The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess transforms into a winter wonderland during its sixth annual Christmas at the Princess festival, now through January 3, 2016.
Christmas at the Princess is no elvish affair. The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess rings in the season with dancing lights, festivities and holiday activities galore for everyone in the family—including us spa lovers. The sixth annual holiday celebration blankets Scottsdale in a magical spirit that lights up the desert with a winter wonderland. From a glowing Well & Being Spa package to an enchanting light show, here’s just a sampling of the magic!
Let It Glow at Well & Being Spa
Sparkling over at the spa, the “Let It Glow” spa day package offers a choice of either a 60-Minute NovoGlow facial or a new, 60-minute Java body scrub, plus a spa lunch, glass of wine and full use of the 44,000-square-foot Well & Being spa facilities for the day, including the fitness classes, inhalation room, steam sauna, whirlpool, rooftop pool and waterfall grotto. The price is $159 plus taxes and gratuity.
Musical Tree & Animated Holiday Light Show
Specially-designed for the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, the resort’s Christmas tree has 70,000 LED lights that “twinkle and dance” to 14 holiday songs in Princess Plaza, appropriately named Enchanted Plaza for the holidays. The musical tree plays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. nightly throughout the season while the lit palm trees lining the plaza are synchronized to complement the tree’s music. During the day, this stunning four-story tree is a visual experience, with dozens of glistening snowflakes and a five-foot snowflake tree topper. Add to that, a high-definition, one-of-a-kind animated video show features five delightful holiday scenes set to music and projected against the resort’s façade. This five-minute show plays promptly at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightly in the Enchanted Plaza from November 20, 2015 through January 3, 2016.
Lagoon Lights
With 2.8 million LED lights illuminating the resort’s majestic lagoons, visitors enter the resort in a walk-through Christmas ornament, then can stroll or ride the Princess Express Train through a lit fantasy land to see graceful swans floating on the water, a buccaneer pirate ship, 14-foot poinsettias, a teddy bear, toy soldiers, a fishing Santa, leaping arches mimicking a water show, Nessie the 30-foot Loch Ness Monster and a candy cane forest. Throughout the resort, 200 trees are wrapped in lights, many draped with icicles and snowflakes. Visitors will also see a 20-foot snowman, elves peeking around trees, as well as a family of four singing trees and five singing reindeer.
Christmas Petting Zoo
This year, the resort adds the Christmas Petting Zoo, open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the entirety of the festival, featuring sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and an alpaca. This is located on the west side of the property and is complimentary.
Desert Ice Skating Rink
Made with real ice and surrounded by picturesque saguaros, skaters experience magical snowfalls in the warmth of Arizona. The rink is open to the public nightly, November 19, 2015 through January 3, 2016. The price per session is $15 per person and $5 for skate rental. For the ultimate experience, luxury rink-side fire pit tables with s’mores, cocktails, hot cocoa and blankets are available for evening sessions. For reservations and price information, call (480) 513-6014.
Fairmont Tree of Hope
During the festival, purchase a holiday ornament for $20 from the Tree of Hope in Well & Being Spa’s lobby and receive $20 off any a la carte spa or wellness treatment of your choice. One hundred percent of proceeds benefits Cox Charities throughout the Valley of the Sun.
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess and Well & Being is located at 7575 East Princess Drive in Scottsdale, AZ. For a complete listing of holiday activities, visit scottsdaleprincess.com or call (480) 585-4848.
