The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is hosting its annual Oro Valley Holiday Festival of the Arts & Tree Lighting Celebration on Saturday, December 7 – Sunday, December 8 at Oro Valley Marketplace.
This year’s festival brings a winter wonderland to the desert with support from The Town of Oro Valley and sponsors including Pima County Attractions and Tourism, Town West Properties, Lisa Bayless Realty, Pima Federal Credit Union, Arizona Daily Star, and 94.9 Mix FM.
Also, this year’s festival will take place during the 50th anniversary of the Town of Oro Valley!
“This milestone highlights five decades of a thriving community built on shared values, cultural enrichment, and innovation,” said Da’Lice Shepard of SAACA. “The festival celebrates this legacy by uniting residents and visitors in a joyful holiday experience, embracing the town’s vibrant history and forward-looking spirit.”
With more than 160 artisans and vendors, live performances, and holiday experiences, it’s a great opportunity to support local talent and find the gifts this holiday season.
“Thanks to our partners at SAACA, this impressive, two-day event has become a beloved Oro Valley tradition,” said Joe Winfield, Mayor of Oro Valley. “I’d like to personally invite the community to gather with us as we celebrate the arts and kick off the holiday season.”
Participating Food Vendors
- Fiesta Filipina: Enjoy adobo bowls, pork skewers, shrimp tempura, and more.
- Eatgypt: Traditional Egyptian dishes like Koshary and Ta’ameya.
- Gus’s Gyros: Classic gyros, Philly cheesesteaks, and fair food favorites.
- Lovin’ Spoonfuls: Sonoran hot dogs, BBQ nachos, and vegan desserts.
- Oh Wow Mini Donuts: Mini donuts, hot coffee, and flavored cold brews.
- Mafia Kitchen: Sicilian cannolis and Italian sodas.
- Good Eats BBQ and Fair Food: Barbecue Rib Sundaes, pulled pork nachos, and more.
Family-Friendly Experiences
- Celebrate Oro Valley’s 50th anniversary with the Golden Glow Tree lighting at 6:15 pm on Saturday, December 7
- The tree has more than 1,000 handcrafted golden ornaments
- Enjoy caroling with LED candles led by the Tucson Girls Chorus
- Magical snowfall
- Santa’s Workshop: Includes ornament decorating, piggy bank painting, holiday luminaria lanterns, and free face painting.
- Giant Snow Globe Experience: Step inside for snowfall effects and photo ops.
- Community Wishing Tree: Add your holiday wish to the community art installation.
- Storytelling Igloo: Local authors and the Friends of the Oro Valley Public Library share heartwarming holiday tales.
Main Stage Performances
There’s going to be a lineup of live performances on the Main Stage, featuring holiday music, dance, and local school performances.
Saturday, December 7
- 10 a.m. – Kids Unlimited: Holiday Dance Performance
- 11 a.m. – Cross Middle School Jazz Band
- 12 p.m. – Wilson Elementary & Middle School Choir
- 12:30 p.m. – Maguire Academy of Irish Dance
- 1 p.m. – Saguaro City Music Theatre
- 1 p.m. – Desert Dance Collective
- 1:30 p.m. – Holiday DJ Music
- 2 p.m. – Tuba Christmas: Over 50 tuba players bring holiday classics to life
- 3 p.m. – Santa Parade & Arrival at Main Stage
- 3:10 p.m. – Opening Ceremony, Color Guard, and National Anthem
- 3:15 p.m. – Remarks by the Town Council and Sponsors
- 3:20 p.m. – Mayor and Santa on Stage
- 3:30 p.m. – Ironwood Ridge High School Jazz Band
- 4:25 p.m. – Elite Theater Academy Performance
- 4:45 p.m. – School of Rock Performance
Sunday, December 8
- 10 a.m. – Holiday DJ Music
- 10:45 a.m. – Saguaro City Music Theatre
- 11 a.m. – Saguaro Stompers Clog Dance & Sonoran Sol Cloggers
- 11:30 a.m. – Centre Stage Dance Studio
- 12 p.m. – BASIS Oro Valley Primary School
- 12:30 p.m. – Holiday DJ Music
- 1 p.m. – Totally Exalting the Anointed Messiah (T.E.A.M.) City Choir
- 1:45 p.m. – Holiday DJ Music
- 2 p.m. – NoethenButJazz Performance
Winter Wonderland Stage Performances
Catch a range of family-friendly performances at the Winter Wonderland Stage.
Saturday, December 7
- 10 a.m. – Sheryl Ann McKinley’s Live Holiday Jazz Music
- 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. – Red Herring Puppets: Adventures in Folklore
- 2 p.m. – Local Holiday Music Performances
- 5:15 p.m. – Reading of The Polar Express with Chief Riley and Chief Brandhubor
- 5:30 p.m. – “Light the Night” Caroling with the Tucson Girls Chorus
- 6:15 p.m. – Official Tree Lighting, Snowfall, and Holiday Dance Party
Sunday, December 8
- 10 a.m. – Live Holiday Jazz Music
- 1 p.m. – Mariachi Innovación
- 2 p.m. – Folklorico and Dance Performances
Holiday Raffle to Support SAACA
Support SAACA’s work in the community by purchasing raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes:
- Foodie Season Pass: VIP tickets to our 2025 culinary events & Foodie Club Membership ($1,000+ value).
- Shop Oro Valley Basket: Curated by the Chamber of Commerce ($500 value).
- Art Lover’s Prize: Handmade artworks valued between $50 and $500.
- Hotel Lover Package: Two-night stays at Hilton and Westward Look ($800 value).
The first 300 attendees to register at the Information Booth will receive a special gift, including painted snowflake magnets, Limited Edition Oro Valley stickers, or mini canvas painting kits.
Oro Valley Holiday Festival of the Arts & Tree Lighting Celebration is taking place at Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N. Oracle Rd. For more information, visit saaca.org.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt 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.
