The light display, which is free of charge and open to the public, will begin Friday, Nov. 27 and run through Wednesday, Dec. 30. Lights are turned on nightly at 5 p.m. and turned off at 10 p.m.
Mesa Temple Events
The Christmas Light Display at the Mesa Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is back.
Mesa Temple Events
Annual event features hundreds of thousands of lights, biblical scenes and an international nativity exhibit.
The Mesa Arizona Temple gardens will welcome visitors for the 2026 Christmas lights display Nov. 27 through Dec. 30, continuing a Valley holiday tradition that began in 1979.
The free event runs nightly 5-10 p.m. at 101 S. LeSueur in Mesa. The temple grounds feature hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights illuminating palm and citrus trees, cacti, hedges, shrubs and flower beds. The display attracts more than 1 million visitors annually, making it one of the Southwest’s largest Christmas lighting displays, according to a release.
Visitors can also explore 10 biblical scenes depicting the story of Christ’s birth, including Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, a large nativity scene beneath a lighted star, shepherds and three wise men with camels. Displays include interpretive signs and QR codes linking to additional information and videos.
Thousands of volunteers help make the annual event possible. The Mesa Arizona Temple, dedicated in 1927, was the first temple built in Arizona by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its 20-acre grounds are a longtime East Valley landmark.
The adjacent Mesa Temple Visitors’ Center will host its annual International Nativity Exhibit during the same dates. The free exhibit features more than 200 nativity scenes representing cultures around the world, with pieces crafted from materials including rice, paper, nuts, gourds, peanuts and porcelain.
The exhibit is open nightly from 5 to 10 p.m., with additional daytime hours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Visitors’ Center is at 455 E. Main St., across from the temple grounds.
Free parking is available nearby, including designated parking for visitors with disabilities east of the temple’s north grounds on Hobson. Visitors may also use Valley Metro light rail, with a stop at Mesa Drive. Paved and gravel pathways accommodate strollers and wheelchairs, and event hosts wearing red badges are available to assist guests.
For event details and frequently asked questions, visit MesaTemple.org/Christmas or call the visitors’ center at 480-964-7164. MesaTemple.org is not an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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