Your ultimate holiday season resource for Yuma is here! Explore our guide for all the best events and activities. Whether you're here every year or just this once, our guide shows you the holiday wonders of Yuma.
This festive season, the Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival invites visitors to marvel at the colorful display of hot air balloons lighting up the sky. The Dorothy Young Electric Light Parade showcases a vibrant array of floats adorned with holiday lights, creating a magical scene for all ages. And the Yuma Artisans & Crafters Winter Festival Series is something you definitely don't want to miss, featuring local artisans showcasing unique handmade crafts. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Yuma
- Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival
- Dorothy Young Electric Light Parade
- Yuma Artisans & Crafters Winter Festival Series
- Boat Parade of Lights Viewing at Lake Havasu State Park (Lake Havasu City)
- Victorian Christmas at Fort Verde State Historic Park (Camp Verde)
- Victorian Christmas at Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park (Tombstone)
- Candlelight Tours at Fort Verde State Historic Park (Camp Verde)
- Riordan Special Tour at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park (Flagstaff)
- Strolling with Santa at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park (Flagstaff)
- Santa at the Park at Patagonia Lake State Park (Patagonia)
See these and even more events listed below!
Yuma Holiday Light Displays
Dorothy Young Electric Light Parade
What to Expect:
Themed floats and light displays celebrating fantasy and fairy tales.
Description:
The Dorothy Young Memorial Electric Light Parade is an annual event in Yuma, Arizona, where participants and spectators alike celebrate with a festive display of lights and themed floats, honoring the memory of Lady Dorothy Young.
Where: Yuma | More Info: Dorothy Young Electric Light Parade
Boat Parade of Lights Viewing at Lake Havasu State Park
What to Expect:
Dazzling holiday light displays on decorated boats.
Description:
Witness over 100 boats adorned with dazzling holiday lights as they glide through the Bridgewater Channel under the iconic London Bridge, creating a spectacular display of creativity and community spirit.
Where: Lake Havasu City | More Info: Boat Parade of Lights Viewing at Lake Havasu State Park
Tombstone Light Parade
What to Expect:
Spectacular light display with caroling and Santa's sleigh.
Description:
The Tombstone Light Parade features a festive display of twinkling lights, caroling, and Santa's sleigh, celebrating the holiday season in a historic town setting.
Where: Tombstone | More Info: Tombstone Light Parade
Yuma Holiday Markets and Shopping
Yuma Artisans & Crafters Winter Festival Series
What to Expect:
Diverse local and visiting artisans showcasing unique handmade items.
Description:
The Yuma Artisans & Crafters Winter Festival Series features a diverse group of local and visiting artists showcasing unique handmade items, including art, jewelry, paintings, and winter decorations.
Where: Yuma | More Info: Yuma Artisans & Crafters Winter Festival Series
Yuma Artisans & Crafters "A Fall Extravaganza Event"
What to Expect:
Unique handmade items and fall/winter decorations.
Description:
The Yuma Artisans & Crafters "A Fall Extravaganza Event" features a wide array of handmade items including fall decor, winter home decorations, jewelry, art, paintings, floral arrangements, and more. This event is free to the public and offers an opportunity to see and purchase unique, artistic pieces.
Where: Yuma | More Info: Yuma Artisans & Crafters "A Fall Extravaganza Event"
Yuma Holiday Shows and Entertainment
The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Shadow Cast
What to Expect:
Live shadow cast with audience participation and prop kits.
Description:
The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Shadow Cast is a cult classic screening featuring a musical comedy horror film with a live shadow cast. Audience members are invited to fully participate, encouraged to wear costumes, and provided with prop kits for an immersive experience.
Where: Yuma | More Info: The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Shadow Cast
Yuma Other Holiday Activities
Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival
What to Expect:
Cross-river hot air balloon launch.
Description:
The Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival in Yuma, Arizona, features colorful and unique hot air balloons launching from both sides of the Colorado River, creating a stunning visual display. The event includes mass ascensions on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday mornings, with the desert balloon glow on Saturday night at Yuma's Desert Sun Baseball Stadium.
Where: Yuma | More Info: Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival
Victorian Christmas at Fort Verde State Historic Park
What to Expect:
Victorian-style holiday decorations and activities.
Description:
Celebrate the holidays at Fort Verde State Historic Park with Victorian-style holiday decorations and festive activities.
Where: Camp Verde | More Info: Victorian Christmas at Fort Verde State Historic Park
Candlelight Tours at Fort Verde State Historic Park
What to Expect:
Historic homes illuminated by candlelight.
Description:
Explore Fort Verde State Historic Park's historic homes along Officers Row during candlelight tours, offering a glimpse into the past.
Where: Camp Verde | More Info: Candlelight Tours at Fort Verde State Historic Park
Ornament Making Workshop at Fort Verde State Historic Park
What to Expect:
Hands-on Victorian ornament-making activity.
Description:
Create your own Victorian holiday ornament, a traditional tussy mussy, at Fort Verde State Historic Park.
Where: Camp Verde | More Info: Ornament Making Workshop at Fort Verde State Historic Park
Victorian Christmas at Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
What to Expect:
Victorian-themed holiday celebration with activities for all ages.
Description:
Celebrate the Victorian holiday season at Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park with free admission, a pickle hunt with prizes, a photo booth, children's crafts, and Victorian decorations.
Where: Tombstone | More Info: Victorian Christmas at Tombstone Courthouse State Historic Park
Ugly Sweater Star Party at Oracle State Park
What to Expect:
Wear your worst sweater for a star party with telescopes and photo booth.
Description:
Join Oracle State Park for an Ugly Sweater Star Party, where you can wear your worst festive sweater and enjoy a star party with telescopes set up for night sky viewing. The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Club will also have an indoor photo booth for fun and festive photos.
Where: Oracle | More Info: Ugly Sweater Star Party at Oracle State Park
Santa at the Park at Patagonia Lake State Park
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with Santa Claus and festive activities.
Description:
Join Patagonia Lake State Park for a holiday celebration featuring ornament crafts, a cakewalk, boat rides, and a campsite decoration contest. Santa Claus will make an appearance, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Where: Patagonia | More Info: Santa at the Park at Patagonia Lake State Park
Strolling with Santa at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
What to Expect:
Santa visits amidst historic mansion decorations.
Description:
At Riordan Mansion State Historic Park, Santa will stroll the grounds, Visitor Center, and West House museum, visiting with children to hear their Christmas wishes. Weather permitting, the grounds will be lit with luminarias, and hot apple cider will be available in the visitor center.
Where: Flagstaff | More Info: Strolling with Santa at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Riordan Special Tour at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
What to Expect:
Special evening tour with original 1904 light fixtures.
Description:
Explore the historic Riordan Mansion during the Christmas season with guided tours focusing on the history behind Christmas traditions. See the mansion's original 1904 light fixtures and enjoy the festive decorations, including a towering fir tree and billiards room photo transparency windows.
Where: Flagstaff | More Info: Riordan Special Tour at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park
Yuma County Fall Fest
What to Expect:
Demolition derby and fall-themed activities.
Description:
The Yuma County Fall Fest is a family-friendly event featuring a variety of activities, including a demolition derby, live music, food vendors, carnival rides, and a seasonal maze. The event offers a range of fun and creative activities for all ages, all included in the entrance ticket fee.
Where: Yuma | More Info: Yuma County Fall Fest
Glow Up October 5K
What to Expect:
Neon-colored, glow-in-the-dark 5K run.
Description:
The Glow Up October 5K is a fun run/walk event held at Desert Sun Stadium, featuring neon colors and a glow-in-the-dark 5K run on mostly paved and groomed trails with some rugged gravel sections. All ages are welcome, and participants must pre-register.
Where: Yuma | More Info: Glow Up October 5K
8th Mayors' International Bike Ride
What to Expect:
Free T-shirts for the first 400 registrants and a pre-registration event with a photo booth and raffle tickets.
Description:
The 8th Mayors' International Bike Ride is a family-friendly event that moves at a leisurely pace, guided by area public safety agencies, with stops every four to five miles. The ride begins at the Yuma Civic Center and concludes with a celebration at Benito Juarez Park near San Luis Rio Colorado's City Hall.
Where: Yuma | More Info: 8th Mayors' International Bike Ride
City of Yuma Surplus Property Auction
What to Expect:
Auction of surplus city property including vehicles and equipment.
Description:
The City of Yuma Surplus Property Auction features the disposal of surplus materials, including vehicles, with all funds generated returned to the city's accounting funds for equipment replacement and the general fund.
Where: Yuma | More Info: City of Yuma Surplus Property Auction
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Fortuna Foothills (13 miles)
- San Luis (19 miles)