brings a warm welcome by the resort’s Ranger Ainsley Labrador retriever, photos with Santa Claus, great live music from the Tucson Boys Chorus, a snow machine creating a flurry, a DIY stuffed animal workshop at the “Recruit A Ranger” station, complimentary drinks and more.

One of the sweetest things of all is the unveiling of the Ritz-Carlton’s sugary sweet holiday lobby display. In previous years they’ve created 18-foot tall Gingerbread Chalet made with 1,900 pounds of flour, 4,000 egg whites, 1,390 pounds of powdered sugar, 20 gallons of honey, 35 gallons of molasses, and 88 pounds of ginger powder.

Gingerbread House
Photo courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

Tickets to the celebration are $5 per person and most of the proceeds will be donated to the Arizona chapter of Canine Companions for Independence.

Everyone is also encouraged to bring along canned goods for the Marana Community Food Bank, and an unwrapped new toy for Toys for Tots. It is the season of giving, after all.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is located at 15000 N. Secret Springs Dr., Marana, AZ 85658. For more information, visit the Ritz-Carlton’s Facebook event page. 

Article written by:

Matt Sterner

Matt Sterner

More about Matt

At a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.

He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.

If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.

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