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Photos: Winterhaven Festival of Lights in color today and black and white in the past
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Photos: Winterhaven Festival of Lights in color today and black and white in the past

  • Rick Wiley
  • Dec 10, 2021
  • Dec 10, 2021 Updated Dec 16, 2021

The annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights in the Winterhaven neighborhood on Ft. Lowell Road and Country Club Road in Tucson. 

The event was started in 1949 by Winterhaven's original developer, C.B. Richards, after he visited some similar neighborhood light displays in Beverly Hills, Calif. In fact, the whole neighborhood was designed in hopes of one day being able to host a big holiday festival like the one we see today.

There is no admission. However, a donation to the Community Food Bank is requested. Go to winterhavenfestival.org for more information.

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

A youngster watches the show of lights, music and fountains at the corner of Treat Circle and Farr St. one of the most elaborate displays at the 69th Annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights , Wednesday, December 19, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Three-year-old Park Shew, in the arms of her mother Jennifer, reaches for the artificial snowflakes being shot over the corner of Forgeus and Kleindale, part of the action the 69th Annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights, Wednesday, December 19, 2018, Tucson, Ariz. Dozens of houses in the neighborhood are decorated to the hilt, music, special effects along with food trucks, are on display through December 26th from 6-10 p.m. There is no admission, but donations are being taken for the Community Food Bank.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

The President's Choice Award home and display on Kleindale for the 69th Annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights , Wednesday, December 19, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

An inflatable Rudolph towers over Farr St., renamed for the season Candy Cane Lane, at the 69th Annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights , Wednesday, December 19, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Farr St. is temporarily Candy Cane Lane, one of the streets lit up and adorned for the 69th Annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights , Wednesday, December 19, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

A well lighted home at the intersection of Treat and Richards Row draws a crowd at the 69th Annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights , Wednesday, December 19, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

2018 Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Sightseers stroll along Christmas Ave. under the lights, both artificial and the moon, for the 69th Annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights , Wednesday, December 19, 2018, Tucson, Ariz.

Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1964. Time exposure at Christmas Ave. and McKenzie St.

Jon Kamman, Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1964.

Jon Kamman, Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1964.

Jon Kamman, Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1964.

Jon Kamman, Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1966.

Dave Acton, Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Time exposure of Luminaria Lane in the Winterhaven subdivision in Tucson in December, 1961. Residents along Greenlee Road and Stewart Avenue placed hundreds of traditional Mexican luminarias around their homes.

Arizona Daily Star

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1966.

Dave Acton / Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1966.

Dave Acton / Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1966.

Dave Acton / Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1968.

Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1971.

Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1971.

Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1971.

Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1971.

Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1971.

Gary Gaynor / Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

A single vehicle drives through the Winterhaven neighborhood in Tucson on Christmas Eve, 1956.

Tucson Citizen

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Entrance to the Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1971.

Arizona Daily Star

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in 1968.

Arizona Daily Star

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1972.

Jose Galvez / Arizona Daily Star

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1972.

Jose Galvez / Arizona Daily Star

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1972.

Jose Galvez / Arizona Daily Star

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1974.

Arizona Daily Star

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1974.

Arizona Daily Star

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1974.

Arizona Daily Star

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven Festival of Lights in Tucson in December, 1964. Time exposure at Christmas Ave. and McKenzie St.

Jon Kamman / Tucson Citizen
Rick Wiley

Rick Wiley

Photo editor

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