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.
- Giovannie & The Hired GunsDec 3Marquee Theatre · Source: Ticketmaster
30% off a Going membership when you plan your trip.
By TripSapien Research · Updated June 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 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
Show all 11 events for December
- Dec 6
- Dec 6
- Dec 6
- Dec 11
- Dec 12
- Dec 15
- Dec 19
- Dec 19
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★ · 2,679outdoorClosed Tue/WedFrank Lloyd Wright winter home and architecture campus at the foot of the McDowell Mountains.
Wikipedia
2Butterfly Wonderland
4.6★ · 7,442outdoorOpen 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
- 5Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
- 6Old Town Scottsdale
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.
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.