What to Wear to Scottsdazzle in Old Town Scottsdale
A holiday walk that starts warm and ends cold. Dress for both ends of the night, not just the one you leave the house in.
Scottsdazzle runs November 28 through December 31, 2026, throughout Old Town Scottsdale. Confirmed on the event: Santa meet and greets, holiday lights and decor through the district, an outdoor movie night, and the usual Old Town dining and shopping stretched later into the evening. That is a lot of standing and walking outside after dark, which is where most people get this wrong.
The daytime high still lands in the 60s and 70s through late November and December in Scottsdale. The problem is not the day. It is the two hours after sunset, when the desert gives up its heat fast and the same outfit that felt fine at 5pm feels thin by 7. Build the outfit around the drop, not the departure.
What Scottsdazzle actually is this year
- Dates. November 28 through December 31, 2026.
- Where. Throughout Old Town Scottsdale, on foot, dining and shopping district to district.
- Confirmed activities. Santa meet and greets, holiday lights and seasonal decor, an outdoor movie screening, extended dining and shopping hours.
- What it is not. A single ticketed venue. You are walking blocks, not sitting in one seat all night.
That last point decides the outfit. A single stationary event lets you wear whatever you can tolerate for an hour. A walking, block to block holiday stroll needs a layer you can add or lose without breaking stride, shoes you can actually walk in, and a hat if the wind picks up off the canal.
What the temperature actually does after dark
Arrive for an early dinner and you will not need the layer yet. Stay for the lights and the movie screening and you will want it zipped by 7. The fix is not a heavier outfit. It is one quarter zip or vest you can put on over a t-shirt, and one legging or jogger that already reads warm enough to skip the second layer on your legs.
What he should wear
Start with a tee, not a polo. A collar reads dressed up for standing in one place, not for four hours of walking and eating on the move. Layer a vest or a quarter zip over it so you can open it up in a warm restaurant and close it back up on the walk to the next block.
What she should wear
Leggings read better than a skirt once the temperature drops, and they hold up to three hours of walking without a second thought. The Alec Crew in Black works as the piece you put on when the sun goes down and tie around your waist at dinner if the restaurant runs warm. A built in bra top underneath means you are not layering three things to leave the house.
Kevin Vest, Black
Alec Quarter Zip, Blue
James Jogger, Tan
Alec Crew, Black
Luna Legging, Black
Ryder Hat, White
Three things to leave at home
- Sandals. Old Town's brick sidewalks and the waterfront path are not kind to bare feet after dark, and the temperature drop makes open shoes worse, not better.
- A jacket with no layer under it. You will overheat in a warm restaurant and have nothing to take off but the jacket itself.
- A bag with no zipper. Blocks are crowded during the lights, and an open tote is an easy target.
Heading to another Scottsdale event this fall? Scottsdale Fashion Week runs October 8 to 11, 2026, and we put together an outfit guide for it: what to wear to Scottsdale Fashion Week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dates for Scottsdazzle 2026?
Scottsdazzle runs November 28 through December 31, 2026, throughout Old Town Scottsdale.
Is Scottsdazzle one event or several?
It is a season, not a single ticketed night. Confirmed activities include Santa meet and greets, holiday lights and decor through the district, an outdoor movie screening, and extended dining and shopping hours across Old Town.
What should I wear to Scottsdazzle in Old Town Scottsdale?
Dress for a warm afternoon and a cold night. A tee or built in bra top as your base, a quarter zip, vest, or crew as a layer you can add or remove, real pants or leggings instead of a skirt, and closed toe shoes for the walk between blocks.
How cold does it get in Old Town Scottsdale at night in December?
Evenings typically fall from the low 60s at sunset into the 40s by the time the lights and the outdoor movie are running. Bring a layer you can put on, not just one you left the house wearing.
Is Scottsdazzle walkable, or do I need to drive between events?
It runs through Old Town on foot, block to block, between dining, shopping, and the lights. Closed toe shoes matter more than what is on top.
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