Mesa's Merry Main Street is a great way to celebrate the season! The annual east valley holiday tradition returns to downtown Mesa for the eighth consecutive year with several new attractions. Merry Main Street starts on Nov. 25 and continues through Jan. 7, offering an exciting variety of holiday activities:
Merry Main Street begins on Friday, Nov. 25. There will be music at 5 p.m. by the Mesa City Band at the Mesa Christmas Tree, Main Street and Macdonald. That will be followed at 5:45 p.m. by a tree lighting ceremony and the arrival of Santa Claus! Enjoy an evening of music, food and fun throughout downtown Mesa until 10 p.m.
Winter Wonderland Ice Rink. Downtown Mesa features a 6,005 square-foot ice skating rink at the new Plaza at Mesa City Center, 56 E. Main St. The Winter Wonderland Ice Rink will open daily for thousands to enjoy our amazing winter weather while skating under the stars. Tickets for a specific day and session can be purchased at merrymainst.com/icerink. A limited number of walk-up registrations will be accommodated per session.
Mesa's Christmas Tree. Merry Main Street would not be complete without a giant Christmas tree. The nearly four-story tall tree will be located on Macdonald at Main Street.
Gnome on the Roam. Bingles, our Gnome on the Roam and one of Santa's best friends, will be roaming Downtown Mesa this holiday season. The adorable North Pole ambassador will stop at popular Mesa locations - or live shots - to spread holiday cheer. Follow @CityofMesa on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with his Main Street activities. Look for clues each week to win prizes.
Visits with Santa. Free visits with Santa Fridays and Saturdays! Bring your cell phone or camera for pictures. Visit the activities calendar page on merrymainst.com for times and locations.
Santa's Merry Makers Marketplace. Local crafters and artisans will be selling their crafts and holiday foods near Mesa's Christmas Tree on Nov. 25 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Nov. 26 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Man Who Killed Santa Claus holiday event. As part of the Merry Main Street kickoff, Mayor John Giles is hosting a live retelling of "The Man Who Killed Santa Claus," a beloved (and true!) Mesa story, on Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. at Mesa Arts Center. The family-friendly evening will also feature musical guests and will be recorded for a future episode of Mayor Giles' "It's Always Cool in Mesa" podcast. Tickets are available for $10 at Mesaartscenter.com.
Reindeer Roll & Stroll. New this year is the first-ever sELF-guided Roll and Stroll in downtown Mesa on Dec. 3 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Join the City of Mesa's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program for this festive scavenger hunt for a chance to win great prizes, including a bicycle.
Jack Frost's Food Truck Forest. Start (or end) your journey along Merry Main Street at Jack Frost's Food Truck Forest at Pioneer Park, 526 E. Main St., on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Mesa Temple Christmas Lights. After a four-year hiatus because of the Temple renovation, the spectacular light display and beloved community tradition returns nightly from Nov. 25 through Dec. 31 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The annual display features hundreds of thousands of colorful lights and is free.
Mesa's Menorah. Join us in celebrating the Festival of Lights on Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m. as we light the first candle on Mesa's Menorah. The 12-foot-tall Menorah, located on Main Street and Macdonald near the Mesa Mural, will have a light added nightly from Dec. 18 through Dec. 26.
Holiday Happenings at the MAC. The internationally acclaimed Mesa Arts Center comes alive with holiday shows throughout December. Visit mesaartscenter.com for details and tickets.
Mesa Santa Express and Market. Join us in our special Light Rail car, where we will sing songs, enjoy cookies and, best of all, meet Santa! Wear your pajamas and enjoy the season in the childlike and festive tradition of the Mesa Sana Express, which runs Dec. 9, 10, 16 and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. While rides are free, a commemorative ticket is required. Donations are being accepted online to Mesa Urban Renewal and Arts Lab to maintain free rides in the community. Visit www.mesasantaexpress.com for details.
For a complete list of Merry Main Street activities, including dates and times, visit merrymainst.com.
PARKING/LIGHT RAIL
FREE parking is available in all open lots and on-street parking areas throughout downtown Mesa.
FREE light rail rides will be offered between Country Club Drive and Gilbert Road from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the following Fridays and Saturdays:
Nov. 25 - 26
Dec. 2 - 3
Dec. 9 - 10
Dec. 16 - 17
SPONSORS
Merry Main Street is sponsored by the City of Mesa, Mesa Parks and Recreation, Downtown Mesa Association, Visit Mesa, Mesa Chamber of Commerce, AMR, Benedictine University, Boeing, Caliber, Nesbitt Contracting, Cox Communications, Sloan Park, SRP, Delta Hotels, Hunter Contracting, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Mesa Water and Valley Metro.