Christmas at the Princess is six-week festival where holiday dreams come true. (File Photos/DigitalFreePress.com)
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
For more than a decade, the Christmas celebration at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has captivated the imagination of visitors from around the world — and continues to be a local tradition for those who call metropolitan Phoenix home.
The landmark AAA Five Diamond resort, event promoters say, transforms into a winter wonderland at the annual Christmas at the Princess six-week festival, which begins Friday, Nov. 18, and runs into the New Year, culminating Monday, Jan. 2, 2023.
Leadership at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess have announced the Make-A-Wish Foundation as this year’s charity partner and will be hosting150 Make-A-Wish families for a special evening of Christmas at the Princess.
As traditions hold true this year’s event will feature all the best loved attractions from previous holiday seasons — such as Desert Ice, Lagoon Lights and Princess Express Train — along with new traditions to experience, such as the ultra-luxe Chateau Champagne and the Ultimate Santa Experience.
New attractions emerge at 2022 Christmas at the Princess
New attractions this year are Chateau Champagne, the Make-A-Wish Playhouse, the Ultimate Santa Experience — and children will have the opportunity to get their hands on a Christmas Quest Bubble Wand.
Chateau Champagne
Follow a trail through the romantic setting of Winterland to a candlelit path that leads you to an ultra-luxe retreat — the perfect getaway for the 21+ crowd amidst the magic of the holiday festivities. Set against a backdrop of an Alpine Chalet, each semi-private fire pit features an all-inclusive menu, including Moet Imperial Brut, a shellfish tower, truffle Gouda fondue, assorted artisanal petit fours and artisanal s’mores board — complete with ginger snaps and chocolate-stuffed, vanilla-infused marshmallows.
Make-A-Wish Playhouse
This year marks Fairmont’s first as a global Make-A-Wish partner. Located at the self-parking entrance is a custom-built interactive Make-A-Wish playhouse. Guests are encouraged to visit Princess Noel, take photos and enjoy the full-sized playhouse, while learning about all the good Make-A-Wish does in the community.
Ultimate Santa Experience
New this year! Surprise your family with the ultimate Santa experience. Meet Mrs. Claus, experience the Elf Academy, enjoy milk and specialty cookies, Santa story time and up to 10 digital photos. Featured daily from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., accommodates up to four guests.
Christmas Quest Bubble Wand
Illuminate the night with our all-new Christmas Quest Interactive Bubble Wand. Become filled with wonder as you visit 12 stops on the Christmas Quest Experience. Discover holiday magic around every corner, your Christmas Quest RFID activated wand works as your interactive guide.
Christmas at the Princess rides & attractions include:
There are plenty of things to do at the Christmas at Princess event kicking off later this month. Here is a peek of just a few of the highlights hospitality leaders at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess offered to the Scottsdale Daily Beat:
Ice Pass – Unlimited Skating
The ice pass gives guests unlimited access to the two outdoor 6,000 square foot ice skating rinks – Desert Ice and the Alpine Trail – both made of real ice. $40 per person, includes skate rental.
Snow Mountain
Sled down 120 feet of blizzardy bliss on our four-lane ice slide! And don’t forget to say hello to “Shivers the Yeti” before sliding down our frozen attraction.
Winterland
Winter is here! And with it brings a magical land of twinkling white lights, romantic igloos and the Love Arbor. Visitors enter the festivities through a 32-foot-long infinity tunnel complete with LED bulbs and complimentary firepits. Guests will enjoy an ice bar stocked with specialty cocktails. Hot winter alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available. New this year, guests can enjoy a 70-foot ice luge slide, singing Yetis and a giant snow globe.
Twinkle Town
Visit a magical land filled with twinkling lights, delectable light bites and beverages as you take in incredible sweeping views of the resort around cozy fire pits. Don’t forget to say hello to our newest holiday friend Twinkles, Santa’s brightest Christmas light! Twinkle Town is ideal for younger children to enjoy, with new rides this year:
*Alpine Slide
*Cool Bears
*Saddle Up
*Christmas Carousel
*Lolli Swings
Enchanted Plaza Musical Tree & Animated Holiday Light Show
Custom designed for the Princess, the resort’s Christmas tree has 70,000 LED lights that twinkle and dance to 18 holiday songs in Enchanted Plaza, appropriately named Enchanted Plaza for the holidays. The musical tree plays 5-10 p.m. nightly throughout the season, while the lit palm trees lining the plaza are synchronized to complement the tree’s music.
Add to that, a high definition, one-of-a-kind animated video show featuring five delightful holiday scenes set to music and projected against the resort’s façade. This five-minute show plays promptly on the hour from 6 to 9 p.m. nightly in the Enchanted Plaza.
Book a stay or
come for an evening
Christmas at the Princess offers unique opportunities for visitors and patrons alike. In house guests, those who have booked a stay at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess are provided express pass event admission complimentary.
Dine at the resort’s signature restaurants and spend a minimum of $75 per vehicle to receive 50% off valet pricing, which includes up to four general admission wristbands to Christmas at the Princess.
• Self-parking and admission – $80, includes up to four wristbands
• Valet parking and admission – $120, includes up to four wristbands. Must book restaurant reservation in advance.
General admission includes access to Enchanted Plaza with the four-story musical tree, Enchanted Plaza video show, Princess Express Train, a walk-through experience of more than 6.5 million Lagoon Lights, the Nativity Garden, The Village, Winterland and Twinkle Town.
For guests not staying at the resort who are ride sharing or walking in, wristbands are $20 per person to ride the attractions including the Princess Express Trains, Snow Mountain Ice Slide, Polar Glide Ice Slide, The Chair Lift Ferris Wheel, Lolli Swings, and the Christmas Carousel. Ice skating, photos with Santa, shopping, parking, dining and spa are priced separately.
For a list of booking options and more details for the upcoming Christmas at the Princess event, GO HERE.
