8 Budget Friendly Holiday Activities
It’s a busy time of year and on top of everything we all already have going on, it seems like we all want to maximize and enjoy this special season to the fullest. Last week I shared some holiday events that are taking place this month in Arizona. But if you’re looking to add more to your calendar without breaking your budget, I’ve hunted down 8 budget friendly December activities. And a lot of these are free!
Scottsdazzle | Events taking place all month long!
Image via Old Town Scottsdale
For the 9th year in a row, Scottsdazzle is filling Old Town Scottsdale to the brim with holiday cheer. The city of Scottsdale created Scottsdazzle to bring together residents and visitors in a magical way, and the best part is that there’s plenty of FREE events to join in on the fun. Take in holiday and seasonal artwork by locally and nationally renowned artists during the Gold Palette Artwalk. Meet Santa at the Farmer’s Market. Or stroll along the canal to music by local musicians all while it’s illuminated with lights and decor for this special time of year. See the full calendar of events for Scottsdazzle here.
Merry Mercantile Market | December 14th
Image via Merchantile Market
The final Merchantile Market of the year is a part of the Scottsdazzle celebrations! This is the perfect opportunity to pick up last minute gifts all while supporting vendors in the local community. There will be live music, delicious eats, sips, alcoholic beverages, giveaways, make and takes, and more. The first 100 shoppers will receive a FREE market tote bag, and you can enter to win a vendor goodie basket or a $100 cash prize to shop with! The market is free to attend, so even if you’ve used up this year’s holiday budget, it’s still fun to go, hang out, and support local.
FREE Coffee, Pastries & Tequila
The Arizona Coffee Pass
I created the Arizona Coffee Pass as a way to help you experience the best local Arizona coffee shops. The pass itself is $20, but it gets you access to over $50 in FREE goodies at some of my favorite coffee shops in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area. All you have to do is purchase the pass and download it, and then free coffee or pastries are right on your phone. This is a fun idea if you’re looking to expand your coffee shop horizons!
The Agave Pass
If tequila is more your speed, then I also created the Agave Pass, which is essentially the same concept as the coffee pass but for tequila! For $25 you can purchase the pass which will allow you to enjoy a discounted top shelf tequila pour or cocktail at every participating location. The pass has a $200+ retail value with savings of $99+! Save on date night this winter by downloading the pass and getting a cocktail for as low as $1 at some locations.
Catch a Christmas Classic
Roadhouse Cinemas
Image via Roadhouse Cinema
Catch FREE holiday movie double features on the Roadhouse Cinema patio every Saturday night in December. Or if you’re looking to plan a midweek date night, check out their $6 Tuesdays, which is where every Tuesday tickets for all shows are only $6.95 at their Scottsdale location. Movie times for the week are listed every Monday by 8pm, so if you’re thinking about catching a film, be sure to pay attention to their site! And check out their Open Air Cinema series for free outdoor movie screenings.
Harkins Tuesday Night Classics & Holiday Series
Image via Harkins Theaters
Harkins is continuing its Tuesday Night Classics series with this month’s showings being some of our favorite holiday favorites, including Elf and The Polar Express. Tuesday Night Classics showings at Harkins are every Tuesday at 7PM with an encore the following day at 1PM and each ticket is only $5. Can’t make it to either of those times? Don’t worry, they're also offering the same movies in their Holiday Series, so you can see them anytime on the big screen this month for only $5 as well!
Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade | December 14th
Image via Downtown Tempe
The Fantasy of Lights Boat Parade has been a treasured Tempe tradition since 1999! Boats of all shapes and sizes decked out in twinkle lights and holiday decor glide down Tempe Town Lake with the procession concluding in a fireworks show. Get there early to do some holiday shopping and enjoy the food and drink vendors, and then of course be sure to secure your front row spot on the water to enjoy the show. This event is FREE to attend, and they are implementing a new clear bag policy so check out all of the details and itinerary here.
Winter Wonderland House | Now thru December 29th
Image via Google
The Winter Wonderland house is a FREE walkthrough Christmas house in Scottsdale. If you’re looking for an incredible and immersive Christmas light display, then this is for you! The owner of the house, Chris Birkett, goes allll out every year with his display. Walk through this synchronized and mesmerizing display of lights and take in the Christmas magic. Watch the snowfall every 10 minutes, mingle with neighbors, and sip hot cocoa. Chris wants everyone to be able to enjoy the display, which is why it’s free, but donations are welcome to keep the snow falling every year.
This time of year can get expensive with all of the gifts we’re buying and festivities we’ve got going on. So it’s nice to be able to find ways to enjoy the holiday cheer without having to spend a lot. Plus, a lot of these 6 budget friendly December activities are great for family nights, friend nights, or date nights!
