PHOENIX — Downtown Tempe’s Park After Dark event this weekend will bring a bit of holiday cheer to the soaring temperatures of summer with a Christmas in July celebration.

The event takes place on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 6th Street Park, located south of 5th Street between Mill and Forest avenues.

“As desert dwellers and visitors look for reprieve from the scorching daytime temperatures, Downtown Tempe is ready to remind them of more refreshing times by cooling things off and surrounding them with the sights, sounds and smells of the holidays,” Kate Borders, executive director of the Downtown Tempe Authority, said in a press release.

“This event is a truly immersive experience that showcases everything that makes the holidays so special from a mid-year visit with Santa and nibbling on delectable cookies to being enveloped by holiday music as you watch a holiday float make its way through the park, experiencing offerings from the incredible local merchants and so much more.”

This weekend’s holiday theme features Christmas festivities, photos with Santa, giveaways, dancing, multiple jumbo-sized games for kids of all ages, free samples from InSomnia Cookies and outdoor entertainment.

There will also be a beer and wine garden from Pedal Haus Craft Beer & Wine, organizers said.

The event also allows people a chance to check out the various food and drink options available in downtown Tempe, as there are 14 options less than a five-minute walk from the park.

The Park After Dark Series occurs every second and fourth Saturday through Sept. 24.

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