Merry Main Street with ice rink, other holiday activities returns to downtown Mesa
Nov 25, 2022, 11:34 AM
(City of Mesa Photo)
(City of Mesa Photo)
PHOENIX — Mesa’s annual Merry Main Street begins Friday and will offer multiple holiday activities for the whole family to enjoy each day through early January.
The East Valley city’s holiday tradition gets underway from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a ceremony to light the nearly four-story-tall tree at Main Street and Macdonald; along with music by the Mesa City Band, a new radio-style performance of “The Man Who Killed Santa Claus” at 7 p.m. at the Mesa Arts Center and the first arrival of Santa Claus for the 2022 season.
People can also enjoy the 6,005-square-foot Winter Wonderland Ice Rink at the new Plaza at Mesa City Center, which will be open daily. Tickets can be purchased online, but a limited number of walk-up registrations will also be accommodated for each session.
Other holiday activities taking place at various times throughout the season include Santa’s Merry Makers Marketplace where local crafters and artisans will be selling crafts and foods, the return of the Mesa Temple Christmas Lights after a four-year hiatus, a food truck forest at Pioneer Park, shows at the Mesa Arts Center and visits with Santa.
Also part of this year’s celebration is the Festival of Lights on Dec. 18 to light the first candle on Mesa’s 12-foot menorah on Main Street and Macdonald near the Mesa Mural, as well as the Mesa Santa Express and Market where people can enjoy songs, cookies and meet Santa in a special light rail car on select days in December.
A list of activities with dates and times can be viewed on the official website.
Parking is free in all open lots and on-street parking areas throughout downtown Mesa, the city said in a press release, and free light rail rides will be offered between Country Club Drive and Gilbert Road between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 17.
Merry Main Street comes to a close on Jan. 7.
