Mesa wins statewide award for Merry Main Street

The Arizona Parks and Recreation Association recently awarded the city of Mesa the Outstanding Special Event Award for cities with populations over 100,000, honoring the success of Merry Main Street — the six-week holiday festival that lights up downtown Mesa each winter.

Merry Main Street transforms downtown into a magical winter wonderland each year, attracting more than 190,000 visitors. Guests enjoy free photos with Santa, a spectacular 40-foot Christmas tree, Arizona’s largest outdoor ice rink, multicultural celebrations, live entertainment and other family-friendly activities. The event has become a hallmark of community pride, boosting both holiday spirit and economic vitality.

“I’ve had the privilege of attending Merry Main Street year after year, and it’s been incredible to see how it continues to grow and get better every season. Winning this award from APRA is a great honor for the event and a well-deserved recognition of our Special Events team, who put in countless hours to make Merry Main Street and all of Mesa’s major events something our community can be proud of,” Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman said in the release.

Merry Main Street will return this year on Friday, Nov. 28, kicking off with the official tree lighting and Santa’s grand arrival. The celebration continues nightly through Saturday, Jan. 10. For updates, visit https://merrymainst.com/