Tempe Conventions & Visitors Bureau

It’s that time of year again. Thanksgiving is over, the tryptophan has all worn off, the amazing leftovers all but devoured. Now the holiday shopping mayhem begins, and of course we have all put it off until the last minute because the months have just flown by. If you, like many others, were brave enough to shop at Tempe Marketplace, Arizona Mills or the Mill Avenue District this past weekend for Black Friday, you know first hand that getting a great deal is what shoppers are all about this holiday season. It is now Cyber Monday which is great for those of us who can’t handle the crowds and the chaos of in store shopping but still want a great deal.

This weekend, December 4-6, on Mill Avenue is the 41st Annual Tempe Festival of the Arts which is another great place to look for gifts for the art lover in your family. Or if you are just looking for something to do it is a great way to spend the weekend, walking around Mill Avenue with friends enjoying the fact that the weather is still amazing and it is the first weekend of December. The vendors have art on display ranging from affordable to very expensive, and admiring is also welcome. I would suggest taking the Light Rail because Mill Avenue will be closed off for the Festival. In conjunction with this event the Arizona Wine Growers Association hosts the Arizona Wine Festival. Admission is $10 to the wine festival and includes 6 tastings. Admission to the Festival of the Arts is free.

Now to check the book enthusiast in your life off your gift list, head on over to Changing Hands Bookstore and find them just what they need, whether it be their favorite book or a gift card so they can pick something out on their own. While you’re at it you can take some of your old books to trade in to save yourself some money. It is easy to loose track of time there with their great selection of both new and used books, luckily Wildflower Bread Company is right next door so you can grab a quick bite to eat or have breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Just in case after all the holiday shopping you still haven’t quite gotten into the holiday spirit, you should head down to Tempe Town Lake for the APS Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade on Saturday, December 12 at 7:00 p.m. There will be a variety of festively lit boats and people are invited to enter their festively lit vessels as well . The event will be topped off with a fireworks finale. 

I hope you all enjoy your holiday season – don’t forget what it is all about!