Las Noches de las Luminarias: Bask in the glow of 8,000 flickering luminaria while enjoying live handbell choirs, Dickens Carolers, and cups of warm cider. Food and beverages available for purchase.

Through Dec. 24

There are a few things that, over the years, have become traditions for Valley residents around the holidays: ZooLights. Las Noches de las Luminarias. Hale Centre Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol.” And “The Nutcracker” by Ballet Etudes.

No tickets? No worries — at least, not if you know where to go for a little free entertainment. Complimentary concerts abound in the East Valley. We love them for those days when our schedules magically open up, giving us a chance for an easy, impromptu outing. Some of our faves:

Stay up all night, haven’t done that in a long time. But I pretty much did on Saturday night. It all started last week when my Mountain Pointe High School junior said, “Mom, we need one more chaperone or we can’t stay all night at the Relay for Life.” Exactly how am I supposed to say no to that? My husband was already an over-night chaperone, so I joined the fun. “What do I have to do?” I asked. “Just come and sleep in the tent and be there by 10 p.m. on Saturday night.”

It only seems natural to sit home and rest after undergoing an intensive surgery to help treat breast cancer.

It’s become tradition in recent years — or at least the programmers at a certain cable superstation would like us to believe — to find the holiday cult-classic “A Christmas Story” on the tube at any odd hour of the day each Dec. 25.

More than 8,000 luminarias, or lighted bags, will illuminate the trails at Desert Botanical Garden beginning Thursday, when Las Noches de las Luminarias opens for the season.

Cooler weather has brought pumpkin patches, corn mazes and haunted houses to the Valley, but you can find fall color and seasonal frights farther afield. Get your autumn on with a day or weekend trip to these destinations not (too) far from home.

Cooler weather has brought pumpkin patches, corn mazes and haunted houses to the Valley, but you can find fall color and seasonal frights farther afield. Get your autumn on with a day or weekend trip to these destinations not (too) far from home.

Cooler weather has brought pumpkin patches, corn mazes and haunted houses to the Valley, but you can find fall color and seasonal frights farther afield. Get your autumn on with a day or weekend trip to these destinations not (too) far from home.

Cooler weather has brought pumpkin patches, corn mazes and haunted houses to the Valley, but you can find fall color and seasonal frights farther afield. Get your autumn on with a day or weekend trip to these destinations not (too) far from home.

If it sounds strange now, it won’t for long. Amococo is about to become a Valley buzzword.

For 33 years, Desert Botanical Garden has provided a serene Southwestern alternative to packing into the minivan and trolling for neighborhood Christmas lights: Las Noches de Luminarias. More than 8,000 handlit paper bags line the garden’s pathways, while soft lights twinkle in the trees and handbell choirs, Dickens carolers and other musicians play holiday music around nearly every bend. Hot cider, cocoa and a dinner menu are available.

Ahwatukee Foothills events

Ahwatukee Foothills students and community members are planning to pull an all-nighter later this month. And they’re looking for more people to join them.

Ahwatukee Foothills students and community members are planning to pull an all-nighter later this month. And they’re looking for more people to join them.