Scottsdale events & things to do in December 2026
Start with McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Pinnacle Peak Park, plus Taliesin West. December in Scottsdale averages 17°C / 63°F highs, 4°C / 40°F nights, and about 7 rainy days.
Expect 17°C/63°F days and about 7 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- McDowell Sonoran Preserve★ 4.8 · 2.5k reviewsLarge desert preserve with saguaro-lined hiking and biking trails, best early in the day outside winter.
- Pinnacle Peak Park★ 4.8 · 1.7k reviewsPopular north Scottsdale trail with granite boulders, city views, and a manageable out-and-back route.
- ASU Kerr Tuesday Morning Music & TeaDec 1ASU Kerr · Source: Ticketmaster
By TripSapien · Updated November 3, 2026
Scottsdale in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
63°F / 40°F
17.2°C / 4.3°C
RainPrecipitation
7d
1.6in · 39.7mm
LightDaylight
10.1h
Mild holiday resort season with cool nights and strong outdoor days.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 2
- Dec 3
- Dec 3
Show all 39 events for December
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- Dec 5 – Dec 12
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- Dec 11 – Dec 12
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- Dec 15
- Dec 15
How The Grouch Stole Christmas Tour w/ The Grouch & Eligh ft. Amp Live
Music · Other.
Source: Ticketmaster
- Dec 16
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- Dec 18 – Dec 20
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- Dec 31
- Dec 31
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 25-Dec 27Long weekend
About Scottsdale
City overview
Scottsdale is the desert-resort edge of metro Phoenix, with Old Town galleries, Sonoran trailheads, spa hotels, spring-training baseball, and golf spread between walkable historic blocks and car-dependent resort districts. The best months are sharply seasonal: winter and spring are premium outdoor windows, while summer is an extreme-heat trip built around pools, early starts, and indoor backups.
Food & drink
Scottsdale dining splits between resort restaurants, Sonoran and Mexican food, steakhouses, cocktail bars, health-conscious brunch spots, and polished Old Town dining rooms. Old Town works without a car for dinner, while North Scottsdale resorts and trailhead restaurants require rideshare or driving.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Taliesin West
- 2Butterfly Wonderland
- 3Spring Training Baseball
- 4Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West
- 5Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
- 6Old Town Scottsdale
1Taliesin West
4.6★ · 2,739outdoorClosed Tue/WedFrank Lloyd Wright winter home and architecture campus at the foot of the McDowell Mountains.
Wikipedia
2Butterfly Wonderland
4.6★ · 7,568outdoorOpen dailyIndoor rainforest conservatory in the Salt River area, useful for families and hot or rainy afternoons.
- 3
Spring Training Baseball
4.5★ · 55outdoorCactus League games at Scottsdale Stadium and nearby Phoenix-area ballparks during late February and March.
Show 3 more sights
4Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West
Museum focused on Western art, Native American material, cowboy culture, and regional history.
Wikipedia5Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Compact contemporary museum beside the Center for the Performing Arts, useful as an indoor anchor in hot weather.
Wikipedia6Old Town Scottsdale
Walkable historic core with galleries, boutiques, restaurants, public art, and nightlife clustered around Main Street and Scottsdale Road.
Neighborhoods
1Old Town
First-time base for galleries, restaurants, nightlife, museums, and walkable resort shuttles.
2Arts District
Main Street and Marshall Way galleries, Thursday art walks, public art, and dinner reservations.
3South Scottsdale
Lower-key local restaurants, breweries, and easier access to Tempe and Papago Park.
Show 27 more neighborhoods
- 4McCormick Ranch
Golf, greenbelts, lakes, resort hotels, and a quieter mid-Scottsdale base.
- 5North Scottsdale
Luxury resorts, trailheads, golf, desert views, and car-first access to Pinnacle Peak and Taliesin West.
- 6Kierland / Scottsdale Quarter
Shopping, dining, hotels, and nightlife near the Phoenix border.
- 75th Avenue Shops & Boutiques
5th Avenue Shops & Boutiques in Scottsdale includes vacation rentals and Parsons Villas.
- 8Cinco Soles
- 9Country Trace
Country Trace in Scottsdale features the Frank Lloyd Wright Spire and other public monuments.
- 10Desert Ridge
Desert Ridge in Scottsdale is home to the Musical Instrument Museum.
- 11Desert View Village
Desert View Village has a Black Bear Diner.
- 12East Phoenix
East Phoenix in Scottsdale features UnderTow Arcadia at Century Grand and Century Grand for cocktails, plus Hash Kitchen for breakfast.
- 13Fountain Hills Plaza
An impressive fountain that shoots water up to 560 feet high. The area is near the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation and offers access to local parks and outdoor activities.
- 14Mesa Grande
- 15Minnesota Court
- 16North Mountain
- 17North Phoenix
North Phoenix in Scottsdale offers Kierland Commons for shopping, plus sports bars and breakfast restaurants like Original Breakfast House and WeBe Coffee Roasters.
- 18Plaza Waterfront Condominiums
- 19Powell Estates
Powell Estates in Scottsdale is known for bookstore specialties found at Bookmans Mesa Entertainment Exchange.
- 20Rancho Hermoso
- 21Scottsdale Industrial Center
This area is primarily industrial. It contains the Salt Cellar Restaurant.
- 22South Tempe
Changing Hands Bookstore, a notable spot known for its bookstore boutiques.
- 23Sunnyslope
Home to Bookmans Phoenix Entertainment Exchange, a bookstore specializing in entertainment exchanges.
- 24Tempe Marketplace
- 25The Summit At Scottsdale
- 26Valley Presbyterian Church
- 27Vista del Cerro
- 28Westbrook Town Homes HOA
- 29Estate Groves and Valencia Estates
- 30Scottsdale Airpark North
Day trips
15km / 20 min by car
Desert Botanical Garden
Phoenix cactus garden with Sonoran desert plants, seasonal art installations, and Papago Park views.
70km / 1.5h by car
Apache Trail & Canyon Lake
Desert scenic drive with lake views, Superstition Mountain scenery, and old-stagecoach-road drama.
200km / 2.25h by car
Sedona
Red-rock hiking, galleries, and vortex-viewpoint day trip, best started early from Scottsdale.
Getting around
Old Town is walkable, but Scottsdale as a whole is spread out. Use a car or rideshare for resorts, trailheads, golf courses, Kierland, and day trips; in summer, avoid exposed trail time after mid-morning.
Planning a Scottsdale trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Scottsdale in December
- What to pack for Scottsdale in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Scottsdale checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 17°C / 63°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average 4°C / 40°F.
- A small umbrella or packable shell for scattered rain across about 7 days.
- How many days do you need in Scottsdale
- 3 days covers the main Scottsdale highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Scottsdale worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Scottsdale averages 17°C / 63°F highs, 4°C / 40°F nights, and about 7 rainy days.
Ready to plan Scottsdale?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Scottsdale plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.