Skip to main contentSkip to main content
Register for more free articles.
Log in Sign up
Back to homepage
Subscriber Login
Keep reading with a digital access subscription.
Subscribe now
You are the owner of this collection.
Edit Collection
You have permission to edit this collection.
Edit
Arizona Daily Star
94°
  • Sign in
  • Subscribe Now
  • Manage account
  • Logout
    • Manage account
    • e-Newspaper
    • Logout
  • News
    • Sign up for newsletters
    • Local
    • Arizona
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Nation & World
    • Markets & Stocks
    • SaddleBrooke
    • Politics
    • Archives
    • News Tip
  • Arizona Daily Star
    • E-edition
    • E-edition-Tutorial
    • Archives
    • Special Sections
    • Merchandise
    • Circulars
    • Readers' Choice Awards
    • Buyer's Edge
  • Obituaries
    • Share Your Story
    • Recent Obituaries
    • Find an Obituary
  • Opinion
    • Submit a Letter
    • Submit guest opinion
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Opinion & Editorials
    • National Columnists
  • Sports
    • Arizona Wildcats
    • Greg Hansen
    • High Schools
    • Roadrunners
  • Lifestyles
    • Events Calendar
    • Arts & Theatre
    • Food & Cooking
    • Movies & TV
    • Movie Listings
    • Music
    • Comics
    • Games
    • Columns
    • Play
    • Home & Gardening
    • Health
    • Get Healthy
    • Parenting
    • Fashion
    • People
    • Pets
    • Travel
    • Faith
    • Retro Tucson
    • History
    • Travel
    • Outdoors & Rec
    • Community Pages
  • Brand Ave. Studios
  • Join the community
    • News tip
    • Share video
  • Buy & Sell
    • Place an Ad
    • Shop Local
    • Jobs
    • Homes
    • Freedom RV AZ
    • Marketplace
    • I Love A Deal
  • Shopping
  • Customer Service
    • Manage My Account
    • Newsletter Sign-Up
    • Subscribe
    • Contact us
  • Mobile Apps
  • Weather: Live Radar
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Bluesky
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram
© 2026 Lee Enterprises
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy
Arizona Daily Star
News+
Read Today's E-edition
Arizona Daily Star
News+
  • Log In
  • $1 for 3 months
    Subscribe Now
    • Manage account
    • e-Newspaper
    • Logout
  • E-edition
  • News
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Wildcats
  • Lifestyles
  • Newsletters
  • Comics & Puzzles
  • Buyer's Edge
  • Jobs
  • Freedom RV AZ
  • 94° Sunny
Share This
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Bluesky
  • WhatsApp
  • SMS
  • Email
Photos: Tucson's Winterhaven Festival of Lights through the years
Share this
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Bluesky
  • WhatsApp
  • SMS
  • Email
  • Print

Photos: Tucson's Winterhaven Festival of Lights through the years

  • Rick Wiley
  • Oct 13, 2020
  • Oct 13, 2020 Updated Dec 5, 2024

The annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights during the Christmas holiday season in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The festival was canceled for 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

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.

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

Related to this collection

Throwback Thursday: Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Throwback Thursday: Winterhaven Festival of Lights

The Winterhaven Festival of Lights in black and white? Why? There was color film available in the 1950s and ’60s, including Kodak’s Kodachrome…

Photos: 2013 pet holiday photo contest entries

Photos: 2013 pet holiday photo contest entries

Last Year the Arizona Daily Star asked readers to submit photos of their pets in their holiday best for our "Dress Your Pet" contest.

32 Winterhaven photos to get you in the holiday mood

32 Winterhaven photos to get you in the holiday mood

Take a peek at last year's holiday displays from the Winterhaven Festival of Lights. This year's event runs from Saturday to Dec. 27.

Stories of holidays past

Stories of holidays past

From Dec. 22 through Jan. 4, 2013, the Star published stories from the Arizona Daily Star and Tucson Citizen news archives. They are presented…

This is why Winterhaven is awesome

Check out the holiday light and water music performance at the 65th annual Winterhaven Festival of lights

Photos: Winterhaven 2014

Photos: Winterhaven 2014

Photos of some of the beautiful and elaborate holiday displays you can see at this year's Winterhaven Festival of Lights.

Photos: Winterhaven 2014

Photos: Winterhaven 2014

Some of the beautiful and elaborate holiday displays at Winterhaven Festival of Lights. 

Photos: 12th annual Miracle En El Barrio

Photos: 12th annual Miracle En El Barrio

NOVA Home Loans collected 2,000 toys and donations for this year's event.

Countdown to Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Countdown to Winterhaven Festival of Lights

Winterhaven runs 6 to 10 p.m. everyday, Dec. 10 through Dec. 26.

185 families helped by Tucson police during Christmas shopping event

185 families helped by Tucson police during Christmas shopping event

Tucson police Officer Mike Dietsch leads Enolla and her mom on a $100 shopping spree for deserving children at the Kids and Cops event at Targ…

Parade of Lights hits the streets of downtown Tucson Saturday

Parade of Lights hits the streets of downtown Tucson Saturday

Begins at 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of Stone Avenue and 17th Street.

It's time! Winterhaven Festival of Lights kicks off this Saturday

It's time! Winterhaven Festival of Lights kicks off this Saturday

The 69th annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights kicks off this Saturday, Dec. 8, and lasts until the day after Christmas

Winterhaven lights second biggest food drive for Community Food Bank

Winterhaven lights second biggest food drive for Community Food Bank

Visitors to the 70th annual Winterhaven Festival of Lights are encouraged to bring food or monetary donations for the Community Food Bank of S…

Photos: Reid Park Zoo Lights 2016

Photos: Reid Park Zoo Lights 2016

2016 Zoo Lights at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, are 6-8pm, Wednesday, December 7, 2016 to Friday, December 23, 2016. Admission is $9.50 for Adults…

Holiday gift program for Tucson seniors short on donations

Holiday gift program for Tucson seniors short on donations

The Santa to a Senior program has assisted about 15,000 seniors locally.

This northwest Tucson neighborhood combines Disney and Christmas lights for pure magic

This northwest Tucson neighborhood combines Disney and Christmas lights for pure magic

Christmas lights aren't the only thing responsible for the twinkle in this northwest Tucson neighborhood. 

TEP steps up to keep the lights on at Winterhaven

TEP steps up to keep the lights on at Winterhaven

Tucson Electric Power will be the title sponsor for the Winterhaven Festival of Lights for at least five years, a news release says.

Love should grow like vines. And these Winterhaven House of Hope messages did.

Love should grow like vines. And these Winterhaven House of Hope messages did.

Wander through at least 100 vines with paper hearts bearing message of hope and love. 

Where to see life-size gingerbread houses near Tucson

Where to see life-size gingerbread houses near Tucson

Ready to get in the holiday spirit? Here are 2 places in Tucson that have life-size gingerbread houses. 

See Winterhaven's holiday lights, help the community food bank

See Winterhaven's holiday lights, help the community food bank

Last year visitors donated 36,000 pounds of food to the food bank.

What it's like to live in Winterhaven

What it's like to live in Winterhaven

A Festival of Lights life: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. 

Tucson man pulls off surprise proposal at Winterhaven

Tucson man pulls off surprise proposal at Winterhaven

Did you see the proposal at Winterhaven this week? 

Tucson's Winterhaven Festival of Lights canceled this year due to COVID-19

Tucson's Winterhaven Festival of Lights canceled this year due to COVID-19

This would have been the 71st annual festival in Tucson's north-side Winterhaven neighborhood near East Fort Lowell and North Country Club roads.

Arizona Daily Star
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Bluesky
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Arizona Daily Star Store
  • This is Tucson
  • Saddlebag Notes
  • Tucson Festival of Books

Sites & Partners

  • E-edition
  • Classifieds
  • Events calendar
  • Careers @ Lee Enterprises
  • Careers @ Gannett
  • Online Features
  • Sponsored Blogs
  • Get Healthy

Services

  • Advertise with us
  • Register
  • Contact us
  • RSS feeds
  • Newsletters
  • Photo reprints
  • Subscriber services
  • Subscription FAQ
  • Licensing
  • Shopping
© Copyright 2026 Arizona Daily Star, PO Box 26887 Tucson, AZ 85726-6887
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Advertising Terms of Use | Do Not Sell My Info | Cookie Preferences
Powered by BLOX Content Management System from bloxdigital.com.
  • Notifications
  • Settings
You don't have any notifications.

Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.

Topics

News Alerts

Breaking News