What to Wear to See Christmas Lights in Arizona: Three Layers for a Cold Desert Night
Warm at 6. Cold by 9. Dress for both.
Wear leggings or joggers, a tee or tank, and a hoodie or crew you can take off. Add a hat. That is the whole outfit for walking through Christmas lights in Arizona, and it works because the desert loses heat fast once the sun is gone.
A typical December evening shape in the Valley, in degrees F. Check the forecast for your night. Phoenix December lows run in the mid 40s.
Shop her kit Shop his kit6 PMStart with the layer you can lose
You arrive in short sleeve weather. By the second hour you want a hoodie on. The mistake is wearing one heavy jacket, because you carry it for the first hour and shiver without it for the second. Build three thin layers instead and peel the middle one when the line moves slowly indoors.
The base is a moisture wicking top. Cotton holds sweat from the walk in and then turns cold on you. The middle is a fleece back hoodie or crew. The third layer is the hat, which does more for how warm you feel than you would guess. Our Arizona winter layering guide goes deeper on the base layer, and the 50 degree weather guide covers the morning version of this same problem.
Keep your hands free. Most light displays are a long walk with a phone out, so pockets matter more than a bulky coat. A hoodie pocket holds your keys and card, and a jogger pocket holds the phone when you want both hands for a hot drink. Wear shoes you have already broken in, because the walk is longer than it looks on the map.
8 PMHer kit: leggings, tank, hoodie
Start with the Luna Legging in black. It is opaque, it stays up, and black disappears in photos under colored lights. Under the hoodie goes the Abby Top, a tank with a built in bra, so you are covered when the hoodie comes off. Over it, the Hayden Hoodie in beige. If the leggings ever slide, read why leggings roll down first.
Hayden Hoodie, Beige
$98. XS to XL in stock.
Luna Legging, Black
$75. S to L in stock.
Abby Top, Navy
$48. S to L in stock.
Size SSize MSize L
9 PMHis kit: tee, crew, jogger
Men tend to show up in shorts and a tee and regret it by nine. Keep the tee, change the rest. The Alec Crew in black goes over it, and the Alec Jogger replaces the shorts. If you are choosing between a crew and a hoodie, we settled that here. The Ryder Hat in white finishes it.
Alec Crew, Black
$85. S to XXL in stock. The middle layer.
Alec Jogger, Black
$89. S to XXL in stock. Replaces the shorts.
Ryder Hat, White
$40. One size, in stock. Fit tips in the hat fit guide.
10 PMWhat to skip
| Skip | Why | Wear instead |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton hoodie only | Holds sweat, then chills you | Wicking base plus a mid layer |
| One heavy jacket | Too hot in line, nothing under it | Two thin layers |
| Shorts or a skirt | Legs go cold first at night | Leggings or joggers |
| New shoes | You will walk a few miles | Shoes you have broken in |
Packing for the whole season? The gym bag guide and our gift guide use the same pieces. Shopping for her? See gifts for women who work out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to see Christmas lights in Arizona?
Wear three thin layers: a moisture wicking base, a hoodie or crew, and a hat. Pants or leggings beat shorts, because December nights in the Valley fall into the 40s.
Is it cold at night in Arizona in December?
Yes. Days can feel mild, but Phoenix December lows run in the mid 40s, and it feels colder standing still in a crowd.
Should I wear leggings or jeans to a holiday lights walk?
Leggings, if you will walk a lot. They stretch, dry fast, and do not get stiff in the cold. Jeans are fine for a short stop.
Does a hat really help?
It helps more than most people expect. A hat holds heat at the head and takes off easily indoors.
What colors photograph well under holiday lights?
Black, navy and beige read cleanly. Bright white can blow out and pick up the color of nearby bulbs.
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