Wow, what a night! Our Winter Wonderland Ahwatukee First Friday Family Event was packed with holiday cheer, and we couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who came out to make it so special.
Santa and Mrs. Claus totally stole the show, snapping photos with excited kids—and plenty of grown-ups, too! Huge thanks to the Goodman Taylor Team for bringing the Winter Wonderland magic to Ahwatukee First Fridays. From Santa and Mrs. Claus to bounce houses and face painting, you kept smiles going all night! Shoutout to Moonlit Dreams Photography for capturing those magical Santa moments. Seeing all the kids dressed up and full of joy was the sweetest. As Kevin said, “The line was long, but seeing their joy was awesome!”
Grey Matter rocked the night with all the classic “Dad hits,” getting the crowd singing along. One little fan even told lead singer Mike Jensen, “I know all these songs because my dad plays them all the time!” You can’t beat that! Everyone was dancing—and yes, they’ll be back.
We had nearly 80 vendors offering everything from holiday décor and handmade pottery to bikes from Global Bikes Ahwatukee and fresh sourdough bread that sold out in a flash! It was incredible seeing so many local creatives from our Ahwatukee411 community shine.
We know it’s a busy season for car enthusiasts, so we truly appreciate everyone who came out to hang with us. While Tim Berry, Owner of Precision Auto Body and Hope for the Homeless, couldn’t make it, he heard it was a huge success but mentioned the car show area could’ve used a few more rides. We’ll definitely work on expanding that next time!
A huge shoutout to everyone who donated to Hope for the Homeless. Your generosity is making a real difference this season. And for those who brought squishes and fleece blankets for the Armer Foundation for Kids—you’re spreading comfort and joy to kids at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Thank you!
Ahwatukee, you came hungry! Our food truck vendors had such a great time that many of them are excited to come back. If there’s a food truck you’d love to see next time, drop your suggestions in the comments!
This event wouldn’t have been possible without our incredible partners. Big thanks to Holiday Phoenix Lights, Green Chile Love, Hope for the Homeless, and Mountain Park Church for helping us make this celebration unforgettable.
Looking back, it was more than just an event—it was a celebration of what makes Ahwatukee so special. From kids bouncing in inflatables and families laughing together to cruisers showing off their rides and vendors connecting with the community, it was all about coming together.
This was our third time hosting this event, and seeing how much it’s grown has been incredible. I’m Diana Lopez, and I just want to say thank you to everyone who came out to support, shop, eat, and share the holiday cheer.
We’re already planning for next year! Applications for vendors, cruisers, entertainers, and food trucks for 2025 are now open. Let’s make it even bigger and more AWESOME!
Thank you, Ahwatukee, for showing up and making this community so special. See you next year!
