Yuma's 2026 holiday season downtown starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, when the City of Yuma's Downtown Christmas opens on Main Street. The last outdoor event closes at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19, when Christmas at the Crossing ends its second night at Colorado River State Historic Park.
Those two times bookend three weekends in a row. The first weekend's main event runs during the day. The main events on the next two weekends start in the evening. The Historic Yuma Theatre, 254 S. Main St., starts its holiday shows the day after the parade, and most of them fall in the last week. So the easiest way to plan December downtown is one weekend at a time. Then you can pair a daytime outing, an evening event and a matinee without missing the one you care about most.
The November warm-up happens at West Wetlands Park
Before downtown fills up, the season starts on the west side of town, and early in the morning.
The Turkey Trot Yuma AZ race from Rise and Run is on Sunday, Nov. 8, at West Wetlands Park, 282 N. 12th Ave. The 10K starts at 6:50 a.m. for $45, and the 5K starts at 7:20 a.m. for $40. The kids' one-mile Gobble Wobble starts at 8:15 a.m. and costs $20.
The next Saturday, Nov. 14, City of Yuma Parks and Recreation holds its own free Turkey Trot 10K Run Youth at Playa Linda Beach in the same park. Check-in runs from 7 to 8 a.m., and the event runs from 8:15 to 11:15 a.m.
These are two separate events from two different organizers. Families with a runner in each age group could do both. Both wrap up by late morning, nearly a month before the first downtown event.
Weekend one, Dec. 5: a daytime event on Main Street
Downtown Christmas is the only event in the three-weekend run that starts in the early afternoon. It's free, all ages are welcome, and it runs from 1 to 9 p.m. along Main Street. The day includes the lighting of the Main Street Christmas tree, a visit from Santa, holiday performances by local groups, food vendors and a kids' activity zone.
The free synthetic ice rink is back on the 300 block of Main Street. Skates are provided at no cost, you can bring your own, and skating is open to ages 5 and older.
Because the event runs eight hours, you can pick when to go. Families with skaters can come in the early afternoon. Anyone who mainly wants to see the tree lit can come later. The city says dates, times and activities are subject to change, so check the event page the week of.
Weekend two, Dec. 11–13: three days with something every day
The middle weekend has the most going on, and it covers three days.
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11–12. The Winter Wonder Holiday Soiree, a show by Yuma Artisans & Crafters, runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days in the Theatre Building at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, 2520 E. 32nd St. Admission is free. On Saturday, the craft show closes three hours before the parade starts across town. That's enough time to shop in the morning and still find a spot downtown.
Saturday evening, Dec. 12. The 24th Annual Dorothy Young Memorial Electric Light Parade runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit Yuma lists the location as 4th Avenue and Main Street, 264 S. Main St. When Visit Yuma announced the theme in July, KYMA reported that this year's parade has a patriotic theme:
"America 250-250 Years of History."
According to KYMA, the theme invites floats, vehicles, walking groups and performers to show America's history, heritage, innovation and community spirit. The same report said the route and parade rules would come out in the following months. As of now, Visit Yuma's parade page lists the date and location but doesn't show a route map. Check it again before you choose where to set up your chairs.
Sunday, Dec. 13. The day after the parade, Arizona Classical Ballet performs The Nutcracker at the Historic Yuma Theatre at 2 p.m., with doors at 1:30 p.m. General admission is $31.61. Its doors open just a few blocks from where the parade was the night before.
Weekend three, Dec. 18–20: evenings at the Crossing
The last weekend has two evenings outside and two days of theater. Christmas at the Crossing, put on by the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, runs Friday and Saturday, Dec. 18–19, from 5 to 10 p.m. at Colorado River State Historic Park, 201 N. 4th Ave.
The event's site lists light displays, inflatables, games, a holiday train ride, seasonal food and drinks, gift shopping and live entertainment. It also says the Holiday Kid Zone is included with entry. The site hasn't posted 2026 admission prices or the entertainment schedule yet, so check before you go if you're planning around a specific performer or a family budget.
The theater's busiest stretch falls on the same weekend. On Saturday, Dec. 19, the Yuma Orchestra Association presents Spirit of Christmas twice, at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. General admission is $25. The matinee gets out before the Crossing's gates open at 5 p.m. If you go to the 6:30 p.m. show instead, you can still reach the park before it closes at 10.
On Sunday, Dec. 20, Big Broadway Pop Shows brings The Silver Belles Christmas Spectacular to the same stage at 2 p.m., with tickets from $42.45 to $53.29.
The full run on one page
The Historic Yuma Theatre has five holiday performances over eight days, from Dec. 13 to Dec. 20, including one on a weeknight. Here's the whole season in order:
| Date | Event | Where | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun., Nov. 8 | Turkey Trot Yuma AZ, Rise and Run | West Wetlands Park | 10K 6:50 a.m., 5K 7:20 a.m. | $20–$45 |
| Sat., Nov. 14 | Turkey Trot 10K Run Youth, City Parks & Rec | Playa Linda Beach, West Wetlands Park | 8:15–11:15 a.m. | Free |
| Sat., Dec. 5 | Downtown Christmas | Main Street | 1–9 p.m. | Free |
| Fri.–Sat., Dec. 11–12 | Winter Wonder Holiday Soiree | Fairgrounds Theatre Building | 9 a.m.–3 p.m. | Free |
| Sat., Dec. 12 | Electric Light Parade | 4th Ave. & Main St. | 6–9 p.m. | Not listed |
| Sun., Dec. 13 | The Nutcracker | Historic Yuma Theatre | 2 p.m. | $31.61 |
| Wed., Dec. 16 | Glenn Miller Orchestra, In the Holiday Mood | Historic Yuma Theatre | 7 p.m. | $37.02–$53.29 |
| Fri.–Sat., Dec. 18–19 | Christmas at the Crossing | Colorado River State Historic Park | 5–10 p.m. | Not yet posted |
| Sat., Dec. 19 | Spirit of Christmas | Historic Yuma Theatre | 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. | $25 |
| Sun., Dec. 20 | The Silver Belles Christmas Spectacular | Historic Yuma Theatre | 2 p.m. | $42.45–$53.29 |
The Glenn Miller show, presented by D&P Music, is the only holiday show on a weeknight. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16. It's an option if your weekends are already full with family plans.
If you're thinking of visiting Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park over the holidays, Arizona State Parks lists it as closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so plan that trip for earlier in the week.
Planning around the three weekends
- Buy theater tickets first. Each theater show is ticketed for one set date and time. Downtown Christmas is free and runs for eight hours.
- Plan each weekend around its evening event. On Dec. 5 there's no rush. On Dec. 12 the parade starts at 6 p.m. On Dec. 18–19 the Crossing doesn't open until 5 p.m. Build the rest of each day around those times.
- Check the outdoor events again early in December. You'll want the parade route, the Crossing's admission price and any changes the city makes to Downtown Christmas.
Aracely grew up in Yuma, and December downtown is part of the hometown we work in every day. If you're starting to wonder whether next year's parade could be in your own neighborhood, or what your home near Main Street is worth before the new year, ABC Group is happy to talk it through in English or Spanish. Start with a free home valuation, and we'll take it from there with no pressure.
