Arizona: Forget The Heat, Illumination Holiday Light Show Is Open

Yeah, the weather has been consistently in the 80s and if you were pretty much anywhere else, you might think it's summer. But drive to a nearly 20-acre area set up along I-17 and you will know it's Christmas time.

Illumination: Symphony of Light, which is beingbilled as Arizona's largest holiday drive-thru light show opened for business on Wednesday.

The show – with more than 1 million lights synchronized to holiday music, a 30-foot spiral tree sculpture, and a giant snowman, among other attractions – will take almost one half hour to drive through.

There will also be Santa's Village, a walk-thru ornament, food trucks, and more. As cars wait to get in, they will be treated to clips from holiday movies on large screens.

Tickets bought in advance are $29.50 for each car. Tickets bought at the gate are $32. Money from each admission will go to Phoenix Children's Hospital.

“We know that the holidays can be costly at times, and wanted to create an opportunity for our community to rejoice and truly enjoy the holiday spirit without adding additional financial concern,” said Sallyann Martinez, Illumination director of marketing.

“We are grateful for the experiences that living in Arizona provides for our families, and hope that we can create a magical new tradition for our community in return.”

The attraction runs from November 15 through January 14.

For more information, check out their website.

Photo courtesy Illumination: Symphony of Light.