The Region’s Largest Holiday Celebration of Arts and Community Returns to Oro Valley in 2018

The Holiday Festival of the Arts & Tree Lighting Celebration brings two days of outstanding art, live music, interactive creative experiences, delicious food, and so much more for this anticipated holiday celebration. 

Join the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance and the Town of Oro Valley as they partner to present the largest community celebration of arts and culture in Southern Arizona on December 1 and 2, 2018 at the Oro Valley Marketplace. For two days, the community has an opportunity to experience a vast array of arts and creative experiences, themed for the holidays.
 
The Oro Valley Holiday Festival of the Arts & Tree Lighting Celebration is the true essence of creative placemaking, cultivating the arts as an essential part of Oro Valley’s identity. The two-day festival is one of Southern Arizona’s largest community arts celebrations, with over 150 artisans, over 30 performances by student and local musicians, family arts activities, food trucks, the TUBACHRISTMAS holiday play-along, an appearance by Santa and endless photo opportunities!
 
Festivities culminate in the lighting of the Oro Valley holiday tree at 6 p.m. on December 2. The festival brings the community together, stimulates the local economy, enhances surrounding businesses, and provides opportunities for local artists to promote their work. SAACA, in partnership with the Town of Oro Valley and the Vestar Oro Valley Marketplace, produce the event, which is sponsored by local businesses and organizations.
 
ARTS & CRAFTS
Browse over 150 artisans to find that perfect one-of-a kind gift for your family and friends. Only one week after Thanksgiving, the Oro Valley Marketplace is transformed into a holiday marketplace complete with handmade craft artisans from around the world. This is your antidote to the big-box madness of holiday shopping. By bringing together craft artists of the highest caliber all under one roof , the Holiday Festival of Arts is a one-stop holiday shopping opportunity for unique, handmade gifts in a range of prices for men, women, and children.
 
FEATURED ART EXPERIENCE
During the festival Sonoran Glass School will be using their mobile glassblowing studio to demonstrate how sand, heat, and tools all come together to create wonderful pieces of glass art. Event-goers can watch the action unfold in front of them and participate through a safe and guided experience. For $20, participants can make their own holiday ornament alongside an instructor. They apply color to the glass and use their own breath to shape the ornament.

HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING
The crowning moment of the festival will take place on Saturday evening, when the 35-foot holiday tree towering over the Marketplace is lit at 6:00 PM. The Tree Lighting Celebration will begin at 3:00 PM on Saturday and will feature live entertainment from local students, activities for children, free refreshments, cookie decorating, and a special appearance by Santa!
 
TUBACHRISTMAS
Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 2 PM
TUBACHRISTMAS is a music concert held in cities worldwide that celebrates those who play, teach, and compose music for instruments in the tuba family, including the tuba, sousaphone, baritone, and euphonium. Join over 100 euphoniums at TUBACHRISTMAS at the Festival of the Arts.

2018 is the 45th anniversary for TUBACHRISTMAS concerts/events which are presented throughout the world. TUBACHRISTMAS was conceived in 1974 by Harvey Phillips as a tribute to his teacher and mentor William J. Bell, born on Christmas Day, 1902, and is coordinated locally by University of Arizona Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium, Matt Tropman.

FOOD VENDORS
The Festival of the Arts features food trucks and vendors in a variety of genres. Whether you’re looking for a festival staple like spiced and roasted nuts, deep fried twinkies, or a classic BBQ sandwich, the Festival of the Arts is the place to be for holiday favorites.
 
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ALL WEEKEND
The festival features a full weekend of live performances on the festival main stage!
 
Saturday, December 1
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM  Desert Melodies 
10:45 AM – 11:30 AM   Mariachi Rayos del Sol 
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM  Wilson Elementary and Middle School Choirs 
12:30 PM – 12:50 PM   Painted Sky Elementary Choir
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM  Team Dance 
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM TUBACHRISTMAS 
3:00 PM Santa’s Arrival
3:10 PM Opening Remarks
3:30 PM – 3:50 PM Kids Unlimited
4:00 PM - 4:20 pm Tucson Girls Chorus
4:30 PM - 4:50 PM Cross Middle School Choir  
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM Canyon del Oro Choir 
5:30 PM Carolers lead audience from stage to tree 
6:00 PM Tree Lighting with Santa 
 
Sunday, December 2 
10 AM - 10:45 AM Tommy Tucker  
11 AM - 11:45 AM Lauren Lawson   
12 PM - 12:45 PM Camerata Sonora
1 PM - 1:45 PM Celtic Steps School of Irish Dance
2 PM - 2:45 PM Coronado Middle School Choir
3 PM - 3:45 PM Saguaro Stompers Clog Dance Company
 
CHALK ART
Sponsored by the Town of Oro Valley, the festival will feature holiday-themed custom murals from local artists, Marisa Salazar and Wesley Fawcett Creigh, located in front of the Walmart and Century Theaters.
 
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Community festivals are key to supporting local economic development, a stronger sense of place, and are key to building thriving communities throughout the world. The arts are, indeed, a significant segment of the economy, with complex linkages throughout. The generated economic activity of arts festivals like the Holiday Festival of the Arts and Oro Valley Tree Lighting Celebration has a significant, positive impact on the local economy. The local tourism and hospitality industries and local businesses see a direct benefit which creates a chain of economic activity that is measurable.
 
Cultural activities are an important component of quality of life. The arts add to our lives in many intangible ways as well as contributing positively to our economy as a whole.

NOTE TO MEDIA: Photos available

About Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance
The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is a not-for-profit organization that exists to ensure that, through engagement in arts and culture, our communities produce strong, inspired citizens. SAACA enlists artists, businesses, governments, and individuals to expand artistic and cultural opportunities in their respective communities. To enhance access to the arts and to promote cultural awareness in the communities it serves, SAACA presents large-scale festivals, events and other programs. The Alliance also promotes educational opportunities in the arts and culture for all ages.