Looking for new ways to fill the activity calendar over the holidays? Entertaining kiddos and out-of-town guests is simple in Chandler with this list of sights and attractions sure to keep your whole crowd happy.
Make memories this holiday with these unique-to-Chandler activities perfect for a group:
1. Take photos with the Tumbleweed Tree
Make your family memories extraordinary using the backdrop of the famous Downtown Chandler Tumbleweed Tree. The 35-foot tall tree is covered with more than 80 lbs. of glitter and wrapped in more than 1,200 LED holiday lights to give your annual photos an extra bit of sparkle. The tree will stay up until Jan. 13.
While you’re downtown, grab some social-media-friendly shots at any of the holiday stations scattered about — just grab a map from a retailer.
2. Join the Zoppé Italian Family Circus at the CCA
The Zoppé Italian Family Circus returns to Chandler with its new show: La Nonna. With authentic roots in the Old-World Italian tradition, this one-ring circus features astounding acrobatics, equestrian showmanship and the famous Nino the clown. The Zoppé family traces its history from humble beginnings of street clowns and jugglers through six generations of circus performers. Held in the spectacular 500-seat tent on the grounds of the Chandler Center for the Arts, this circus extravaganza is sure to delight family members of all ages.
This year's show is dedicated to the strong women in Zoppé Circus' history, featuring an international cast of all-female performers, including the Santos Family, a unique troupe of female-only flyers with a brand new perch pole act.
The show runs from Dec. 26 through Jan. 5. Tickets can be purchased through the Chandler Center for the Arts.
3. Dive Into the Crayola Experience
Get kids out of the house this holiday and experience the magic of Crayola. The Crayola Experience, located at the Chandler Fashion Center, is a 20,000-square-foot family attraction featuring 19 hands-on creative activities for guests to enjoy. Visitors are able to name and wrap their own crayons, star in their own coloring pages, paint melty masterpieces, bring coloring pages to 3-D life and much more.
Explore attractions and purchase tickets in advance from The Crayola Experience.
4. Feel the Christmas Spirit on Upland Drive
Get the group in a car and head over to the 2600 block of Upland Drive in northeast Chandler to experience the 30-year-old neighborhood tradition known as Christmas on Upland Drive. The street takes holiday decorating to the next level, featuring over-the-top light displays, movies on a big screen, a lineup of food trucks and even horse-drawn carriages patrolling the streets on certain nights of the season.
Drive by and check it out, or make a night of it by participating in the events the community has to offer. For a full schedule of events, visit the community’s page on Facebook.
5. Walk Through History at the Chandler Museum
Show off your hometown to out-of-town guests with a stroll around the Chandler Museum. The free museum, located at 300 S. Chandler Village Drive, features engaging exhibits, photos and artifacts unique to the history of Chandler and the East Valley.
The museum is located on the grounds of the historic McCullough-Price House, a site on the National Register of Historic Places. Check out current exhibits to plan your group visit to the museum this holiday.
6. Head Underground at the Ostrich Speakeasy
For the adults in the bunch — grab a handcrafted cocktail at the Ostrich, a speakeasy-inspired lounge. Located directly below Crust in Downtown Chandler, the Ostrich is inspired by history dating back to the City’s founding in 1912. The lounge is housed in the forgotten basement tunnels under Chandler’s historic San Marcos hotel. The same basement was also an ostrich feather storage facility after World War I, which is where the modern watering hole gets its name.
Today, the spot is the perfect place to go to impress a group. Great drinks and a little local history at the Ostrich just might turn into your next annual tradition.
7. Escape Chandler (But Only For a While)
Get all ages working together for an adventurous outing at one of Chandler’s premier escape rooms. An escape room is an immersive game where participants are enclosed in a room and must use teamwork to solve clues based on a storyline in order to break free from the room under a set amount of time.
Think you and your team are up to the challenge? Try your luck at one of two escape room locations in Chandler: Escape the Room at Chandler Fashion Center mall or Escape Chandler, located at 312 N. Alma School Road.
8. Tee Up at a Golf Course (Even the Kiddos)
Arizona is a golfer's paradise, and nowhere is this more evident than in Chandler. With a total of seven golf courses totaling 153 holes and averaging 5,725 yards each, Chandler is known as one of the leading cities for golf in the state. Explore golf courses for the adults in the group looking to capitalize on our City’s amazing winter weather.
Kids need something to swing at? Swingin’ Safari Mini Golf (3875 W. Ray Road.) offers the ultimate, glow-in-the-dark indoor mini-golf adventure for the whole family.
9. Get Active at Paseo Vista Recreation Area
When you see the views from this stunning park on a hill, you’ll never know it’s located on top of a former landfill. The Paseo Vista Recreation Area, located at 3850 S. McQueen Road, isn’t your average city park.
This free recreation area includes group-friendly amenities including an archery range, disc golf course, dog park, playground, picnic areas and more than a mile of walking trails. Take a trip to burn off some holiday treats and enjoy the view.
Get More Ideas from Visit Chandler
Visit Chandler is the official site of the Chandler Office of Tourism. Get all the details you need to explore upcoming events, plan meals and excursions and get recommendations for any and all activities before you or your guests make a trip to Chandler.