@AndreaTEvans Andrea Evans PUBLISHER The fanfare of Ballet Arizona’s “Nutcracker.” The sounds of Handel’s Messiah performed by The Phoenix Symphony. The beauty of Center Dance Ensemble’s “Snow Queen.” A stroll through Las Noches de las Luminarias at the Desert Botanical Garden. There are so many wonderful holiday traditions here in the Valley of the Sun. And when you take those out-of-town friends and family to these performances and events, you are supporting the organizations’ missions to provide art and cultural experiences year-round. Now that my children are 12 and 7, I have found that we have settled into a list of “must-do’s” during the holiday season. Number one on the list is ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo. We strive to go early so we can get the visit in to see Santa in one fell swoop. Next up is usually seeing “A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail” at Valley Youth Theatre. We’ve been the past four years but this year will be extra-special as my daughter is the 7 year old playing the part of Roo in all 25 shows! (If you’re looking to catch up with me, you can find me there this month.) On Christmas Eve, we like to go up to Desert Ridge for the “snow” fall in the middle of the shopping area and then wind our way back home via the Arizona Biltmore to see the holiday lights. We also have Phoenix Theatre’s production of “Elf” on our list this year — it’s been getting rave reviews. What are your Valley holiday traditions? We’d love to make sure we are finding new things to cover throughout the year. Maybe you’ll see yours pop up on our Facebook page this month. Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas! Andrea Andrea Evans | Publisher Filled with tradition HOLIDAYS IN THE DESERT OPEN DOORS { publisher’s page } 48 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | DECEMBER 2018

Center Dance Ensemble’s Snow Queen ZooLights at the Phoenix Zoo Valley Youth Theatre’s Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail Snowfall at Desert Ridge Marketplace Desert Botanical Garden’s Las Noches de las Luminarias Ballet Arizona’s Nutcracker