Actively selling Desert Mountain since January 1995, Karen draws on her experience of having designed four custom homes and building two “Golden Nugget” award winners, to provide the detailed expertise Desert Mountain clients require. Her knowledge of the community and exclusive attention to Desert Mountain properties allows her to provide detailed knowledge of the community’s history, club operations, design review, and other issues important to members.
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
DECEMBER 11
Wine and hor d’oeuvre Thursday from 4–7 p.m.
Embrace the season in perfect comfort and style. Join us for an evening of holiday treats, mulled wine and festive warmth as we celebrate the year’s finest collections. Don your coziest cashmere and discover the perfect gifts for those who appreciate exceptional art and jewelry. A relaxed evening of seasonal celebration awaits.
ARTIST RECEPTION
DAVID ROTHERMEL
FEBRUARY 19
Wine and hor d’oeuvre Thursday from 4–7 p.m.
Meet celebrated American artist David Rothermel, whose vibrant paintings capture the luminous beauty of the Southwest landscape. Join us for an evening with this master colorist whose work transforms natural wonder into timeless art.
ALESSA JEWELRY SHOWCASE
JANUARY 23–24
Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Experience the visionary artistry of Alessa Jewelry, where five generations of craftsmanship meet contemporary design. Founded by Yuvraj Pahuja, each collection weaves together his Indian heritage and global influences, creating pieces that celebrate unity in diversity.
LUMINOUS BY BROOKE WITH ROBERT PROCOP
MARCH 3
Tuesday 4–7 p.m.
Experience an evening of celestial wonder as Brooke Shields and renowned gemologist Robert Procop unveil Luminous — a collection three years in the making. This immersive celebration features extraordinary jewels inspired by lunar cycles, accompanied by authentic moon and Mars meteorites.
Grace Renee Gallery is a refreshingly beautiful way to explore fine contemporary art in the breathtaking shadows of the Sonoran Desert foothills of Carefree, Arizona. Artfully designed jewelry, inspiring sculptures, spectacular wall art, stunning ceramics and more await.
UPCOMING EVENTS
OPULENCE! A HIGH JEWELRY EXTRAVAGANZA
MARCH 3–14
Tuesday–Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Immerse yourself in the pinnacle of luxury with our high jewelry showcase featuring David Gross, Robert Procop, David Weisz and many others. Master jewelers, each representing generations of expertise, present exceptional gemstones set in breathtaking designs.
f u l l s e r v i c e i n t e r i o r d e s i g n & f u r n i s h i n g s
w w w o m d e s i g n g r o u p c o m - 4 8 0 9 1 5 0 1 2 9
Phat Cat Swinger: A Not So Silent Night | 12/5 Featuring Amercian Idol favorite Blake Lewis!
REIMAGINING SPACE: INSIGHTS FROM SUE B. WHEN A DINING ROOM BECOMES A WINE LOVER’S RETREAT
Once marked as a dining room on the original plans, this space has been reimagined into a refined sitting room — perfect for intimate gatherings and wine appreciation. Four plush chairs, upholstered in a rich mix of leather and velvet, encircle a custom Verde copper table with a leather top, offering both comfort and style.
An off-center window is artfully balanced by a live-edge wood shelf, which serves double duty as both a drink ledge and an art display. Scaled artwork adds visual depth, while a bold area rug anchors the room with a complementary color palette that hints at celebration and warmth.
Agate accent tables and fur pillows layer in texture and luxury, complemented by sculptural Verde copper pieces and softly glowing lighted vases.
This room is a study in eclectic elegance — where rustic craftsmanship meets glamorous finishes, proving that thoughtful design can transform even the most overlooked spaces. Think outside the box when imaging how you would best utilize your home.
SUE BICKERDYKE Allied ASID
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18 FROM 4 TO 7 PM
BRIT HANSEN Golden Horse, 12”x 48”
SUE KRZYSTON
The Gourd Rattle, 24” x 30”
AMY LAY
Sandstone Lion, 16”x 40”
PUBLISHER
Shelly Spence
MANAGING EDITOR
Joseph J. Airdo
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Meaghan Mitchell
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Joseph J. Airdo
Francine Coles
Shannon Severson
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Francine Coles
Loralei Lazurek
ADVERTISING SALES
Cindi Calcinari 860-966-3271 cindi@imagesaz.com
From the Publisher
As twinkling lights illuminate our desert evenings and the scent of pine fills the air, there’s a magical transformation happening throughout our community. December brings with it a sense of wonder and celebration that transcends the everyday, inviting us to pause, reflect and embrace the joy of the season.
This month’s issue of Images Arizona has been wrapped as our gift to you — a celebration of the magic, artistry and generous spirit that make the holidays truly magnificent. We’ve designed this issue as our own Christmas special in magazine form, filling these pages with stories that traverse the season’s most cherished traditions: snow-covered landscapes, enticing gingerbread villages, treasured Nativities, sparkling gift ideas, luminous New Year’s Eve countdowns — and yes, even a visit from Santa Claus.
Whether you’re curled up by the fire with a cup of cocoa or sharing these pages with loved ones gathered around the tree, we hope this issue becomes part of your holiday traditions — inspiring new adventures, sparking conversations, and reminding you of the extraordinary beauty and creativity that surrounds us in our desert home.
Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416
Carefree, AZ. 85377 623-341-8221
shelly@imagesaz.com imagesarizona.com
As I reflect on this joyous season, my heart overflows with gratitude. I’m thankful for the small but passionate team who brings this magazine to life month after month. I’m grateful for my family and dear friends who support this journey, for our loyal advertisers who believe in our mission, and most of all, for readers like you who welcome Images Arizona into your homes and celebrations. It’s the talented, generous, innovative and creative people throughout our community who make this magazine possible — and make our corner of Arizona truly magical.
From our family to yours, we wish you a season filled with wonder, warmth and treasured moments with those you love.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Shelly Spence Publisher, Images Arizona
Photography by Loralei Lazurek
December 10–13
WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Wine and hor d’oeuvre from 4–7 p.m.
Discover William Henry’s award-winning fusion of rugged sophistication and artisan mastery. Each meticulously crafted piece — from luxury men’s jewelry to collectible pocket knives — combines precious metals, rare materials and advanced alloys. Experience limited-edition creations designed for the discerning collector who values both timeless elegance and masculine distinction.
Film and Feast
Join us to nourish those in dire circumstances.
December 12 - 14 Sedona, Arizona
Details at: LISADAHLFOUNDATION.ORG
Friday December 12th Mariposa - Tribute to the Forgotten People
Saturday December 13th Dahl & Di Luca - 30th Anniversary Celebration
Sunday December 14th Pisa Lisa VOC - Pizza Wine Brunch
A large percentage of Native American peoples attempt to exist without the necessities of running water and electricity, especially in our backyard of Arizona and New Mexico.
Imagine trying to nourish your family in 2025 when you must prepare a simple meal over a wood burning fire. This type of existence can spawn depression, drug, and alcohol addictions. This is a reality.
T he Lisa Dahl Foundation is mobilizing to provide Soup Hope to impoverished communities and raising the bar for others to join us.
L earn more about our efforts to nourish and provide safe refuge for those whose food insecurity is dire . Visit lisadahlfoundation.org to donate.
P lease join us December 12 - 14 for our Benefit and Gala Weekend in Sedona, Arizona.
Thank you, L isa
Powder & Play Arizona’s Premier Snow Sports Destinations
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
Arizona’s elevated peaks transform into world-class winter sports destinations, where desert dwellers discover champagne powder, groomed slopes and family-friendly snow play just hours from home. From technical skiing to carefree tubing adventures, the state’s mountain regions offer sophisticated winter recreation that rivals destinations anywhere.
SUNRISE PARK RESORT
Arizona’s largest ski resort, Sunrise Park Resort in Greer, sets the standard for comprehensive winter recreation. Spreading across three mountains and 1,200 acres, the resort accommodates every snow sport preference within one destination. Downhill skiing and snowboarding cover the traditional bases, while cross-country trails wind through pristine White Mountain forests for Nordic enthusiasts. A dedicated tubing hill accessed by magic carpet lift rounds out the offerings, making this the ideal choice for multigenerational groups where different family members gravitate toward different snow activities.
ARIZONA SNOWBOWL
One of America’s oldest continuously operating ski areas, Arizona Snowbowl brings serious mountain credentials to Flagstaff’s San Francisco Peaks. Operating since 1938 at elevations reaching 12,637 feet on Humphreys Peak, Snowbowl offers 61 trails across 777 acres with eight lifts. While the Southwest’s largest beginner terrain welcomes newcomers to mountain sports, advanced skiers find legitimate challenges with more than 3,000 vertical feet available for those willing to hike to earn their turns.
SKI VALLEY
Mount Lemmon’s Ski Valley challenges preconceptions about Arizona geography, operating as the continental United States’ southernmost ski destination when conditions permit. Located more than 9,000 feet above Tucson, this “sky island” phenomenon creates 21 runs across 200 skiable acres in terrain that feels transported from Alpine regions. The dramatic elevation change — from Sonoran Desert cacti to snow-covered pines within an hour’s drive — offers a uniquely Arizona juxtaposition that impresses even well-traveled visitors.
PhotobySean Hobson
PhotobyAlex
Arizona’s winter sports destinations deliver authentic mountain experiences that satisfy both recreational skiers and serious snow
sport enthusiasts.
FLAGSTAFF SNOW PARK
Pure snow play takes center stage at Flagstaff Snow Park, where Fort Tuthill County Park becomes a winter recreation hub at 7,000 feet elevation. Multiple groomed tubing runs provide reliable thrills, while a dedicated children’s area ensures safe play for younger snow enthusiasts. Outdoor fireplaces and gourmet hot chocolate service elevate the experience beyond basic sledding, creating an atmosphere that rivals European alpine villages. The unlimited tube-use policy removes logistics from the equation, letting families focus entirely on snow day fun.
CANYON COASTER ADVENTURE PARK
Williams’ Canyon Coaster Adventure Park represents the evolution of Arizona winter sports, where technology enhances traditional snow play. Four state-of-the-art snowmakers guarantee perfect tubing conditions from mid-November through Easter, while conveyor lifts eliminate the trudge back uphill. Beyond winter activities, the park’s mile-long mountain coaster operates year-round, making this a destination that bridges seasons for families seeking both snow sports and adventure activities.
Arizona’s winter sports destinations deliver authentic mountain experiences that satisfy both recreational skiers and serious snow sport enthusiasts. For Valley residents accustomed to seeking winter recreation elsewhere, these peaks prove that world-class skiing, snowboarding and snow play exist just hours from the desert floor — transforming weekend plans and redefining what it means to live in Arizona.
GRACE RENEE GALLERY PRESENTS
David Rothermel
Come meet David and view his bold, colorful paintings on display in our gallery located in Historic Spanish Village. Wind down from your week while enjoying wine and light appetizers with the artist.
Thursday, February 19
4–7 p.m.
Community
THROUGH
DEC. 28
A
CHRISTMAS CAROL
Celebrate the season with The Phoenix Theatre Company’s beloved musical adaptation of Dickens’ classic, featuring an original score by Alan Ruch and direction by Matthew Wiener. This joyous production continues a legacy that has inspired Valley audiences for nearly two decades. $60+. See website for showtimes. Dr. Stacie J. and Richard J. Stephenson Theatre, 1825 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-254-2151; phoenixtheatre.com
THROUGH DEC. 30
LAS NOCHES DE LAS LUMINARIAS
Desert Botanical Garden’s signature event invites guests to stroll glowing luminarialit trails, enjoy sparkling lights, live entertainment and festive treats amid the Sonoran Desert’s winter beauty. Experience the immersive Framerate: Desert Pulse installation and honor loved ones with tribute luminaria bags. $45.95. 5:30–9:30 p.m. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. dbg.org
THROUGH JAN. 16
ZOOLIGHTS
The Phoenix Zoo’s beloved holiday tradition transforms more than two
THROUGH JAN. 4
TIANYU LIGHTS FESTIVAL
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
Explore illuminated lantern installations featuring Bugs Aglow, Color of Holidays, Rainforest and Prehistoric Animals themes at this walk-through experience. Handcrafted displays include interactive elements, food court and marketplace with unique treasures. $25+. 6–10 p.m. Wednesdays–Sundays. Camelback Ranch, 10710 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. tianyuculture.us
miles of trails into a winter wonderland with millions of dazzling lights, animated animal lanterns, a floating 50-foot LED tree, immersive light shows, Glow Garden and interactive displays. Enjoy the immersive light tunnel, s’mores by the fire, photos with Santa, wildlife lanterns, holiday treats, carousel rides and more. See website for prices. 5:30–10:30 p.m. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. phoenixzoo.org
THROUGH FEB. 22 IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS
The Phoenix Zoo’s Savanna Gallery presents a vibrant and imaginative exhibition celebrating the intersection of creativity and conservation. Featuring the work of four talented artists, the exhibit offers bold color palettes, whimsical depictions of animals, and thoughtful reflections on the natural world. This unique blend of artistry and advocacy encourages visitors to rethink our relationship with wildlife while enjoying a joyful, visually captivating experience. $39.95. 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Savanna Gallery inside the Savanna Grill, Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. phoenixzoo.org
DEC. 2
JUBILATE CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC RIBBONCUTTING
Jubilate Conservatory of Music hosts a ribbon-cutting ceremony, featuring a string rendition of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” Free. 5:30 p.m. Jubilate Conservatory of Music, Historic Spanish Village, 7211 E. Ho Road, Suite 24, Carefree. 480-993-6147; jubilateconservatoryofmusic.org
DEC. 2
STARRY DESERT NIGHTS
The Holland Center and Desert Foothills Land Trust present a Foothills Speaker Series evening exploring the night sky with Jenny Hall of Paradise Valley Community College and telescope viewing with Focus Astronomy’s Kevin LeGore. Free; RSVP required. 6–8 p.m. Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Bldg. B, Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; dflt.org/ speakerseries
DEC. 5–6
WINTER ARTISANS GIFT MARKET
The Holland Center and Sonoran Arts League present an indoor and outdoor event featuring juried artists offering one-of-a-kind works in jewelry, painting, glass art, mixed media, photography, and more. New this year: the Festival of Trees silent auction and an artist raffle. Proceeds benefit arts and education programming. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m., The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. hollandcenter.org
DEC. 6
APS ELECTRIC LIGHT PARADE
The 38th annual holiday tradition features illuminated floats, marching bands, performance units and balloons traveling a two-mile route through central Phoenix. Families, neighborhood groups and businesses celebrate the season with spectacular lights, sights and sounds. Free. 7 p.m. See website for route and viewing options. phoenix.gov/elp
DEC. 6
CAREFREE LIGHTS UP
Celebrate the season with the town’s annual tree lighting ceremony and Christmas concert. Free. 5 p.m. Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion, 101 Easy St., Carefree. carefree.org
DEC. 6
STAGECOACH VILLAGE CHRISTMAS CONCERT
The Jubilate Violin Orchestra and all ensembles present a holiday concert near the gazebo at Stagecoach Village. All ages and levels participate. Free. 10 a.m.–noon. Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. 480-993-6147; jubilateconservatoryofmusic.org
Community
DEC. 6
KIWANIS CHRISTMAS FOR THE KIDS!
Downtown Carefree transforms into a festive wonderland at a family event featuring more than 50 bike raffles, games, prizes, exotic animals, hay rides, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a Christmas tree giveaway, hot dogs, cotton candy and popcorn. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion, 101 Easy St., Carefree. kiwaniscarefree.org
DEC. 6–7
’TIS THE SEASON: HOLIDAYS AT MIM
Ring in the holiday season with traditional music and performances from across the globe at the Musical Instrument Museum’s annual celebration. Experience diverse holiday traditions through live performances, hands-on activities, and cultural demonstrations that showcase how music connects communities worldwide. $20; discounts available for youth. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480-478-6000; mim.org
DEC. 12–14
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
PHOENIX BALLET’S THE NUTCRACKER
Phoenix Ballet presents Slawomir Wozniak’s dazzling holiday classic. Featuring professional artists and students from Master Ballet Academy, this festive, family-friendly production brings audiences breathtaking choreography, brilliant costumes and crowd-favorite scenes like the Russian Dance and onstage snowfall. See website for prices and showtimes. Arizona Financial Theatre, 400 W. Washington St., Phoenix. 602-9968000; phoenixballet.org
DEC.
10–13
WILLIAM HENRY POP-UP
Discover William Henry’s awardwinning fusion of rugged sophistication and artisan mastery. Each meticulously crafted piece — from luxury men’s jewelry to collectible pocketknives — combines precious metals, rare materials and advanced alloys. Experience limited-edition creations designed for the discerning collector who values both timeless elegance and masculine distinction. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, Historic Spanish Village, 7212 E. Ho Road, Carefree. 480-5758080; gracereneegallery.com
DEC. 11
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
Embrace the season in perfect comfort and style. Join us for an evening of holiday treats, mulled wine and festive warmth as we celebrate the year’s finest collections. Don your coziest cashmere and discover the perfect gifts for those who appreciate exceptional art and jewelry. A relaxed evening of seasonal celebration awaits. Free. 4–7 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, Historic Spanish Village, 7212 E. Ho Road, Carefree. 480-5758080; gracereneegallery.com
DEC. 11–13
’TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Desert Foothills Theater’s after-school program presents four performances of a creative retelling of the classic holiday poem. See website for prices and showtimes. The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. dftheater.org
DEC.
12–14
LISA DAHL FOUNDATION BENEFIT AND GALA WEEKEND
The Lisa Dahl Foundation presents a three-day event in Sedona to help nourish individuals facing critical food insecurity in Arizona and New Mexico. The weekend includes a Mariposa luncheon on Friday honoring the Forgotten People, a 30-year anniversary celebration at Dahl & Di Luca on Saturday, and a Pisa Lisa VOC pizza party sendoff on Sunday. Proceeds support efforts to provide meals and essential resources to underserved Native American communities. lisadahlfoundation.org
Community
DEC.
13
END OF SEMESTER RECITAL
Jubilate Conservatory of Music concludes the fall semester with a recital showcasing soloists and students taking private lessons. Reception to follow. Free. 1–3 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek. 480-993-6147; jubilateconservatoryofmusic.org
DEC. 13
HIGH DESERT MARKET
Vintage collectors, local artists and small businesses will gather for a community event. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Frontier Town, 6245 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. 480-277-6113; instagram.com/ highdesert_market
DEC. 13–14
CHRISTMAS MEMORIES IN SONG!
Upscale Singers presents its annual Christmas concert under new director Catherine Wendt, featuring holiday favorites, reflective seasonal songs, and the Christmas story told through music. $30. 2 p.m. Saturday; 4 p.m. Sunday. Cactus Shadows Fine Arts Center, 33606
DEC. 13
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA
Joseph J. Airdo
Join volunteers, families and groups in honoring veterans during a special ceremony. Remembrance wreaths will be placed on the graves of fallen heroes following the ceremony. See website for sponsorship and volunteer opportunities. Free. 10 a.m. Cave Creek Memorial Cemetery, 36400 N. Pima Road, Carefree. wreathsacrossamerica.org
N. 60th Street, Scottsdale. 480-7078473; upscalesingers.com
DEC. 14–21
CHANUKAH IN CAREFREE
Join the community for an eight-night festival celebrating Jewish heritage, resilience and togetherness. Enjoy nightly programs featuring musical performances by local choirs, familyfriendly activities, games, crafts, magician shows and treats including complimentary latkes and sufganiyot on select evenings. Highlights include special presentations from organizations such as the Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce, Center for Jewish Philanthropy, Temple Chai, Chabad of Anthem and North Valley, Temple Kol Ami and Congregation Kehillah. On the final night, the Phoenix Holocaust Association features Holocaust survivor Dr. Michael Markson, and silent auction winners will be announced. Auction proceeds support the Hilton Family Holocaust Education Center, this year's Spirit in Giving recipient. Free. 5:30 p.m. Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion, 101 Easy St., Carefree. chanukahincarefree.com
DEC. 16
EDUCATION
Jim Sherbert examines the challenges facing public education in America — including declining enrollment, test scores, rising costs, political pressures, and high teacher turnover. The lecture also explores alternative solutions and innovations to safeguard the future of education. Free; donations appreciated. RSVP requested. 4 p.m. Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; hollandcenter.org
DEC. 18
CAREFREE ART NIGHT
Local and regional artists showcase their work at participating galleries during this monthly celebration. Enjoy live music, refreshments, artist talks and demonstrations. Free. 4–7 p.m. See website for participating galleries and event map. visitcarefree.com/artnight
DEC. 28
DRUM CIRCLE & CHRISTMAS CAROL CONCERT
A special year-end event begins with a drum circle, followed by the Friday Cool Nite String Ensemble performing Writer
Christmas carols with the Jubilate Violin Orchestra. Free. 2:30–3:30 p.m. Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion, 101 Easy St., Carefree. 480-993-6147; jubilateconservatoryofmusic.org
JAN. 3
VRBO FIESTA BOWL PARADE
The 53rd annual parade features larger-than-life balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands and community groups on a 1.5-mile march through central Phoenix leading into the College Football Playoff Semifinal. More than 3,000 participants celebrate Arizona’s community traditions in this beloved holiday event. Free. 10 a.m. See website for route and viewing options. fiestabowl.org
JAN. 18 ARIZONA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE 2026
Arizona’s premier collector-car event showcases 100 rarely seen vehicles in a professionally judged exhibition. The upscale lifestyle gathering features classes celebrating 140 years of Mercedes-Benz, 125 years of Indian motorcycles, midcentury station wagons, dune buggies, European sports/ racing cars, and modern supercars. Enthusiasts are encouraged to dress in period costumes, with awards for best outfits and top vehicles. Proceeds support local arts programs and Makea-Wish Arizona. $75+. See website for schedule. Scottsdale Civic Center, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587; arizonaconcours.org
Sparkle Season
Grace Renee Gallery’s Holiday
Jewelry Guide
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
This holiday season calls for jewelry that dazzles — whether you’re lighting up the room at festive gatherings or surprising someone special with a gift they’ll treasure forever.
Grace Renee Gallery’s Holiday Jewelry Guide celebrates the sparkle and sophistication that make this time of year magical. Located in Carefree’s Historic Spanish Village, this carefully curated collection features show-stopping pieces perfect for holiday parties, family celebrations and New Year’s Eve glamour — plus thoughtful gifts for every person on your list.
Shelly Spence, owner of Grace Renee Gallery, and Natasha Lazorova, head gemstone expert and client adviser, invite you to discover the season's most spectacular jewelry collection.
Photo by Loralei Lazurek
EXPERIENCE
“The holidays are about celebration and creating memorable moments,” says Shelly Spence, gallery owner. “Whether you’re treating yourself to something spectacular to wear to holiday parties or selecting the perfect gift for someone special, we’ve curated pieces that bring joy and sparkle to the season. And don’t forget — we have wonderful options at every price point, including delightful pieces for children and grandchildren.”
Natasha Lazorova, the gallery’s head gemstone expert and client adviser, specializes in helping clients find pieces that shine for every occasion.
“There’s something thrilling about finding jewelry that makes you feel extraordinary,” Lazorova shares. “I work with clients who are shopping for themselves — looking for that perfect pair of earrings to wear to a holiday gala — and those selecting meaningful gifts. The beauty of fine jewelry is that it serves both purposes beautifully. I encourage everyone to schedule an appointment so we can explore pieces that match your holiday plans and your gift list.”
gracereneegallery.com
David Weisz Single Line Stretch: Comfort meets sophistication in this 18-karat yellow gold stretch bracelet, showcasing 5 carats of perfectly matched round brilliant diamonds. $16,335
David Weisz Tennis Bracelet: The ultimate statement in luxury, this 18-karat white gold bracelet features an extraordinary 18 carats of round brilliant-cut white diamonds. $79,200
Alessa Jewelry Elixir Full Pavé Cuff: cuff bracelet in 18-karat white gold showcases white diamonds in a continuous flow of brilliance, balancing bold presence with refined elegance. $16,995
Alex Sepkus White Bracelet: Intricate artistry defines this 18-karat yellow gold bracelet, where white diamonds are set within Sepkus’ signature detailed framework, creating wearable sculpture that sparks conversation. $42,410
Roberto Coin Obelisco Bangle:
Modern architecture meets timeless luxury in this 18-karat white gold bangle, featuring pavé white diamonds arranged in Coin’s iconic geometric pattern. $24,050
WRIST DAZZLE: DIAMOND BRACELETS
“A diamond bracelet catches the light with every gesture — it’s jewelry that performs,” Lazorova says. “Whether you’re reaching for a champagne flute at a holiday toast or simply want something that makes you feel spectacular, these pieces deliver drama.”
Stephen Webster
Thorn Embrace: Webster’s rebellious spirit shines in this 18-karat white gold bracelet, where his signature thorn motif intertwines with brilliant white diamonds. $9,500
EVERYDAY ELEGANCE: VERSATILE BRACELETS
“The beauty of these bracelets is their versatility — they transition seamlessly from holiday brunches to evening cocktail parties,” Lazorova explains. “They’re also ideal gifts for someone building their jewelry collection.”
FOPE Vendome: Available in 18-karat rose, white or yellow gold, this flexible bracelet showcases FOPE’s innovative design with a white gold and diamond pave element. $8,120-$9,560, depending on size
Alex Sepkus Box Link: Meticulous detail distinguishes this 18-karat yellow gold bracelet, enhanced with a white diamond accent and Sepkus’ signature textural artistry. $12,000
Roberto Coin Designer Gold Link: Timeless elegance flows through this 18-karat yellow gold bracelet, where alternating
Roberto Coin Love in Verona: Romance inspired this narrow-width 18-karat white gold bangle, where delicate diamond accents add subtle sparkle to the sleek silhouette. $12,300
Alessa Jewelry Spectrum Bangle: Contemporary elegance meets vibrant color in this 18-karat white gold bangle, featuring sapphire blue enamel accented with white diamonds. $7,995
Mattia Cielo Rugiada Diamanti 4cm: The perfect everyday luxury, this smaller version in 18-karat pink gold with white diamonds offers versatile sophistication for any celebration. $4,700
Alex Sepkus White Hoops: these 18-karat yellow-gold hoops showcase white diamonds in an intricate pattern that catches light from every angle. $14,100
yellow gold creates dramatic contrast, while white diamonds add brilliance to the sculptural scalloped design. $7,670
Alex Sepkus Candy: Whimsy meets luxury in these substantial hoops, where white diamonds nestle within 18-karat yellow gold and Sepkus’ distinctive artistic detailing. $10,095
Organic Roberto Coin Obelisco: Dramatic and distinctive, these
design at its finest — these 18-karat yellow gold hoops feature white diamonds in a contemporary silhouette. $6,500
THE PERFECT CIRCLE: DIAMOND HOOP EARRINGS
“Hoops are having an incredible moment — they’re the earring everyone reaches for this season,” Lazorova observes. “The right pair frames your face beautifully and adds instant polish to any holiday outfit.”
EARRINGS IN MOTION: DANGLE STYLES
“When you want earrings that make an entrance, dangle styles are the answer,” Lazorova says. “They move with you, catching light and drawing eyes to your face — perfect for photographs at holiday parties.”
Stephen Webster Magnipheasant: Nature’s grandeur inspires these tail feather drops in 18-karat white gold, where brilliant white diamonds capture Webster’s distinctive aesthetic vision. $7,400
Alex Sepkus Sticks and Stones: A celebration of natural beauty, these 18-karat yellow gold dangle earrings feature faceted moonstones that shimmer with ethereal luminescence. $31,480
Mattia Cielo NOVELTIES
Spiral: Italian innovation creates magic in these 8-centimeter spiral earrings, where 18-karat yellow gold and white diamonds form a mesmerizing kinetic sculpture. $6,900
Alessa Jewelry Energy Drop: Contemporary elegance flows through these 18-karat rose gold earrings, where white diamonds create a sophisticated cascade of light. $6,495
Alishan Day and Night: ultimate in luxurious contrast — these platinum earrings showcase both a lustrous South Sea white pearl and a dramatic Tahitian black pearl, accented with diamonds. $3700
FOPE Eka Tiny Collection Pendant Earrings: versatility defines these 18-karat rose gold earrings, featuring interchangeable white gold elements, including one pave diamond accent. $15,130
Alex Sepkus Teardrop: Artisanal craftsmanship shines in these 18-karat yellow gold earrings, where white diamonds cascade in Sepkus’ signature intricate style. $14,125
FOPE Love Nest: Innovation meets romance in this 18-karat yellow gold bracelet, featuring three white gold and diamond pave elements
Alex Sepkus Lace Bracelet: masterwork of delicate detail, this 18-karat yellow gold cuff features white diamonds set within an intricate lacelike pattern that took years to perfect. $67,330
Roberto Coin Domino: Contemporary sophistication defined — this 18-karat rose gold bangle showcases pave white diamonds in a geometric pattern that plays with light and shadow. $26,130 Alex Sepkus Orchard: Garden-inspired artistry reaches its pinnacle in this hinged cuff, where white diamonds bloom within 18-karat yellow gold in Sepkus’ mesmerizing signature style. $58,665
ARCHITECTURAL ELEGANCE: STATEMENT CUFFS
“A cuff bracelet is jewelry as art — it makes an immediate impact,” Lazorova explains. “These pieces are perfect for someone who wants to make a bold statement at holiday parties or for giving an unforgettable gift.”
CENTER STAGE: STATEMENT STONE RINGS
“These rings are designed to be noticed — whether you’re wearing them to a holiday gala or giving one as the ultimate gift,” Lazorova reveals. “Each center stone has been chosen for its exceptional quality and visual impact. These are the pieces that catch the light across the room and spark conversations.”
David Gross Group Tsavorite: Rare and remarkable, this platinum ring showcases a 2.07-carat pear-shaped green tsavorite flanked by two heart-shaped diamonds totaling 0.60 carats. $20,000
David Gross Group Emerald-Cut Sapphire: Museum-quality magnificence — a breathtaking 9.09-carat emerald-cut blue sapphire commands center stage in platinum, flanked by radiant-cut white diamonds. $300,000
Alex Sepkus Lagoon: Colorchanging magic defines this 18-karat yellow gold ring, where a 0.65-carat blue sapphire shifts hue, enhanced by violet sapphires and intricate detailing. $8,925
Stephen Webster No Regrets Deco Haze: Art Deco glamour meets contemporary edge in this 18-karat white gold design, featuring a black opalescent stone within Webster’s architectural framework. $12,390
Roberto Coin Sauvage Privé: Wild elegance captured in 18-karat yellow gold — this dramatic bypass design showcases pave white diamonds in Coin’s distinctive untamed aesthetic. $11,390
Stephen Webster Thorn Embrace: Webster’s signature rebellious elegance wraps around the finger in this 18-karat yellow gold band, where white diamonds nestle within intricate thorn patterns. $8,000
Sarah Graham Pebble Large Circle: Contemporary edge meets organic inspiration in this striking design, combining white and cognac diamonds with black chrome and 18-karat yellow gold.
$2,925
Nanis Trasformista: Italian artistry and versatility unite in this 18-karat yellow gold cocktail ring, designed to make a statement at any celebration. $8,435
COCKTAIL HOUR: RINGS THAT POP
Alex Sepkus Blooming Hill: A garden of color blooms on the finger — purple, blue and violet sapphires create a mesmerizing display within this 18-karat yellow gold dome shield ring. $19,080
Roberto Coin Domino: Geometric precision meets timeless luxury in this 18-karat yellow gold ring, where pave white diamonds create a sophisticated architectural effect. $9,880
“Cocktail rings are pure fun — they’re meant to be noticed and enjoyed,” Lazorova says. “These are the rings you slip on when you want to add personality to your holiday outfit or give as a gift that shows you really know someone’s style.”
HOOPS, REINVENTED: CONTEMPORARY TWISTS
“These hoops have a secret — each one offers something unexpected that sets it apart,” Lazorova shares. “They’re perfect for someone who loves classic styles but wants something special.”
Alex Sepkus
Twist Hoop Earrings: Sculptural texture defines these oxidized 18-karat yellow gold hoops, where an organic twist form is accented with white diamonds totaling 0.12 carats. $4,110
Roberto Coin Love in Verona: Romance and geometry dance together in these 18-karat yellow gold double-diamond circle earrings, crafted with Coin’s signature attention to detail.
$5,780
FOPE Essentials Large Flex'it: Technical innovation meets timeless elegance in these 18-karat white gold hoops, featuring FOPE’s signature flexible technology.
$6,630
Roberto Coin Graduated Bead Threader: Classic hoops reimagined — these 18-karat yellow gold earrings feature graduated beads in an innovative threader style. $3,440
Stephen Webster CH2 Shard Slimline Cuff Earrings: Contemporary ear cuffs in 18-karat white gold feature black opalescent stones that add dramatic sophistication. $5,950
David Gross Group Flora Motif: Museum-worthy artistry defines these platinum studs, featuring cushion-cut blue sapphires and white diamonds in an intricate floral design. $100,000
Aaron Henry Diamond Pavé Daisy: Nature-inspired artistry blooms in these 18-karat white gold earrings, featuring pave diamond petals surrounding vibrant yellow sapphire centers. $17,760
Alessa Jewelry Rising Studs: Modern geometry meets timeless appeal in these 18-karat rose gold pyramid-form studs, accented with 0.11 carats of white diamonds. $1,495
movement captured in 18-karat yellow gold, where natural color diamonds create a subtle play of warm hues. $4,350
CLASSIC SPARKLE: TIMELESS STUDS
“Studs are the ultimate versatile luxury — they work for everything from holiday brunches to black tie galas,” Lazorova explains. “They’re perfect for treating yourself to an everyday essential that feels special, or for giving as a gift that will be worn and loved constantly.”
CLOSE TO THE HEART: PENDANT NECKLACES
“A pendant necklace is jewelry you can wear every day or save for special celebrations — it’s incredibly versatile,” Lazorova notes. “These pieces look beautiful layered with other necklaces or worn alone as a focal point.”
Alex Sepkus Soft Mosaic: Artisanal craftsmanship shines in this 18-karat yellow gold pendant, where blue sapphires and white diamonds create an intricate mosaic pattern. $9,315
David Gross Group EmeraldCut Sapphire: A spectacular
Stephen Webster Fly by Night CH2: Mystery and elegance unite in this 18-karat white gold pendant, featuring black opalescent stone and black diamonds in Webster’s distinctive style. $6,100
Delicate romance defines this 18-karat white gold necklace, featuring a satinfinished flower with diamond accents in an extra-small scale. $2,100
Aaron Henry Wide Embrace: A celebration of color, this 18-karat yellow gold pendant features ruby, sapphire and white diamonds in a contemporary embrace design. $10,650
DIAMOND CASCADES: SHOW-STOPPING
NECKLACES
“When you want to make a truly grand entrance, nothing compares to a diamond necklace,” Lazorova reveals. “These pieces are designed for the season’s most glamorous moments — they’re showstoppers that photograph beautifully and feel absolutely luxurious to wear.”
Alessa Jewelry Rising Pendant: Architectural sophistication meets everyday luxury in this high-polish pyramid pendant, featuring pave diamond accents and bezel-set diamond stations on an adjustable 18-karat yellow gold chain. $2,995
Alex Sepkus Path Necklace: Intricate artistry defines this 18-karat yellow gold necklace, where white diamonds create a winding path of light and shadow in Sepkus’s signature style. $27,690
Mattia Cielo Rugiada Diamanti Collar: Modern Italian design at its most spectacular — this 18-karat yellow gold collar necklace features white diamonds in a continuous flow of brilliance. $9,800
Alessa Jewelry Rising Necklace: Contemporary elegance takes center stage in this adjustable collar-style design, where high-polished and pavé-set pyramid shapes showcase 1.02 carats of white diamonds in 18-karat white gold. $6,995
David Weisz Line Necklace (19.5 carats): The ultimate diamond statement — 19.5 carats of round brilliant-cut white diamonds flow seamlessly in 18-karat white gold. $47,300
The baby shouldn’t have been comfortable. He was only months old, surrounded by strangers at the Phoenix Zoo’s ZooLights display, the evening air alive with voices and laughter. His mother had warned that he probably wouldn’t want anything to do with Santa Claus. But the moment she placed him in those arms, the child melted into the white fur and closed his eyes, burrowing deeper when she tried to take him back. Something in that embrace — the warmth, the gentleness, the inexplicable rightness of it — told him he was exactly where he belonged.
Andy McKee felt tears spring to his eyes. In that instant, he understood what he had been called to do.
“The smiles on the kids’ faces when they see Santa truly warm your heart,” McKee says. “Seeing their joy and knowing that, for some of these children, this might be all they get for Christmas, makes the experience even more meaningful.”
McKee didn’t seek out this calling. It found him after he married into what he calls “the Santa family” — a community devoted to keeping Christmas alive in the hearts of Valley children. His in-laws had portrayed elves for years, and through them he met veteran Santas who would become his mentors. At first, he wasn’t sure it was for him. Then came Helping Hands for Freedom, the Phoenix Zoo’s
annual Christmas celebration for families of fallen, wounded or deployed veterans.
“That experience showed me what it really meant to bring joy to others,” he says.
Brian Hendrickson’s awakening came differently, but with equal clarity. In 2005, he and his wife Tracey dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus for a toy run through Yuma, riding their Harley-Davidson to collect gifts for children in need.
Hendrickson had decorated his motorcycle with garland and miniature wrapped presents along the windshield. It was their first granddaughter’s first Christmas, and as he rode through town — drivers honking, children jumping and waving from sidewalks — Hendrickson felt something shift. The joy wasn’t just in the children watching; it was in being part of something that transcended the ordinary rhythms of life.
Years later, after retiring from the California Highway Patrol, he found himself with time and a naturally white beard. When a friend suggested he might make a wonderful Santa Claus, Hendrickson realized the call had been there all along, waiting for him to answer.
“The reason I keep returning is probably similar to the generosity and kindness of the original St.
Photo Courtesy of Brian Hendrickson
The Keepers of Christmas Inside the Wondrous Work of Valley Santas
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
Did You Snow?
The modern image of Santa Claus in his iconic red suit was created by Tucson illustrator Haddon Sundblom for CocaCola advertisements beginning in 1931. His warm, grandfatherly portrayal became the standard depiction recognized worldwide today.
Nicholas,” Hendrickson says. “I truly feel uplifted and happy when I can bring a moment of kindness to someone’s busy day. It usually results in a smile, a giggle, and more often than not, a genuine hug or a meaningful handshake.”
Both men are part of a dedicated community serving families throughout the Valley, carrying forward a tradition that stretches back not just decades but centuries — to St. Nicholas himself, the fourth century bishop whose legendary generosity became the foundation for the figure children around the world wait for each December.
The work requires more than most people imagine. There are monthly gatherings where those who’ve answered this calling share wisdom and stories. There’s the careful attention to every detail — the shine of boots, the ring of bells, the props that help parents keep the magic alive long after the visit ends. There’s the profound responsibility of holding children’s deepest wishes, their most earnest hopes.
The greeting matters. “There you are! I’ve been waiting all night to see you” — this is how McKee welcomes each child, borrowed from mentors who understood that every child should feel singular, seen, chosen. The voice must stay warm, like a loving grandfather, never rushed. And a child should never be pressured. “Would you like to come sit with Santa so Mommy and Daddy can get a picture?” McKee asks gently, letting them decide.
Hendrickson has learned that presence speaks as loudly as words. A knowing glance, a gentle gesture, the patience to truly listen — these create the photographs families will treasure, the moments that become family lore.
Photo Courtesy of Brian Hendrickson
“We all strive for that million-dollar photo that captures emotions like love, imagination, shyness, laughter or pure goofiness,” Hendrickson explains.
The magic they help create manifests in moments that defy explanation. At ZooLights, a teenager with autism entered Hendrickson’s area, reserved and uncertain. With his brother’s encouragement, the young man eventually presented his handwritten Christmas wish list. By the end of their conversation, the transformation was visible — the teenager’s face lit with happiness. Later, his father returned, tears in his eyes.
“He gave me a giant bear hug, thanked me again, and told me I was the best Santa he had ever met,” Hendrickson recalls.
Last December at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Winter Classic, an annual event where the team turns Chase Field into a winter wonderland for more than 500 students from Title I schools,
Meet two members of a dedicated community who have devoted themselves to preserving something precious in the Valley — the capacity for wonder that lives in every child’s heart.
Hendrickson experienced a moment that was similarly unforgettable. After the event, the team’s CEO approached him, moved by what he’d just seen: a 9-year-old girl dancing on the field behind second base, waving her photograph in the air. She’d just met Santa Claus for the very first time in her life.
“It was a truly humbling experience for me,” Hendrickson says.
The calling also brings them face-to-face with the weight of the world children carry. At Helping Hands for Freedom, McKee asked a little girl what she wanted for Christmas. “A new house,” she replied. He thought she meant a dollhouse, starting to ask the usual questions, until her brother gently corrected him: “No, Santa — a real house.”
Photo Courtesy of Brian Hendrickson
Photo Courtesy of Brian Hendrickson
Did You Snow?
While Santa Claus has ancient roots, Mrs. Claus is a relatively modern addition to Christmas lore. She first appeared in an 1849 short story, but didn’t receive her first illustration until 1919, when she graced a holiday postcard — 70 years after her literary debut.
“All I could say in that moment was, ‘Santa will see what he can do,’” McKee recalls. “I followed up by asking what else they’d like, and she said a scooter while her brother asked for a baseball and glove. Helping Hands for Freedom was able to provide those gifts. But as Santa, you have to keep being jolly — even when, deep down, your heart is breaking for these little ones.”
Hendrickson once met a 12-year-old girl at a church event the night after she’d lost her mother. Her wish was achingly simple: to give her mom one last kiss, a hug, and tell her she loved her.
He spoke to her with gentle honesty. Her mother would always be with her, forever in her heart. He asked if she talked to her dolls while playing. When she nodded, he offered her a way to stay connected — to speak to her mother as if she were right there beside her, the way she does when she plays.
“That was a moment I’ll never forget,” Hendrickson says quietly.
When perceptive children ask the inevitable question — “Are you the real Santa?” — both men have learned to answer with truth that deepens rather than diminishes wonder. McKee engages them playfully: “Can you see me? Is my beard real? Are we sitting here having a conversation?” The questions invite them to trust what their hearts already know.
For the especially curious, Hendrickson offers something deeper: “I tell them, sincerely, that I am a proud descendant of the original St. Nicholas, and I honor my ancestor by carrying on his tradition of generosity and kindness.”
He’s also learned to help skeptics of any age understand what Santa Claus truly represents. He tells them a story about a father explaining to his
Photos Courtesy of Andy McKee
son that Santa isn’t just a person but an idea — the spirit of giving for the joy of giving itself, without expecting thanks or recognition. When you help someone anonymously, when you bring joy to a stranger, when you act with pure generosity, you’re embodying that same spirit.
“Now that you know, you’re part of it,” the father tells his son in Hendrickson’s story. “You have to be Santa Claus too.”
For families wanting to nurture that spirit at home, both men offer wisdom gleaned from years of watching what kindles lasting magic. McKee emphasizes the power of simple rituals: decorating together as a family, watching beloved Christmas movies with hot cocoa, cutting paper snowflakes.
Hendrickson concurs, suggesting additional traditions that bring families together: wearing matching pajamas for photographs, making a family time capsule filled with memories from the year, or his favorite — a ritual involving ribbons and wishes. During December, each family member ties a colored ribbon bow on the Christmas tree while making a wish of goodwill for someone going through difficulty. On Christmas morning, they untie the bows together, sending those wishes out into the world.
The Arizona desert presents its own unique relationship with Christmas tradition. Children sometimes wonder how Santa manages without snow, without chimneys. McKee has an answer ready: “I always tell kids this is where I can defrost a little after traveling through the cold night. Plus, Rudolph and the other reindeer get to graze on ground that isn’t frozen.”
In 2023, Hendrickson arrived at a family’s first Santa celebration to find the energy subdued. Several families had canceled, and the host seemed discouraged. Hendrickson looked at him and asked a simple question: “Do you believe?”
When the man seemed puzzled, he asked again: “Do you believe in Christmas?”
The host said yes.
“Then let’s get in there and have a great family event.”
Inside, Hendrickson tuned his ukulele and led everyone in singing “Jingle Bells.” He shared Christmas trivia, spent time with three delighted toddlers and watched the evening transform.
“The owner followed me out, thanking me for helping save the event — and, with a smile, he said, ‘I believe,’” Hendrickson notes.
That transformation — from doubt to belief, from routine to wonder — is what McKee and Hendrickson have devoted themselves to fostering. As such, Hendrickson gently warns against using the season as a tool for behavior management.
“The spirit of Christmas should never be used to intimidate a child,” he says. “That’s not the true meaning of the season.”
For example, a 10-year-old boy once asked Hendrickson a question weighted with worry: “Am I on the naughty list?” Hendrickson could see the child wasn’t happy with himself, that he’d already passed judgment.
“I didn’t ask why he felt that way,” Hendrickson says. “Instead, I told him that everyone has bad days, but it’s up to each of us to do and be better than we were yesterday. I asked if he could do that going forward.”
Photos Courtesy of Andy McKee
The boy nodded, gave him a hug and rejoined his group. Before Hendrickson left, the child’s mother approached to thank him for reinforcing exactly what she’d been trying to tell her son.
This is the work: holding space for children’s hopes and fears, offering gentle wisdom, creating moments where families connect with something larger than the distractions and pressures of modern life. It’s about preserving not just a tradition, but the capacity for wonder itself.
“Christmas can be a stressful time, but even a little kindness can go a long way in making the season brighter for everyone,” McKee says.
Hendrickson’s message echoes the same truth.
“Take a moment to breathe, bow your head, and step back from the holiday hustle and bustle,” he advises. “Use this time to continue cherished family traditions, create new ones, reach out to an old friend you haven’t seen in a while, or speak a kind word to someone who might need it.”
In the end, what these keepers of Christmas offer the North Valley isn’t just a photo opportunity or a seasonal entertainment. They offer something more essential: a reminder that wonder still exists, that generosity creates its own kind of magic, that the spirit of Christmas lives not in a single figure but in every act of kindness we extend to one another.
When a child asks if Santa is real, when they search those eyes for truth, what they’re really asking is whether goodness exists, whether magic is possible,
Photos Courtesy of Brian Hendrickson
whether someone sees them and cares about their deepest wishes. And in the embrace of these men who’ve devoted themselves to answering that question with their whole hearts, children find the answer they need.
That’s the magic McKee, Hendrickson and countless others keep alive through presence, patience, and an unwavering commitment to honoring every child’s belief in wonder. As the season approaches each year, these men prepare once again to answer their calling. They do it for the baby who burrows into the fur. For the teenager who finally smiles. For the girl experiencing her first Christmas magic. For the boy who needs to know tomorrow can be better than today.
They do it because somewhere, centuries ago, a generous bishop began a tradition of secret kindness that refused to die. Because that tradition needs keepers. Because children need wonder. Because all of us, no matter our age, need to believe that goodness is real, that generosity matters, that magic — the truest kind — still exists in the world.
Did You Snow?
The Hall Brothers — better known today as Hallmark — are credited with creating Christmas wrapping paper in the United States in 1917. Before that, gifts were typically wrapped in plain brown paper or tissue.
Garrison Keillor Brings Cheerfulness to Arizona Musicfest
Wobegon Wisdom
At 83, Garrison Keillor wants you to sing — not because it’s easy, but because you remember how.
“My generation, I believe, may be the last that truly knows the words,” Keillor says from his home in New York, his voice carrying that familiar cadence — unhurried, wry, altogether Midwestern. “So I can hum a note and start singing ‘My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,’ and they’ll join in. They may not have sung it since fourth grade, but they still remember.”
On Jan. 18, the beloved storyteller will take the stage in North Scottsdale as part of Arizona Musicfest for an evening built around a deceptively simple proposition: happiness may depend on circumstances, but cheerfulness is a choice.
What unfolds over two hours at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church will be part standup, part memoir, part hymnal — a carefully sequenced performance that moves from sung sonnets and duets to classic poems, jokes, and the iconic “News from Lake Wobegon” monologue, concluding with an unamplified, a cappella sing-along that transforms audience members into co-creators of communal memory.
“I’m very excited about bringing Garrison to Arizona Musicfest,” says Allan Naplan, the concert series’ execu-
tive and producing director. “While I knew that Garrison’s celebrity and his signature Midwest sensibility would resonate with so many of our Musicfest patrons, I was equally intrigued by the chance to present an evening that weaves together his prolific humor and insightful essays with songs and communal singing.”
Naplan pauses, warming to his subject.
“Just like his ‘Prairie Home Companion’ broadcasts, I have no doubt he’ll make everyone feel as though we’re gathered in his living room, sharing warm Powdermilk biscuits while he spins a tale of Lake Wobegon.”
A LIFE IN STORIES
Keillor’s relationship with cheerfulness wasn’t always automatic. The architect of Lake Wobegon — that fictional Minnesota town “where the women are strong, the men are good-looking, and the children are above average” — spent decades so consumed by the weekly demands of “A Prairie Home Companion” that life and work blurred into a single, perpetual deadline.
“Throughout all those years working on ‘A Prairie Home Companion,’ I was so focused on the job that I’m not sure I truly had a life outside of it,” Keillor admits.
Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography Courtesy of Garrison Keillor
I came to understand that cheerfulness is something you choose. No matter your circumstances, you can choose to be hopeful. When you do, it becomes possible to discover wonder—to find a kind of joy, because there’s something extraordinary in every single day if you’re open to it.
Garrison Keillor
Garrison Keillor at 83:
“I’m still working to do good work.” The beloved storyteller brings an evening of cheerfulness, stories and communal song to Arizona Musicfest on Jan. 18.
He grew up in a fundamentalist family of six children in Minneapolis — no money for extras, but security in abundance. Fiction was forbidden. Comedy wasn’t encouraged. Yet somehow, misbehavior became his education.
“I recall, as a little kid in Minneapolis, sneaking coins from my mother’s change jar in the kitchen, then heading down to a luncheonette to order a cheeseburger — back when a cheeseburger cost 20 cents. The cook brought it out, but when he set the plate down, I saw there was no cheese. So I said, ‘But I wanted cheese.’ And just then, I felt a hand on my shoulder.”
It was his father. He pulled young Garrison away. The boy protested: “But I paid for it.” His father took him home.
“My mother told him to punish me, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it,” Keillor recalls.
But as that chapter closed and he fell in love with his current wife, something shifted.
“I came to understand that cheerfulness is something you choose,” he says. “No matter your circumstances, you can choose to be hopeful. When you do, it becomes possible to discover wonder — to find a kind of joy, because there’s something extraordinary in every single day if you’re open to it.”
That revelation — arrived at through misadventures, wrong turns, and eventually, clarity — now anchors his touring shows and recent writing. His mother, he recalls, believed it wholeheartedly.
“She was adamantly opposed to complaining,” Keillor says. “She would remind us that other children would be happy to have what we had.”
His parents shared the story with his aunts, who found it highly amusing — their nephew had told his father “But I paid for it,” even though he had stolen the money.
“They laughed at the story,” Keillor says. “And that’s when I realized misbehavior could be funny — perhaps even funnier than being dutiful.”
The revelation stuck. By 10th grade, when his English teacher handed him a copy of “The New Yorker,” he’d found his calling.
“I read A.J. Liebling and thought, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ And that’s what I’ve done,” he says. “It’s what I’m still doing — even more engaged now than when I was young. I’m still working to do good work.”
Experiencing a cappella singing is rare nowadays, and it's deeply moving to me. It's mysterious. There's no piano or organ driving them — just voices singing, often in beautiful harmony: two, three, sometimes even four parts. It's incredibly powerful. Garrison Keillor
KNOWING THE WORDS
What Arizona Musicfest audiences will witness is a format honed over hundreds of dates, alternating attention and release, monologue and music, recollection and participation:
A stand-up prologue on cheerfulness, aging and comic inconvenience, using Keillor’s signature slow-burn cadence to prime the room for listening — and singing.
Sung sonnets — musical settings of short verse on prayer, longevity and love — performed with the luminous vocalist Heather Masse, familiar from “A Prairie Home Companion.” Their duets span Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Tom Waits, Greg Brown, Mark Knopfler and Ann Reed, selected for narrative heft and companionable lyricism.
Instrumental interludes from Richard Dworsky, Keillor’s longtime music director and pianist, whose chamber-like responsiveness shapes the evening’s pacing and mood.
An extended medley of classic poems and jokes — literate, playful, warmly democratic. Listeners hear canonical verse alongside kitchen-table humor.
The News from Lake Wobegon, updated but faithful to form: a weekly chronicle interlacing recent indignities and ancient rites with deadpan wonder.
And finally, the closing sing-along — unamplified voices in shared repertoire, ending the evening as communal ritual rather than celebrity showcase.
He may start with “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” perhaps move to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” — even the challenging second verse: “I have seen Him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps.”
He’ll offer hymns like “How Great Thou Art,” Beatles songs like “In My Life,” Western standards like “Red River Valley” and “I Ride an Old Paint,” and spirituals like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”
“Experiencing a cappella singing is rare nowadays, and it’s deeply moving to me,” Keillor says. “It’s mysterious. There’s no piano or organ driving them — just voices singing, often in beautiful
Master storyteller Garrison Keillor comes to Arizona Musicfest with sung sonnets, Lake Wobegon tales and a cappella sing-alongs that celebrate shared memory and the last generation who knows all the words.
harmony: two, three, sometimes even four parts. It’s incredibly powerful.”
He wouldn’t hesitate to have them sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
“People don’t sing it at ballgames anymore, at least not that I’ve noticed — maybe an organ will play it, but the crowd doesn’t join in. I think it’s a song that deserves to be sung.”
A CULTURAL IMPRINT
Keillor’s cultural imprint is double-stranded: a literary voice and a broadcast architecture. “A Prairie Home Companion,” which debuted in 1974, reimagined the live variety format for late 20th century public media — bluegrass and gospel sets, sketch comedy, fake advertisements, and culminating Lake Wobegon monologues — becoming a repository of humor that resisted both irony and partisanship, even as it smuggled in sharp observations about community life.
In print, Keillor produced memoir, novels, story collections, and verse — from “Lake Wobegon Days” to “That Time of Year” to recent projects like “Cheerfulness” and “Brisk Verse” — treating small-town rituals, Protestant eccentricities, and Midwestern stoicism with gentle satire and stylistic polish. The literary Lake Wobegon functions like a map of moral weather, a theater of understatement where potlucks and school board dramas reveal the odd dignity of restraint.
“I’ve always appreciated how Garrison championed a wide array of musical genres — from bluegrass and opera to klezmer and jazz, often in consecutive broadcasts,” Naplan says. “He was not only an exceptional host but also an advocate for each artist and musical style. It’s a spirit that parallels the way Musicfest celebrates such a broad and diverse range of musical offerings.”
Recent anniversary tours — marking 50 years of “A Prairie Home Companion” — have revived character sketches like Guy Noir and Lives of the Cowboys, spoof ads for Powdermilk Biscuits and the Ketchup Advisory Board, reaffirming the format’s live-wire charm with original cast members and sound-effects wizard Fred Newman.
What endures is technique: a voice that takes time, notices neighbors and puts audience members on the same side of the joke.
THE ART OF SEARCHING
For Keillor, storytelling isn’t calculation — it’s discovery.
“When I tell stories to an audience, my goal is always to keep them engaged — I can usually sense if I’m succeeding, or if I’m beginning to lose them,” he says.
But the deeper purpose isn’t merely to hold attention.
“Ultimately, I believe that telling a story is an act of searching — not just for the listener, but for yourself,” Keillor says. “It’s not a cold-blooded technique or a calculated plot designed to impress. You want the story to surprise you, as much as your audience.”
He compares it to walking a tightrope.
“You need to keep moving forward into the unknown, even when it feels precarious and you fear you might lose your balance. That’s where fiction comes in — it’s meant to surprise even the person telling it.”
These days, he’s working on an autobiographical book, mining memory for stories he wishes he’d asked his elders about when they were still alive.
“I regret not inquiring with my parents, aunts and uncles about their childhoods, because once they’re gone, there’s no way to recover those stories,” he says.
He thinks often of his parents’ marriage — begun under scandalous circumstances when his father got his mother pregnant before the wedding.
“The shame of my father getting my mother pregnant before marriage, I think, made them cherish each other all the more for more than 60 years,” Keillor says.
That security — the knowledge of being cared for, of having enough — shaped his understanding of gratitude long before he could articulate it.
A Season of Splendor
Arizona Musicfest’s winter season opens Jan. 8 with Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience, followed by Neil Berg’s “The 70s: Long Live Rock N’ Roll” on Jan. 10.
“I’m very excited to present Broadway stars Laura Benanti and Norm Lewis on Jan. 16,” says Allan Naplan, Arizona Musicfest’s executive and producing director. “Both are Tony Award-recognized artists who have earned widespread acclaim on stage and television, and I’m thrilled to bring them together for this special concert featuring highlights from their celebrated musical theater careers, along with selections from their personal playlists.”
Following Garrison Keillor’s Jan. 18 performance, the season continues with The Dreamboats on Jan. 31, The Barricade Boys’ “Broadway at the Movies” on Feb. 2, and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s “The Great American Crooners” on Feb. 9.
“I’ve been eager to present Counterpoint on Feb. 13 for quite some time,” Naplan says. “Musicfest audiences will remember acclaimed classical pianist Conrad Tao from his previous performances as a concerto soloist with our Festival Orchestra.
“When he’s not performing with some of the world’s leading orchestras, Conrad’s collaboration with renowned tap dancer Caleb Teicher has introduced a fresh perspective and new audiences to classical music. By treating tap not just as movement but as an equal instrument in the ensemble, Conrad and Caleb have created something truly exceptional. I believe audiences will be both surprised and delighted by the extraordinary artistry of this unique partnership.”
Two-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone presents “Matters of the Heart” on Feb. 16, followed by The Ten Tenors’ 30th Anniversary World Tour on Feb. 19.
“We didn’t have much money, but there was never any worry about having enough to eat or something to wear,” he says.
“As always, we look forward to welcoming back our Festival Orchestra from Feb. 22 through March 1,” Naplan concludes. “This superlative ensemble of orchestral all-stars — from some of the nation’s finest organizations — will once again offer a thrilling week of orchestral splendor. Of special note, our Feb. 27 concert, ‘American Portraits,’ is part of Musicfest’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary year.”
azmusicfest.org
Counterpoint
Photo by Sofia Negron
Laura Benanti and Norm Lewis
Achieve your Best Body
A N D R E S T O R E Y O U R H E A L T H
PP e r s o n a l i z e d a n d D o c t o r -
S u p e r v i s e d W e i g h t L o s s
The Center for Integrative Healing & Wellness’ medical weight loss program integrates FDA-approved medications with a natural and holistic approach to address the underlying biological and physical issues responsible for weight gain
In addition to losing weight and keeping it off, The Center for Integrative Healing & Wellness’ medical weight loss program provides clients with the tools they need to reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes as well as optimize hormones for energy, health and longevity.
T h e M o s t C o m p r e h e n s i v e &
S u c c e s s f u l P r o g r a m A v a i l a b l e
The Center for Integrative Healing & Wellness’ medical weight loss program is designed to help clients be the healthiest they have ever been, in the best body that they have ever had.
Regardless of the amount of weight you want to lose, the spa-like clinic’s Integrative Team will monitor and guide you throughout the process of reaching your goal. Our clients typically lose 15–20% or more of their body weight an average of 53 pounds in 6–12 months
Best of all, the program ensures that patients maintain lean muscle mass and keep the weight they lost off for life. That is because, unlike other programs, our weight loss program looks not only at scale weight but also takes into consideration body fat, muscle mass and water weight, which all affect one’s ultimate goal
At 83, Garrison
Keillor continues his mission as keeper of communal memory, inviting audiences to sing “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” — songs they may not have sung since fourth grade but still remember.
A MIDWESTERNER IN THE DESERT
Keillor hasn’t spent much time in Arizona. He admits the desert has always seemed like unfamiliar territory.
“I come from a prairie state, where there’s typically enough rainfall to keep things fairly lush throughout the summer,” he says. “So deserts — and mountainous regions, for that matter — have never really felt like home.”
He describes himself, without apology, as a small-town Minnesotan — even now, living in New York because his wife prefers it.
“I’ll always be a small-town Minnesotan,” he says.
Yet he’s aware of the generational divide that makes every audience an uncertainty.
“When we step out to meet an audience, we’re never entirely certain what awaits us,” Keillor says. “There comes a point in life when you realize you’re simply out of date.”
He worries about performing for college students, whose generation feels “so far removed” from his own. In New York, he sees school buses arriving from New Jersey, half the
EXPERIENCE
Garrison Keillor at 83
children glued to their phones as they enter a city filled with skyscrapers, bustling crowds and flashing lights.
“Yet, they’re focused on texting rather than the world around them,” he says. “I wonder if their environment holds any real attraction compared with the screens in their hands.”
He shrugs philosophically.
“But it’s not something I can change. I come from the rock ‘n’ roll generation — Elvis, Buddy Holly, and the rest. The music young people listen to now is completely foreign to me.”
Still, he shows up. He keeps working. At 83, Paul McCartney is still performing, “doing his best,” Keillor notes — though that’s not something he aspires to emulate.
What he does aspire to: leaving audiences with a sense of how much they carry inside, waiting to be recalled.
“I expect the Arizona audience will know these tunes,” Keillor says. “I want to leave them with a sense of just how much they carry inside, waiting to be recalled.”
garrisonkeillor.com
Sunday, Jan. 18 // 7:30 p.m. // La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church // 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale // $66+ // 480-422-8449 // azmusicfest.org
photo essay
Photographer Cassell Archinuk
Mogollon Rim
Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Cassell Archinuk
Photographer Cassell Archinuk chases rare Arizona snowstorms to capture the desert’s most fleeting transformation: snowcovered roads that lead viewers into winter wonder.
Where Winter Leads
The road stretches ahead, a ribbon of asphalt cutting through a landscape transformed. Snow clings to desert vegetation, coating saguaros and ponderosas alike in unexpected white. The familiar Arizona terrain — the one we know in its sun-baked glory — has become something else entirely: ethereal, fleeting, magical.
For photographer Cassell Archinuk, these moments represent both a challenge and an obsession. Since founding Cassy Arch Photography more than a decade ago, she has built her reputation on capturing the Southwest’s diverse beauty through natural light. But winter in Arizona presents a unique opportunity — one that requires careful planning, quick reflexes, and a willingness to chase storms.
“There was one year when I was determined to capture snow in Arizona, and I got lucky,” Archinuk recalls of a morning along the Mogollon Rim. “Early the next morning, I drove up there, about an hour and a half from home, and discovered the most beautiful scenes: snowy, untouched trees and a blanket of fresh snow.”
This month’s photo essay — a sequel to our previously published “See You Down the Road” and “On the Road Again” photo essays — showcases Archinuk’s ability to find wonder in the transient. Unlike the summer editions that preceded it, these images embrace a softer color palette — whites and grays punctuated by the enduring greens of conifers and the rust red of distant cliffs. The compositional element remains constant: roads that lead the eye forward, inviting exploration.
“There’s something about including a road in a photograph — I’ve always loved capturing them,” Archinuk explains. “When a road is flanked by snow-covered trees, it creates such a strong sense of direction. It makes you feel as though you’re headed somewhere, maybe even on an adventure!”
For longtime Arizona residents, these images offer a reminder: Our state’s beauty transcends seasons, revealing new dimensions to those willing to venture out when winter arrives.
Near Flagstaff
There was one year when I was determined to capture snow in Arizona, and I got lucky. Early the next morning, I drove up there, about an hour-and-a-half from home, and discovered the most beautiful scenes: snowy, untouched trees and a blanket of fresh snow. Cassell Archinuk
Mogollon Rim
Near Woods Canyon Lake
Between Payson and Mogollon Rim
I hope everyone takes the time to recognize and appreciate the incredible beauty Arizona offers. The state has an amazing variety of landscapes, weather conditions and scenery. You truly have to get out and explore to understand and appreciate the beauty we’re surrounded by! Cassell Archinuk
Near Horseshoe Dam
photo essay
There’s something about including a road in a photograph — I’ve always loved capturing them. When a road is flanked by snow-covered trees, it creates such a strong sense of direction. It makes you feel as though you’re headed somewhere, maybe even on an adventure! Cassell Archinuk
Christopher Creek
Meet the Photographer
Cassell Archinuk’s photography journey began more than a decade ago with a smartphone and a sense of wonder at Bryce Canyon National Park. Captivated by the remarkable rock formations, she found herself experimenting with angles and perspectives through her phone’s camera lens — an unexpected discovery for someone who had always been an avid hiker but never considered herself a photography enthusiast.
One year after that Utah trip, Archinuk purchased a Nikon camera and dove deeper into the craft. Through online tutorials, abundant trial and error, and countless hours in the field, she founded Cassy Arch Photography and developed a distinctive approach centered on natural light.
“I am a passionate photographer who loves to capture landscapes, nature and people with gorgeous scenic backgrounds,” Archinuk says. “I love nature and the outdoors as it provides a sense of peace, balance and beauty.”
Her background in cosmetology proved surprisingly advantageous, gifting her with an ability to visualize end results — a crucial skill when composing shots in challenging conditions. This foresight becomes especially valuable when working with the unique lighting of snow-covered landscapes, where bright Arizona sun reflects off white surfaces, dramatically altering a scene’s appearance.
“Light behaves differently on a snow-covered Arizona landscape compared with when there’s no snow,” she explains. “On our bright, sunny days — even when it snows — the light shines and reflects off the snow, altering the entire look of the scene.”
These days, Archinuk’s schedule is busier with weddings and portrait work, making her landscape photography more intentional. She carefully plans outings around golden hour, interesting cloud formations, thunderstorms and — of course — snow.
“I specialize in natural light photography and use that to bring the ‘wow’ factor into a photo,” she adds. “I feel like that is one thing that sets me apart because I understand the surrounding landscapes and how to best use this natural light to accentuate the photos in the best possible way.”
cassyarchphotography.com // thepaintedlens.com
Writer
Drop It Like It’s 1927 Route 66’s
Centennial Countdown
When Dee Dee Mahan stood at a Christmas party in 2024 and turned to her significant other Russell with an audacious proposal — “What if we did a car drop?” — she set in motion what would become Williams’ most ambitious New Year’s Eve celebration yet.
The idea seemed perfectly suited to Williams’ identity: a town that was the last on Route 66 to be bypassed by Interstate 40, now poised to become the first to launch the Route 66 Centennial in unforgettable style. And what better way to honor the Mother Road’s legacy than with a 1927 Chevrolet Capitol — a rolling tribute to the year Route 66 was officially established.
“City Manager Tim Pettit challenged me to dream up something bold — something Williams had never done before,” says Mahan, executive assistant for the city of Williams. “Flagstaff has its pinecone drop. Prescott has its boot drop. But Williams, the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, deserved something as iconic and timeless as the Mother Road itself.”
Joseph J. Airdo // Photography Courtesy of the City of Williams
Photo by Javier Rodriguez
Photo by Domenico Convertini
The engineering behind the spectacle honors both the car’s vintage pedigree and the community’s commitment to preservation. A custom-fabricated cradle system will protect the 99-year-old, fully operational Chevrolet as it’s lowered inch by inch over a replica gas station set while the crowd counts down from 10. At midnight, “Auld Lang Syne” will fill the mountain air, fireworks will illuminate the sky, and Williams will welcome 2026 in true Route 66 fashion.
“We won’t be harming the car in any way,” Mahan emphasizes. “It will be safely lowered, inch by inch, as the crowd counts down from 10.”
The car drop anchors an evening that transforms historic downtown Williams into a full-scale celebration. A beer and wine festival, live entertainment from emcee and DJ Joseph Howe, and the midnight fireworks display promise to draw both locals and travelers looking for an authentic Arizona New Year’s Eve experience.
For Williams, the event represents more than just a novel way to ring in the new year. It’s a declaration of the town’s enduring spirit — a quality that has defined Williams since the day Interstate 40 rerouted traffic away from its main street.
Williams,
the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, deserved something as iconic and timeless as the Mother Road itself. Dee Dee Mahan
“Williams was the last town on Route 66 to be bypassed by Interstate 40, and for a time, our future felt uncertain,” Mahan reflects. “But like a true Route 66 story, the spirit of Williams never faded. Thanks to the Grand Canyon Railway and the determination of our residents and business owners, we’ve brought this roadside town back to life, restoring the magic that made Route 66 legendary.”
That restoration isn’t just about nostalgia. It’s about creating new traditions that honor the past while securing the future. The car drop, Mahan hopes, will become an annual pilgrimage point for Route 66 enthusiasts and families alike.
“Our vision is simple yet powerful: to keep the heritage and heart of Route 66 alive for generations to come,” she says. “The Car Drop is more than a one-night spectacle — it’s the beginning of a new Williams tradition.”
What excites Mahan most isn’t the spectacle itself but the gathering it creates.
“What excites me most is seeing our entire community — lifelong residents and newcomers alike — gathered together, sharing laughter, memories and a renewed sense of pride,” she says. “For the antique car enthusiasts and Route 66 fanatics, this is a moment to honor both the vehicles and the people who have made this road iconic.”
The ultimate goal? To reignite the economic vitality that once defined Williams, bringing renewed energy to the shops, motels and restaurants that have weathered decades along the Mother Road.
“We want visitors to feel the warmth, charm and nostalgia of Williams so deeply that when they leave, they can’t help but say, ‘We can’t wait to return to Williams, Arizona — the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, home of Route 66 and the only little big town with a Vintage New Year’s Eve Car Drop!’” Mahan says.
williamsaz.gov
EXPERIENCE
Williams New Year’s Eve Car Drop
Wednesday, Dec. 31 // 8 p.m.–1 a.m. // Historic Downtown Williams // 200 W. Railroad Ave., Williams // Free // williamsaz.gov
Photo Courtesy the Kaibab National Forest
Midnight Across Arizona
While Times Square drops its crystal ball, Arizona raises the stakes with a statewide collection of spectacles that trade Manhattan glitz for desert authenticity. From mountain towns to the Sonoran Desert, communities across the state have transformed New Year’s Eve into celebrations as distinctive as Arizona itself.
In Flagstaff, where ponderosa pines define the skyline, a 70-pound metallic pinecone descends from the roof of the historic Weatherford Hotel — a tradition born from the millennium’s arrival and the hotel’s centennial celebration in 1999. The 6-foot icon catches the mountain town’s streetlights as it makes its journey earthward, a glittering tribute to the forests that surround the city.
The “Great Pinecone” drops three times each New Year’s Eve: at noon for “Noon Year’s Eve” (so young revelers can join the celebration), at 10 p.m. to match Times Square, and finally at the genuine midnight hour, when fireworks punctuate the mountain sky.
Down in Prescott, Whiskey Row honors its frontier roots with a 6-foot cowboy boot ablaze with 500 LED lights. Since 2011, the 100-pound boot has descended from The Palace Restaurant and Saloon’s flagpole twice each year — once at 10 p.m., once at midnight — its illuminated silhouette a nod to the rough-andtumble prospectors and cowboys who once filled the saloon below.
Show Low stakes its claim with perhaps Arizona’s most unusual origin story: a city won in an 1876 poker game with the turn of a single card. Each New Year’s Eve, that legendary deuce of clubs—scaled up and illuminated — descends in front of City Hall, commemorating the moment one ranch owner showed low and claimed victory over 100,000 acres.
Tucson embraces its culinary identity with unabashed joy. Outside Hotel Congress, artist Joe Pagac’s 15-foot-wide taco — crafted from wood and metal, crowned with shredded tablecloth “lettuce” and painted Styrofoam “tomatoes” — makes its annual descent as part of the Taco Bell New Year’s Eve Downtown Bowl Bash. It’s whimsy with a purpose: celebrating the flavors that have shaped the desert city’s reputation.
From vintage automobiles to oversized tacos, Arizona’s New Year’s Eve traditions prove that midnight doesn’t require a crystal ball to sparkle. Here, authenticity trumps spectacle, and each community writes its own story into the countdown.
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
The Village That Sugar Built Inside
FPrescott’s 33-Year Gingerbread Tradition
or 33 years, a peculiar urban planning project has unfolded each December in the lobby of the Prescott Resort and Conference Center. No zoning permits required. No architectural reviews. Just gingerbread, royal icing, and an inexhaustible supply of community spirit transforming a mountain resort into Arizona’s sweetest destination.
The gingerbread village isn’t simply a holiday display — it’s a living chronicle of connection, an edible testament to what happens when creativity meets tradition, when competition embraces collaboration, and when the simple act of building something together becomes infinitely more valuable than the thing itself.
“It truly takes a village to make the village,” says Suzan Doran, property controller at Prescott Resort and Conference Center and the affectionately dubbed “mayor of the gingerbread village.”
For 19 of those 33 years, Doran has shepherded this beloved tradition through its evolution from modest beginnings to what now stands as one of the world’s largest
gingerbread village displays. She’s watched participation ebb and flow — some years heavy with youth and school entries, others dominated by families and individuals. Yet through every iteration, the essential magic has remained constant.
Photo Courtesy of Jammie Cheatham
Photos Courtesy of Jammie Cheatham
“We begin planning in August, and that marks the unofficial start of the holiday season for us,” Doran says. “By early September, the first lots are usually purchased. When drop-off day finally arrives, it’s such a joy to listen to everyone’s stories about their creations. Honestly, hearing those stories is one of my favorite parts of the entire event.”
Those stories arrive each year in roughly 70 edible installments, as participants purchase “lots” — cottage, bungalow, or estate-sized — and transform them into architectural fantasies limited only by imagination and the laws of candy-based physics. The entries compete across five categories: corporate/business, nonprofit organizations, family/individual, youth, and schools. Judges evaluate each creation blindly, ensuring that craft alone determines the winners.
ROYAL ICING AND RIVALRY
Among the village’s most formidable builders is a team from Sturm, Ruger & Co., the firearms manufacturer with deep Prescott roots. For years, their entries have dominated the corporate category with a technical precision and artistic ambition that consistently raises the bar.
“We try to be unique in our ideas and hope we do well enough that people enjoy coming back to see the exhibit year after year,” says Jammie Cheatham, senior accountant at Ruger and the creative force behind the team’s perennial success.
Cheatham’s process begins in mid-October with brainstorming sessions that yield themes ranging from whimsical to ambitious. One year, a colleague’s mention of snowmen decorating cacti sparked “Arizona Christmas.” Another time, talk of gnomes and snowflakes evolved into “Snowflake and the Seven Gnomes.” Both took first place.
More Voices from the Village
Visit imagesaz.com for an extended version of this story, including Sue Beyea’s 20-year journey from Bible study mentor to grandmother of six — all building together, one fondant figure at a time.
“The most important thing I remind everyone is that the creation has to be mostly edible,” Cheatham says. “You may come up with a great concept, but then you have to figure out how to bring it to life using food.”
That challenge reached its apotheosis in 2017 with “United at Christmas,” an entry that remains Cheatham’s most meaningful achievement. She invited each team member to create a traditional Santa from a different country, sculpting faces from fondant and building bodies from gingerbread muffins. One team member, doubting her creative abilities, decorated gingerbread Christmas trees instead — and did, as Cheatham recalls, “a beautiful job.”
“It was our first first-place win, but perhaps the greatest compliment came from a friend who overheard a family viewing our exhibit,” Cheatham says. “They thought the Santas were porcelain dolls, and my friend was delighted to let them know she knew for certain they were made of gingerbread and fondant.”
The technical achievement required strategic engineering: a small piece of Styrofoam beneath each face, toothpicks holding arms in place — well within the guidelines that allow 25% non-edible materials while requiring at least 25% gingerbread. The team far exceeded both requirements.
FONDANT AND FAMILY
While the Ruger team pursues perfection, other participants embrace a different philosophy — one where imperfection becomes part of the story and family connection trumps competition every time.
Lisa Fredrickson has been building gingerbread entries for more than 17 years alongside her aunt, mother, sister-in-law and cousin. The tradition began with a simple suggestion from her aunt, who loved to bake, and Fredrickson’s own crafty inclinations. What started as a trio has expanded into a flexible collaborative that sometimes includes friends, family and neighbors — especially when little ones want to join.
“We begin by brainstorming ideas and inspirations we’ve gathered throughout the year, then settle on a theme that tells a story about what we’re depicting,” Fredrickson says.
Her process involves countless cardboard and construction paper drafts, her aunt’s marathon baking sessions, her mother’s sketches and her husband’s role as character critic. Without his feedback, she admits, she might never finish the job.
Photos Courtesy of Sue Beyea
Photos Courtesy of Kendal Healey
One year, that husband became part of the exhibit itself. Fredrickson had him pose so she could capture his stance for a Santa character. When their village was featured in a news clip, the reporter pointed out the resemblance, much to the family’s delight.
Yet for all the creative triumphs and memorable moments, Fredrickson insists the outcome matters far less than the journey — the weekends spent decorating together, the creative differences navigated, the sore fingers and stained fingernails, and ultimately the joy of sharing their finished creation with the community.
CLASSROOM CONFECTIONS
At Acorn Montessori Charter School, that philosophy of inclusive participation extends to an institutional level. Principal Kendal Healey explains that when the school opened, founder Cynthia Johnson knew she wanted Acorn to play a meaningful role in the community through creative, joyful engagement.
“The gingerbread village provided the perfect opportunity,” Healey says. “Watching our students’ faces light up when their creations are displayed is the moment we look forward to every year — and it’s what keeps us coming back.”
The school’s process is deliberately student-led. Kids choose themes, sketch designs and solve problems — especially when frosting proves more adhesive than decorative. Each class contributes pieces, teachers help coordinate the assembly, and music fills the air alongside the scent of sweets and plenty of laughter.
“Every year, there’s at least one moment when it looks like the whole structure is about to collapse — but almost magically, someone finds a solution using pretzels, toothpicks, or sheer determination,” Healey says. “One year, a candy roof caved in halfway through, so the students turned it into a ‘snow accident’ scene. They’re wonderful at transforming disasters into creative opportunities.”
The collaborative process brings out unexpected leadership. Older students mentor younger ones, and children who might not shine in academics or athletics discover they’re experts in candy architecture. Teachers watch students step into new roles, encouraging one another through challenges and celebrating collective achievement.
“If the frosting holds and the kids walk away feeling proud, that’s a win in our book,” Healey says.
CANDY FOR A CAUSE
Behind the architectural artistry and friendly competition lies a purpose that transforms sugar and frosting into something more substantial: food for children who need it.
Proceeds benefit the Prescott Area Hungry Kids Project, a community-driven initiative ensuring students have enough to eat when school meals aren’t available. A donation box at the display typically collects several thousand dollars annually, money that stays local and makes an immediate difference.
Kendal Healey emphasizes how the charitable component transforms the gingerbread village from entertainment into education, giving students a hands-on lesson in making a difference.
“This project gives students a hands-on way to support children in our own community,” Healey says. “They learn that something fun and creative can also make a real difference — a powerful lesson, especially during the holiday season.”
That sentiment resonates across all participant categories.
“I always say the children are the true winners of this event,” Cheatham says. “We participate to help support them, and I hope our efforts inspire even more people to get involved in this special tradition.”
Lisa Fredrickson frames the charitable aspect as reciprocal rather than one-directional — not just giving to others, but receiving something profound in return.
“Any time we have the opportunity to use our talents to support a charity, it truly feels like a gift to us,” Fredrickson says.
Photos Courtesy of Jammie Cheatham
JUST DESSERTS
For those inspired to start their own gingerbread traditions, the village veterans offer consistent advice: Start early, be patient, use plenty of frosting, and embrace imperfection. Fredrickson puts it most succinctly.
“Don’t take yourself too seriously — just enjoy the wonderfully messy process,” Fredrickson says. “Once your creation is complete and submitted, its role is simply to sit quietly and bring joy and smiles to everyone who passes by.”
Doran has heard countless stories over her 19 years as mayor — tales of creative breakthroughs, family bonding, competitive triumphs, and occasional disasters. She’s watched the village change with cultural trends while maintaining its essential character. Through all those years and all those gingerbread houses, one truth has remained constant.
“Whether someone participates or just comes up to walk around and see it, our gingerbread village has become an annual tradition for so many people,” Doran says. “And everything about Christmas is tradition, right?”
In Prescott, that tradition tastes like gingerbread and looks like community — built one candycovered house at a time, held together not just by royal icing but by something far more enduring: the connections forged when people create something beautiful together.
EXPERIENCE
33rd Annual Prescott Resort Gingerbread Village Through Jan. 1 // Prescott Resort and Conference Center // 1500 Highway 69, Prescott // Free // prescottresort.com
Photos Courtesy of Lisa Fredrickson
A Delicious History
The gingerbread house tradition spans centuries and continents, with roots tracing back to ancient Greece, Asia and the Middle East, where gingerflavored cakes and breads were cherished. By the 13th century, monks in Germany and France were creating elaborately shaped gingerbread for special occasions and town fairs, sometimes depicting religious scenes, royalty or famous buildings as gifts and tokens of good luck.
The custom of constructing gingerbread houses — known as Lebkuchenhäuser or Pfefferkuchenhaus — became firmly established in Germany in the early 1800s. While some food historians believe the practice existed earlier, its popularity soared after the 1812 publication of the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel,” in which children discover a witch’s edible house in the forest. German bakers began assembling ornate, candyencrusted structures for Christmas, a cherished tradition carried to America by immigrants.
Guilds of gingerbread bakers emerged throughout Europe, and in several countries, only guild members could bake gingerbread — except during Christmas and Easter, when anyone could join the fun. Victorian England introduced the idea of decorating gingerbread men and hanging edible treats on Christmas trees, while across Europe, heart-shaped, star-shaped and figure-shaped gingerbread were sold at fairs and markets as tokens of affection.
Today, the creative construction of gingerbread houses remains a highlight of holiday celebrations worldwide. From massive community projects like the annual Pepperkakebyen in Bergen, Norway, to simple family kitchens, these edible works of art continue to capture the imagination, symbolizing warmth, artistry and the spirit of togetherness during the festive season.
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
Arizona’s Festive Towns Beckon
Holiday Wanderlust
Arizona’s most enchanting holiday experiences await beyond the Valley of the Sun in charming towns and mountain communities where authentic festive traditions transform ordinary December evenings into extraordinary memories.
MOUNTAIN MAGIC AND HISTORIC CHARM
In Prescott, officially designated “Arizona’s Christmas City” since 1989, Dec. 6 brings the town’s 42nd annual Christmas parade followed by the 70th annual lighting of the historic Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza — transforming the Victorian-era courthouse into a glowing centerpiece that has drawn families for seven decades.
Flagstaff embraces its winter wonderland identity with dual celebrations: Winter Wonderland at Heritage Square on Dec. 6, featuring hot chocolate, s’mores, crafts and the official tree lighting, followed by nearly 100 illuminated entries parading through historic downtown from 6–8 p.m. Dec. 13, creating a river of light against snow-dusted pines.
Payson delivers an ambitious Dec. 13 holiday trifecta: Winter Wonderland festivities beginning at noon at Green Valley Park with festive inflatables and an ice rink; the ceremonial Christmas tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. near the Zane Grey Museum; and an electric light parade at 6 p.m. down historic Main Street, featuring both Santa Claus and Arizona’s legendary Mogollon Monster.
Flagstaff Holiday Parade of Lights
Photo Courtesy of Coconino National Forest
Flagstaff Holiday Parade of Lights
Photo Courtesy of Coconino National Forest
From Prescott’s historic courthouse lighting to Lake Havasu’s floating parade of lights, Arizona’s most enchanting holiday celebrations await beyond the Valley in charming towns where authentic traditions create extraordinary December memories.
ARTISTIC CELEBRATIONS AND DESERT LUMINARIAS
Sedona’s red rocks provide a dramatic setting for dual celebrations at Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village: a tree lighting ceremony Dec. 5 from 5–7 p.m. featuring refreshments, local entertainment and Santa visits, culminating with the Festival of Lights on Dec. 13 from 3–8 p.m., when 6,000 luminarias create an otherworldly glow against adobe architecture.
Historic Tubac continues this ancient Southwestern tradition during Luminaria Nights on Dec. 5–6 from 5–9 p.m., when thousands of candles guide visitors through the artists’ village alongside live music, local treats and visits with Mrs. Claus.
DESERT TOWN CELEBRATIONS
Wickenburg’s unique Dec. 6 walking celebration invites visitors to meander through shops, restaurants and street markets from 5 p.m., enjoying musical performances before the 7 p.m. Christmas tree lighting at Stone Park. Festivities continue Dec. 12 with the town’s 29th annual Christmas Parade of Lights from 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Tucson’s Dec. 6 holiday extravaganza begins with a 4 p.m. festival at Armory Park and culminates with the 30th annual Downtown Parade of Lights at 6:30 p.m. — Southern Arizona’s largest holiday parade, featuring more than 1,200 participants through the historic downtown core.
Luminaria Nights de Tubac
Photo by Ken Bosma
Downtown Parade of Lights in Tucson
Photo Courtesy of BHB Event Management
Tlaquepaque Tree Lighting
Photo by Derek von Briesen
UNIQUE ARIZONA ADVENTURES
Arizona offers extraordinary holiday experiences found nowhere else. Verde Canyon Railroad transforms its Clarkdale depot into a miniature Birds-Eye Village through Dec. 24, where children don eagle wings to soar through tiny houses before boarding “The Magical Christmas Journey.” Williams brings the beloved “Polar Express” to life aboard the Grand Canyon Railway through Dec. 30, complete with hot chocolate, cookies and Santa’s personal gifts.
Flagstaff’s Little America Hotel delivers the ultimate North Pole experience through Dec. 24 with Santa’s Grand Workshop, Mrs. Claus’ Bakery and Elf University — an interactive adventure transporting visitors directly to Christmas headquarters.
WATERSIDE WONDERS
Arizona’s most unique holiday celebration unfolds on Lake Havasu City’s water during the 39th annual Holiday Boat Parade of Lights on Dec. 6 from 7–9 p.m., when decorated vessels glitter through the Bridgewater Channel beneath London Bridge while the nearby resort blazes with more than 500,000 lights through the new year.
From mountain snow to desert luminarias, Arizona’s holiday celebrations offer authentic regional traditions that create lasting memories far beyond the Valley’s borders.
Las Noches de las Luminarias
Photo Courtesy of Desert Botanical Garden
Sedona Festival of Lights
Photo by Derek von Briesen
Tlaquepaque Tree Lighting
Photo by Derek von Briesen
The entire building resembles a giant gingerbread
house, twinkling with lights
that make it one of
Carefree's most enchanting holiday displays.
This holiday season, the English Rose Tea Room has transformed into something extraordinary — a shimmering, pink-hued winter wonderland that marries British tradition with unabashed festive glamour. Owner Jo Gemmill has outdone herself, creating what can only be described as candy-cane chic: pastel ornaments cascade from crystal chandeliers, whimsical pink Christmas trees anchor each corner, and every surface sparkles with sugar-coated holiday magic.
Father Christmas (as the British properly call Santa Claus) holds court every weekend through the season. Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., guests can meet the jolly gentleman, capture cherished photos and soak up the festive atmosphere in a setting far more elegant than the typical mall Santa scene.
Adding to the merriment, The Jingle Bells — a vintage-styled singing trio channeling a delightfully upbeat 1950s sensibility with hints of the B-52s’ playful energy — perform Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 2 p.m. Their performances transform afternoon tea into a proper celebration, complete with harmonies that echo through the decorated space.
The Christmas Afternoon Tea service, which begins immediately after Thanksgiving, showcases seasonal variations on the tea room’s beloved traditions: holiday-themed tea sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and an array of festive pastries that change weekly. It’s the kind of experience that creates new family traditions or elevates existing ones.
Perhaps most delightfully, Gemmill actively encourages guests to embrace the season’s sartorial possibilities. Sequins, sparkles, crowns, tiaras and festive gowns are not just welcome but celebrated — a refreshing invitation for adults to indulge in the kind of dress-up joy typically reserved for children. The tea room becomes permission to be unabashedly festive in an environment sophisticated enough to carry it off.
Whether you’re seeking a memorable outing with visiting relatives, planning a girls’ day escape or simply craving a respite from the usual holiday chaos, the English Rose Tea Room offers something increasingly rare: pure, unapologetic seasonal joy wrapped in British elegance.
A Pink Christmas Spectacular
ENGLISH ROSE
TEA ROOM
Dining Guide
BALSAMIC FIG GRILLED PORK TENDERLOIN
Serves: 4
INGREDIENTS:
For the pork:
This elegant grilled pork tenderloin showcases the marriage of sweet fig preserves with the tangy depth of balsamic vinegar, creating a glaze that caramelizes beautifully over open flame. The high heat of the grill develops a delectable crust while sealing in moisture, resulting in remarkably tender meat infused with rosemary and garlic. In Arizona, our year-round grilling season makes this sophisticated yet approachable dish a welcome addition to any evening — whether entertaining on the patio or crafting an elevated weeknight dinner.
1 medium pork tenderloin (1 to 1 1/4 pounds) Extra-virgin olive oil, for rubbing
1 teaspoon garlic salt
For the balsamic fig glaze:
1/2 cup fig jam
2 tablespoons honey
2 medium garlic cloves, finely minced
Finely chopped fresh rosemary, for garnish
DIRECTIONS:
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon grainy Dijon mustard, such as Maille
Recipe
1. Heat grill to medium-high (425 to 450 degrees). If using charcoal, let coals burn until glowing with light ash. Clean grates with a wire brush, then generously grease with oil.
2. Trim any silver skin from the pork tenderloin using a sharp, thin-bladed knife. Pat dry with paper towels.
3. Rub tenderloin with olive oil, then season generously with garlic salt and black pepper. Let rest at room temperature while grill preheats.
4. For the balsamic fig glaze: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine fig jam, balsamic vinegar, honey, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic and rosemary. Microwave on high for two minutes to allow flavors to meld. Alternatively, heat in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently, for two to three minutes.
Writer and Photographer Francine Coles thefancypantskitchen.com
5. Pour half the glaze into a small bowl for basting. Reserve remainder for serving. Strain the reserved sauce for a smooth finish, or leave rustic with bits of garlic and rosemary.
6. Place pork on hot grill with lid down and cook for 12 to 18 minutes, flipping every three to four minutes, until nicely browned and internal temperature reaches 125 to 130 degrees. If meat appears dry between turns, brush lightly with olive oil.
7. Begin brushing with basting glaze, turning and brushing every one to two minutes for a glossy finish. Keep grill lid down between applications and watch closely to avoid burning.
8. Continue cooking and brushing until nicely glazed and internal temperature reaches 140 degrees in the thickest part of the tenderloin. The ideal temperature for pork is 145 degrees, but it will continue cooking after removal from heat. The thinner sections may register higher than 140 degrees; as long as the thickest part reaches 140 degrees before removal, the meat will remain tender and juicy.
9. Transfer pork to a cutting board, tent with foil and let rest for 10 minutes.
10. Add any accumulated juices to the reserved fig sauce. Slice into medallions and serve with the reserved glaze drizzled on top. Garnish with additional fresh rosemary, if desired.
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