Merry Main Street started Nov. 24 and continues through Jan. 6, offering a variety of holiday activities.

City of Mesa

Mesa’s Merry Main Street, presented by AT&T Fiber, returns to downtown Mesa for the ninth consecutive year with several new attractions.

Merry Main Street started Nov. 24 and continues through Jan. 6, offering a variety of holiday activities.

The Winter Wonderland Ice Rink in downtown Mesa features a 6,005-square-foot ice skating rink at the Plaza at Mesa City Center, 56 E. Main St. The Winter Wonderland Ice Rink will open daily for thousands to enjoy the winter weather while gliding on the ice under the stars. There is limited walk-up ticket availability so online reservations are recommended. To purchase passes, go to merrymainst.com/icerink.

Mesa’s giant Christmas Tree is the center point to the holiday tradition. The nearly four-story tall tree is on Macdonald at Main Street and serves as the perfect backdrop to create family memories and take holiday photos.

This year, Santa will have free visits on Thursdays in addition to Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bring your cell phone or camera for pictures. This year, Santa will be taking gift requests from all the good boys and girls at The Post, the new city-owned community and event space, at 26 N. Macdonald.

This year, there will be live entertainment at Mesa’s Christmas Tree on Fridays and Saturdays, beginning Nov. 25, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Check the Merry Main Street calendar for more details.

New this year, the Holiday Sunset Market brings original and tasty gifts to Merry Main Street. Join Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. between Nov. 30 and Dec. 21 at Main and Macdonald for an afternoon of local shopping. More than 30 local vendors will be selling fresh grocery products, tasty hot food, artisan goods and more. There will also be demonstrations and live music.

New this year, Holiday Movies at the Plaza brings free festive movies to the Plaza at Mesa City Center, 56 E. Main St., every Saturday in December. The schedule is available on the Merry Main Street calendar. It’s an opportunity to watch while skating or bring your blankets to sit under the stars and enjoy holiday classics on the large screen on the side of the ASU Mix Center.

Mesa’s Gnome on the Roam and one of Santa’s favorite helpers, Bingles, will be roaming downtown Mesa this holiday season. The North Pole ambassador will stop at popular Mesa locations — or live shots — to spread holiday cheer. Follow @CityofMesa on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with his Main Street activities. Look for clues each week to win prizes.

Start (or end) your journey along Merry Main Street at Jack Frost’s Food Truck Forest at Pioneer Park, 526 E. Main St., on Fridays and Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Other events include:

• The Mesa Temple Christmas Lights community tradition is open nightly from Nov. 24 through Dec. 31 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The annual light display features hundreds of thousands of colorful lights and is free.
• The Festival of Lights is Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m. as we light the first candle on Mesa’s Menorah. The 12-foot-tall Menorah, on Main Street and Macdonald near the Mesa Mural, will have a light added nightly through Dec. 15.
• Holiday Happenings at the MAC are back throughout December with holiday shows at Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. Visit mesaartscenter.com for details and tickets.
• Join us for the Mesa Santa Express and Market in a special light rail car to sing songs, enjoy cookies and, best of all, meet Santa. Wear pajamas and enjoy the season in the childlike and festive tradition of the Mesa Santa Express, which runs Dec. 8, 9, 15 and 16 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. While rides are free, a commemorative ticket is required. Donations are being accepted online to Mesa Urban Renewal and Arts Lab to maintain free rides in the community. Visit mesasantaexpress.com for details.

For a complete list of Merry Main Street activities, including dates and times, go to merrymainst.com.

Free parking is available in all open lots and on-street parking areas throughout downtown Mesa.

Free light rail rides will be offered between Country Club Drive and Gilbert Road from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on the following Fridays and Saturdays: Dec. 15-16 and Dec. 22-23.

Merry Main Street presented by AT&T Fiber is in partnership with the city of Mesa, Mesa Parks and Recreation, Downtown Mesa Association, Visit Mesa, Mesa Chamber of Commerce, AMR, Delta Hotels, Boeing, Caliber, Nesbitt Contracting, Prensa Arizona, VCA Animal Referral & Emergency Center of Arizona and MT Builders.