Queen Creek's 2026 holiday calendar doesn't build steadily toward Christmas. It comes in three waves, and the one with the most events is the weekend of December 19–20, two weeks after the tree lighting and parade on Ellsworth Road. That Saturday, the free Cowboy Christmas market at Horseshoe Park, the Queen Creek Olive Mill's December Sangria Social and a regular Schnepf Farms Christmas night all happen on the same day.
If you live in The Orchards, those three spots are all close by, on Riggs, Meridian and Rittenhouse roads. If you know when each one runs, you can pick your weekends. If you don't, you'll keep running into everyone else.
November Is Mostly Small Events
The first wave is small, and most of it is on weekdays. The season starts with Veterans Day. The 10th Annual Veteran's Day Celebration is Wednesday, November 11, at 9 a.m. at San Tan Memorial Gardens at Schnepf Farms, 22425 E. Cloud Rd., according to the Queen Creek Chamber of Commerce listing. The day before, a Veterans Day Tribute starts at 9 a.m. at American Leadership Academy Queen Creek High, 23908 S. Hawes Rd.
That same Wednesday evening, the Olive Mill at 25062 S. Meridian Rd. hosts Pizza Date Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $95 each plus tax, and the Olive Mill's events calendar already shows the November 11 date with a sold-out graphic. A second Pizza Date Night is set for Wednesday, December 9, at the same time and price. Since the first one is already sold out, December is the one to book now.
Two weekend events round out the month:
- Hope Harvest Festival, Saturday, November 7, at 10 a.m., 43491 N. Coyote Rd. in San Tan Valley, per the Chamber listing.
- November Sangria Social at the Olive Mill, Saturday, November 21, with four seasonal sangria flavors, food and live music. The calendar lists hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and no price.
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. Christmas at Schnepf Farms opens the next night.
Schnepf's Season Comes Down to 21 Nights
Christmas at Schnepf Farms, at 24810 S. Rittenhouse Rd., lists a season of November 27 through December 27, and it is open on 21 of those nights. Until December 20 the farm opens Thursday through Sunday only. It goes daily from Monday, December 21, through Sunday, December 27, and closes on Christmas Day. The farm's ticket page for Sunday, December 20, 2026 confirms those dates are this year's.
That works out to 15 Thursday-through-Sunday nights before December 21, plus six nights in the final week. The last week is the only time you can go on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
Hours are 5 to 10 p.m., and twilight admission covers 7:30 to 10 p.m. General admission runs $19.95 to $27.95 per person depending on the date and time you pick, and kids 2 and under get in free.
| Ticket | Price | Fine print |
|---|---|---|
| General admission | $19.95–$27.95 per person | Price depends on date and time |
| Season pass | Starting at $95.95 per person | Unlimited visits, Thursday–Sunday hours |
| Military, police, firefighter | $15 | Member with valid ID only, sold on-site only |
| Ages 2 and under | Free |
Whether the season pass is worth it depends on which nights you'd buy. At the top general admission price, a fourth visit costs more than the pass. At the lowest price, the pass doesn't pay off until the fifth visit. A household that goes once for the lights and once with visiting family is better off buying single tickets. A household that goes every Friday after school might come out ahead with the pass.
The $15 discount comes with conditions. The farm says it covers only the military, police or firefighter member who shows ID. Spouses and family members need regular tickets, bought in advance. On sold-out dates, the discounted ticket is still available on-site to qualifying members.
Inside, the list includes the Illumination Express, ice skating, Santa's Reindeer Hayride, Snow Globe Mini Golf, a Christmas Carousel, bonfires with s'mores, a Beer & Wine Garden, Santa Claus Lane, a Tilt a Whirl, trolley rides and what the farm calls the World's Largest Inflatable Obstacle Course. Parking is free. The farm has been busy adding things this year, too. AZFamily reported on October 2 that Schnepf was debuting five new rides and attractions for fall.
December 4–5 Is All on Ellsworth
The second wave happens entirely on Ellsworth Road. QC Hometown Christmas fills Queen Creek Town Center at 21802 S. Ellsworth Rd. on two back-to-back days, according to the Town of Queen Creek event page.
The tree lighting is Friday, December 4, from 6 to 8 p.m., with pictures with Santa, letters to Santa, and Santa's Workshop for decorating garland and ornaments. There's also a scavenger hunt for hidden popsicle Christmas trees, food trucks, and performances by local arts groups on the community stage. Schnepf is open that night too, since December 4 is a Friday.
Saturday, December 5, is the parade, with a lot more going on around it:
- 10 a.m. The parade starts on Ellsworth Road with local bands, businesses and equine groups. The town says the best viewing is on Ellsworth south of Victoria Lane, and suggests bringing lawn chairs or blankets.
- 1 p.m. The Tribute Christmas Barbershop Concert plays Room A100 at Central Arizona College's San Tan Campus, 3736 Bella Vista Rd. Tickets are $10, or $11.35 with fees.
- 5 p.m. Schnepf opens for the night on Rittenhouse.
The parking maps, shuttle routes and road-closure details on the town page still say "Coming Soon." Check that page again the week of the parade before you settle on a route to Town Center.
The week after is quieter. The 18th Annual Kids' Christmas Car Show and Toy Drive is Saturday, December 12, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Desert Mountain Park, 22201 S. Hawes Rd., with registration from 8 to 9 a.m.
December 19–20 Has the Most Going On
The third wave is the busiest. The parade is a single morning on one road. The weekend of December 19–20 has events on Riggs, Meridian and Rittenhouse at the same time, and they cover more hours of the day.
Queen Creek Cowboy Christmas & Trade Days, put on by Horseshoe Park & Equestrian Centre at 20464 E. Riggs Rd., runs Saturday and Sunday, December 19–20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The town calendar listing says there's no admission fee and no parking fee. You'll find a vendor market in the Chapman Automotive Group Arena, Santa for limited hours, food trucks, hay rides and a kids' zone.
On Saturday the Olive Mill holds its December Sangria Social, and Schnepf opens at 5 p.m. both nights.
| Time | Saturday, Dec. 19 | Sunday, Dec. 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime | Cowboy Christmas, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., free | Cowboy Christmas, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., free |
| Day into evening | December Sangria Social at the Olive Mill | |
| 5–10 p.m. | Christmas at Schnepf Farms | Christmas at Schnepf Farms |
| 7:30–10 p.m. | Schnepf twilight admission | Schnepf twilight admission |
It's also the last weekend before Schnepf goes daily. Once December 21 arrives, you can visit the farm on any night but Christmas, so a weekend visit on the 19th or 20th is no longer the only choice. If your out-of-town guests arrive after the 20th, their Schnepf trip can go on a Monday or Tuesday. Cowboy Christmas runs those two days only, and it's the only no-admission holiday market on this calendar with Santa and hay rides.
If you're planning December weekends now, the stretch from December 19 through 27 is where the most choices are bunched together, and the cheapest of them is free at Horseshoe Park.
Want to know which nights fit your guests' arrival, or which part of town makes these drives easiest? The Figz Real Estate team lives and works here in Queen Creek, and we're glad to talk through the holiday calendar or anything else about the neighborhood. And if a quiet week after Christmas has you wondering about your own home, find out what your home is really worth.
