At 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, a tree lights up at the Prescott Valley Civic Center on Skoog Boulevard. When the ceremony ends, the town's first-ever Winter Spectacular Drone Show starts in the sky above the Civic Center. Also at 6 p.m. that night, Prescott's 72nd Annual Courthouse Lighting & Fireworks begins on the plaza downtown.
If you live in Prescott Valley, that means two lightings at the same hour, and you'll see only one of them. The good news is that the rest of the season doesn't overlap like this. The rest of Prescott Valley's December happens at Fain Park, where a drive-through display stays open for about five weeks. Most of the planning for this holiday season comes down to that one Saturday.
What happens at the Civic Center that evening
The Town of Prescott Valley's Winter Spectacular runs from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Prescott Valley Civic Center, 7501 E. Skoog Blvd. The Town lists photos with Santa, live entertainment, ice skating, food trucks and holiday activities through the afternoon.
The evening runs in this order:
- Community Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 p.m.
- The Winter Spectacular Drone Show, which the Town describes as a choreographed display of lights above the Civic Center, right after the ceremony.
- The Night Light Parade, presented by the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce. It travels along Main Street and Lakeshore Drive, circles the Civic Center and returns to the Findlay Toyota Center.
The Chamber lists the parade for 6:15 p.m. "or immediately after" the tree lighting and drone show. The parade's start time depends on when the drone show ends, so the earliest it can start is 6:15. The Chamber's route sheet stages the floats at the Findlay Toyota Center, where the lot opens at 3 p.m. From there the route goes up Main Street, turns right on Lakeshore Drive, then left on Skoog Boulevard. Because the route passes Lakeshore and Skoog, people watching near the Civic Center for the drone show will already be on the parade route.
The Town also says activities may be canceled the day of the event because of weather. For updates, the Town points people to Parks & Recreation at 928-759-3090.
How the two calendars line up
Prescott has a full program downtown the same day. The Prescott Chamber of Commerce lists its 44th Annual Christmas Parade for 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 5. The Courthouse Lighting schedule has music at 5 p.m. and the lighting with fireworks at 6 p.m. The City of Prescott's special events calendar lists the Christmas Parade and Courthouse event for the same date.
| Time on Dec. 5 | Prescott Valley Civic Center | Downtown Prescott |
|---|---|---|
| 1 p.m. | 44th Annual Christmas Parade begins | |
| 2 p.m. | Winter Spectacular opens | |
| 3 p.m. | Parade staging lot opens at Findlay Toyota Center | Christmas Parade ends |
| 5 p.m. | Music on the Courthouse Plaza | |
| 6 p.m. | Tree lighting, then drone show | 72nd Courthouse Lighting & Fireworks |
| 6:15 p.m. or after the drone show | Night Light Parade | |
| 8 p.m. | Winter Spectacular closes |
The table shows two separate windows. The early afternoon belongs to Prescott, since its parade ends at 3 p.m. and the Civic Center opens at 2. The evening is where the two calendars collide. Both lightings are at 6 p.m., so you can go to the downtown parade and still be back in Prescott Valley for ice skating and the tree lighting. The one thing you can't do is see both lightings.
Signals AZ's Ultimate 2026 Holiday Guide lists the Courthouse Plaza at 120 S. Cortez St. with the same 5 p.m. music and 6 p.m. lighting. Prescott's lighting is in its 72nd year, and the Prescott Valley drone show is in its first. That difference is the main reason this Saturday is worth planning ahead.
Two deadlines on November 15
If you want to take part in the Night Light Parade rather than watch it, your deadline comes before Thanksgiving. Float and marching-group registration through the Chamber's Winter Spectacular page costs $25 through November 15. From November 16 through 29 the fee goes up to $35. As of Thursday, November 12, the lower price has three days left.
Nominations for the Town's Light of PV Award close the same day. The award is in its third year and recognizes Prescott Valley residents for leadership, service, innovation and kindness. Anyone can submit a nomination. Nominees need a Prescott Valley address, and elected officials and current Town staff can't be nominated. The Town will honor the recipient at the State of the Town event on January 26, 2027. If someone on your street or at your church organizes things all year, this is the week to send in their name.
Every other night is at Fain Park
December 5 is fixed to the hour. The Valley of Lights at Fain Park, 2200 N. 5th St., is open on almost every other night of the season. The Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce presents the display. According to a 2024 Signals AZ history of the Valley of Lights, the first display went up in 2000. That history also notes that Chamber staff and volunteers worked the early setup and the donation booth.
The Chamber's Valley of Lights page and 2026 event listing have these details:
- Route: a one-mile drive past more than 60 lighted and animated displays
- Season: Thanksgiving, November 26, through December 30
- Sunday through Thursday: 6 to 9 p.m.
- Friday, Saturday and holidays: 6 to 10 p.m.
- Cost: free, with a $5 donation per vehicle appreciated to keep the tradition going
The Valley of Lights runs for 35 nights and is open every evening. That makes it the easy choice for whichever night your out-of-town guests arrive, or for a weeknight drive with the grandkids after dinner.
There's also one night to walk it. On Tuesday, December 8, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Valley of Lights closes to cars so people can walk the one-mile loop at their own pace. Parking is on 2nd Street, according to the Signals AZ holiday guide. The Stroll is three days after the drone show, on a weeknight, and there's nothing on Prescott's calendar to compete with it.
Keep an eye on Fain Park before opening night. On November 1, 2026, the Town posted a notice that Fain Park is closed "due to volume of water going over the dam," and asked people to watch weather conditions and avoid flooded areas. Before you head to 5th Street in the last week of November, check the Town's news page for the latest on the park.
How to plan the month
The main choice of the season is the 6 p.m. lighting on December 5. Pick the drone show at the Civic Center or the fireworks over the Courthouse, and go to Prescott's parade earlier that afternoon if you'd like to see both towns. The Valley of Lights covers the other 35 nights, and the walking night falls on Tuesday, December 8. The two deadlines, for parade registration and Light of PV nominations, both fall on November 15.
If the holiday events have you thinking about how Prescott Valley fits your plans for next year, I'm glad to talk it through over coffee, any time before or after December 5. When you're ready to know what your home is worth this season, Josh Day Real Estate can start with a Free Home Valuation.
