The Region’s Largest Holiday Celebration of Arts and Community Returns to Oro Valley in 2019

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 in this anticipated holiday celebration. 

​(Tucson, AZ) 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 7th and 8th, 2019 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 7. The festival brings the community together, stimulates the local economy, enhances surrounding businesses, and provides opportunities for local artists to promote their work. SAACA produces the annual event in partnership with the Town of Oro Valley and Oro Valley Marketplace, a Town West Realty property, with additional support 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. 
  
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 festivities begin at 2:00 PM on Saturday and will feature live entertainment from local students, activities for children, free refreshments, cookie decorating, ornament making and a special appearance by Santa! 
  
TUBACHRISTMAS 
Saturday, December 7, 2019 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. 
 
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 kettle corn or freshly fried donuts, or a unique grilled cheese sandwich or savory Pastizzi pastry, 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 7 
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM Oro Valley Jazz Band  
10:40 AM – 11:10 AM SASO Flute Ensemble 
11:15 AM – 11: 40 AM Maguire Academy of Irish Dance 
11:50 AM – 12:05 PM One Rehearsal Short 
12:10 PM – 12:40 PM Sons of Orpheus  
12:50 PM – 1:05 PM Wilson Elementary Choir 
1:10 PM - 1:30 PM Wilson Middle School Choir 
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM Tuba Christmas 
3:00 PM Santa Arrival Procession with Ironwood Marching Band  
3:10 PM Opening Remarks by Andrew Capasso 
3:30 PM – 3:50 PM Painted Sky Elementary Chorus 
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM Oro Valley Team Dance 
4:20 PM - 5:00 PM Kids Unlimited 
5:10 PM – 5:30 PM Tucson Girls Chorus Northwest Choir 
5:00 PM Lauren Lawson performing at Tree 
5:30 PM Carolyn’s Carolers performing at Tree  
6:00 PM Tree Lighting Celebration with Santa at Tree 
Strolling Music: 4 PM – 5:30 PM –- Carolyn’s Carolers 
 
Sunday, December 8  
10:15 AM – 10:45 AM Lauren Lawson (Oro Valley Singer-Songwriter) 
11 AM - 11:45 AM Absinthe Beat Cats (Jazz and Holiday) 
12 PM - 12:45 PM Nossa Bossa Nova (Brazilian Holiday Songs) 
1 PM - 1:45 PM Desert Melodies (Holiday Favorites) 
2 PM - 2:30 PM Coronado Middle School Singers 
3 PM - 3:45 PM The Nazarene Band  
Strolling Music: 12 PM – 2 PM - Havin' a Blast A Cappella Quartet 
  
INNOVATION STATION 
Presented by Pima Federal Credit Union, explore the intersection of the arts and cutting-edge technology in our Innovation Station! The University of Arizona Center for Digital Humanities showcases a Virtual Reality (VR) Station with 3D art design experience, utilizing Oculus and Laptop technologies. Try painting in a 3D immersive landscape with Google's TiltBrush Software. Literary arts will be in full display as attendees can participate in Bookman’s pop up literary experience, hear stories by local children’s book authors, and jump into their own a comic book with the Comic Bookmobile hosted by Frank Powers. 
 
CHALK ART 
Sponsored by the Town of Oro Valley, the festival will feature holiday-themed custom murals from local artists Wesley Creigh and Alex Jimenez 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 add to our lives in many intangible ways as well as contributing positively to our economy as a whole.  
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.  
 
2019 Oro Valley Holiday Festival of the Arts & Tree Lighting Celebration 
When: Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 pm. and Sunday, December 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
Where: Oro Valley Marketplace, 12155 N Oracle Rd, Oro Valley, AZ 85737 
Cost: Free admission 
Online: www.saaca.org 
Phone: 520-797-3959