It may only be September but those at the Sedona Parks and Recreation Department are already in the Christmas spirit.

This year during Holiday Central, Parks and Rec will feature the Reindeer Route, an interactive map that will lead people to nine, 9-foot reindeer throughout the city located at select businesses that opt to sponsor this opportunity.

In addition to businesses being able to sponsor and/or exhibit a light display at the Tinsel Town in Tlaquepaque, Reindeer Route is another way that businesses can join in on the festivities from their own business location. The goal is to bring nine reindeer to Sedona businesses and the map will encourage everyone to walk around and take pictures with the reindeer during the holiday season. The reindeer can be sitting, standing, dressed, decorated or customizable.

“It will be a lot of fun for those that try to find them all,” Murdoch said. “We are hopeful this will help to encourage walking the city and stopping off at shops people might not have thought to visit.”

Murdoch and others were in Phoenix recently going through the showroom of the decoration distributor they use when they saw the reindeer.

“I took a picture with it and thought it was fabulous and would be so much fun to have in the city,” she said.

The original thought was to have the reindeer at various spots in Uptown but then Murdoch decided it would be even better to spread them throughout Sedona in an ongoing effort to include West Sedona in Holiday Central.

Murdoch said businesses all over the city are encouraged to participate. Those interested can sponsor a reindeer for $1,500. Her staff will work with sponsors to customize the reindeer and showcase the business. The locations will be promoted alongside all of the Holiday Central Sedona happenings and calendar.

“We’re hoping people will enjoy following the map around town while getting pictures with all nine reindeer,” she said.

Now in its fourth year, Holiday Central promotes events throughout town for thousands of visitors and locals to enjoy. This year will see a few changes in addition to Tinsel Town moving from Posse Grounds Park to Tlaquepaque.

One of the other changes from last year will be a modified version of the popular Red Rock Fantasy.

More information can be found at holidaycentralsedona.com.

Sponsors of the reindeer need to complete the application by Sept. 16. Two of the reindeer have already been sponsored. For more details on how to be part of the Reindeer Route or for an application, contact the Sedona Parks and Recreation Department at 282-7098 or visit SedonaAZ.gov/Parks.