Holidays on the Square come to a close

By Mary Goldmeer
Mail

Goodyear’s holiday celebrations reached their grand finale tonight with a live performance of Elf the Musical at Goodyear Civic Square, wrapping up a month-long series of community events. Presented by the Creative Arts and Production Academy, the show was the third and final performance of the Holidays on the Square event series, which has been drawing crowds every Friday throughout December.

The Holidays on the Square event began Dec. 6 with a tree lighting ceremony, where Goodyear Mayor Joe Pizzillo, the City Council, and City Manager Wynette Reed helped light the Christmas tree on the lawn of Civic Square. The evening continued with a sing-along with Santa and a performance by musicians from Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers. On Dec. 13, AZ Dueling Pianos entertained the crowd with a mix of holiday songs and popular tunes.

The season’s festivities began earlier with the Holiday Marketplace on Nov. 23, where local artisans and vendors offered handcrafted goods for early holiday shopping. The Rinq, Goodyear’s synthetic ice skating rink, opened Dec. 6 and has been offering free skating sessions and skate rentals on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Dec. 29. Each skating session lasts 30 minutes, with no pre-registration required.

“This is our third annual holiday tree lighting and it's just beautiful,” Pizzillo said. “It’s a great time to be in the city of goodyear. I am so proud of our progress.”

Goodyear Civic Square, which includes City Hall, the Georgia T. Lord Public Library, and other municipal services, has become the heart of the city’s community activities. With its open green spaces, walkable areas, and year-round events, it has become a vital gathering place for residents. The city plans to continue developing the area into a mixed-use downtown district with more shops, restaurants, and entertainment options in the future.

Visit goodyearaz.gov for more information about upcoming events and the development of Goodyear Civic Square.