Holiday celebrations come to downtown Goodyear

Goodyear Civic Square will be the center of holiday celebrations this season, with a series of community events scheduled at 1900 N. Civic Square through December.

The festivities begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, with a Holiday Marketplace. The event will feature local artisans and vendors offering handcrafted goods for early holiday shopping. A live musical performance will also take place, adding to the festive atmosphere. The event will be held in the green spaces of Goodyear Civic Square

Following the marketplace, the Rinq, Goodyear’s synthetic ice skating rink, will open from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, and will remain open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 5 to 9 p.m. through Sunday, Dec. 29. Skating is free and so are the skate rentals. Each skating session lasts 30 minutes, and participants can sign up on-site without pre-registration.

The Holidays on the Square event will also kick off 5-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, and will run on three consecutive Fridays: Dec. 6, 13, and 20. The event will feature different themes and performances each week:

• Dec. 6: A musical performance by musicians from Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers, a nonprofit organization that provides teens with opportunities to develop skills in music, dance, and other creative fields.
• Dec. 13: A show by AZ Dueling Pianos, offering a mix of holiday music and popular tunes.
•  Dec. 20: A live performance of “Elf the Musical”, presented by the Creative Arts and Production Academy.

These events are free and open to the public, providing a range of activities for residents and visitors to enjoy during the holiday season. Goodyear Civic Square, which includes Goodyear City Hall, the Georgia T. Lord Public Library, and other municipal services, serves as the city’s civic and cultural center. GSQ has become an increasingly important gathering place for the growing population of Goodyear, as the city continues to develop its downtown area. In addition to the seasonal events, Goodyear Civic Square features open green spaces, walkable areas, and is home to community events year-round. The city has plans for further development to transform the area into a mixed-use downtown district with more shops, restaurants, and entertainment options in the future.

Visit goodyearaz.gov for more information.