Now through the end of the year there is a lot going on at the Desert Botanical Gardens that you definitely will want to squeeze onto your already busy calendar.
Mid-November in the Garden celebrates the Chiles & Chocolate Festival, an indulgence in a sweet & spicy affair of the senses. With over 30 vendors promoting their gourmet chocolates, fire-roasted chiles, sauces and other sweet and spicy indulgences there should be something there to fit everyone on your Holiday shopping list. Add some hot beats of Latin, Caribbean and South American music and dance, down a Chocolate or Spicy Cucumber martini from the cash bar and the heat just got kicked up a notch!
The end of November brings the tradition of Las Noches del las Luminarias with over 8,000 hand lit luminaria bags lining the paths of the Garden as thousands of mesmerizing twinkle lights transform the grounds into a land of enchantment. As guests stroll the paths they will encounter nine different ensembles featuring classical, acoustic, rock, reggae, flamenco guitar and latin music. The Phoenix Astronomical Society will be tucked in one of the darker nooks and crannies on the grounds so garden-goers can have the opportunity to stargaze. But a special treat is in store, so grab a cup of hot chocolate or hot cider and stop to enjoy native Apache winter stories with a backdrop of native flute.
What would the holidays be without the beautiful sounds of handbells? On select dates in November and December the Garden will host handbell performances by ensembles including Handbell Ringers of Sun City, Mountain View Lutheran, Scorpion Bells, Dayspring Bells, Bells of Joy, Dove of the Desert UMC and Bronzeworks Encore, Bells of Praise and Desert Bells International. This is a rare opportunity that comes along just once a year!
