Sedona, AZ: December in Sedona is a magical time. Especially at the beautiful Mexican-style village that is the Art and Soul of Sedona — Tlaquepaque. It’s hard to describe what it feels like to be in the midst of 6,000 golden-hued luminarias that punctuate every wall, balcony, patio, plaza, and cobbled stone walkway in the arts village. If ever there was a place for bedazzlement and holiday wonder, the 36th Annual Festival of Lights at Tlaquepaque is it.
Everyone — the young, young at heart and revelers everywhere — is invited to the holiday celebration on Saturday, December 12, from 3 to 8 p.m. Admission is free, as is the Sedona Trolley service from the uptown Municipal parking lot to Tlaquepaque, available throughout the festival hours.
Fabulous ongoing entertainment from traditional Christmas favorites to mariachis and the fantastic harmonies of the River of Life Tabernacle Choir starts Friday night in the Tlaquepaque Chapel and continues Saturday afternoon and evening.
For many the lighting of a luminaria has a special significance. Now a Tlaquepaque tradition for six years, cancer survivors are honored and those that lost their lives to cancer are remembered as friends and families dedicate a luminaria in their name.
Donations to help fight the disease are gratefully accepted by the American Cancer Society. The sponsored luminarias (for a $10 donation) with their special messages are then placed around the fountain at Patio del Norte.
“This can be a challenging time of year for many families. We want to especially remember those that are heroically fighting cancer or who overcame it… as well as those who did not. In a small way we pause to acknowledge them at this special time of year,” said Wendy Lippman, general manager and managing partner of Tlaquepaque
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Saturday at 5 p.m., as the Tlaquepaque bells toll, candles will be handed out to everyone. Kids, parents, grandparents, and visitors from all over love to light their candles and place them in the luminaria bags. Not long after, the stunning spectacle of light, over 6000 luminarias is complete.
