by Marnie Uhl, President/CEO, Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce
The spirit of the season is alive and glowing in Prescott Valley. Its premier holiday destination, the Valley of Lights, anchors a community that celebrates the Christmas and holiday season with lights, music and art.
Valley of Lights is a mile-long drive through animated and lighted displays in Fain Park. Each of the 60 displays consists of multiple parts decorated with thousands of lights that cover areas on both sides of the roadway. Everywhere you turn there is something magical to be seen, including overhead as you drive through each of the three beautiful tunnels.
Valley of Lights is open seven days a week from 6 to 10 p.m. beginning Thanksgiving night through Dec. 30. There is no admission, however a suggested donation is $5 per vehicle, and you may go through as many times as you wish. For many this is a family tradition looked forward to every year. Valley of Lights is sponsored by local businesses and organizations and is presented by the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The Town of Prescott Valley makes a huge investment for the holidays with lights around the Civic Center. The official lighting is done at the Holiday Festival of Lights, which this year is on Dec. 6.
This great evening includes music from our local school choirs, a special holiday message from Mayor Kell Palguta and a reading of The Night Before Christmas. Each of the three buildings comprising the campus, along with trees, walls and shrubbery, are covered in thousands of lights. It is believed there are so many lights the Civic Center can be seen from space. (Although this has not been confirmed.) These lights are on every night until New Year’s Day.
More lights fill the Prescott Valley Entertainment District with displays and a Singing Christmas Tree. This downtown treasure opens Thanksgiving night and can be seen each night until the New Year.
Art plays a huge part of the holiday celebration with the Prescott Valley Arts and Culture Commission’s Create-a-Tree display. Trees are decorated by individuals, businesses, organizations and groups, and then put on display in the library.
These trees are truly works of art as each one has a special identity, and the creativity displayed is remarkable. Each year one tree is voted the “People’s Choice.” The trees can be seen during library hours from the night of the Holiday Festival of Lights through the New Year.
The sounds of the season can be heard throughout Prescott Valley with musical and theatrical performances presented by local schools and youth groups. Live holiday shows are presented through Prescott Valley Performing Arts, the Bradshaw Mountain High School Drama Troupe and our local school choruses and bands. Our places of worship share beautifully the praises of the holiday season with their choir performances.
Prescott Valley is a Christmas and holiday destination. Its variety of activities, displays and lights makes it the perfect place for everyone to enjoy the season.
For more information on Prescott Valley and the surrounding community holiday activities contact the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce at 928-772-8857 or visit www.pvchamber.org.
