The popular Red Rock Fantasy is returning — sort of.

For 22 years, Red Rock Fantasy was a must-see for residents and visitors. After a four-year hiatus, this community event will return to Sedona at its new home, Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. Free to the community, this daily light festival — which is part of Holiday Central Sedona — is from dusk to 9 p.m. and a free trolley will be available every Friday and Saturday evening [except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day].

“Red Rock Fantasy was a long-standing tradition not only for locals but for thousands of visitors who traveled to Sedona each year to celebrate the holidays,” said Jennifer Wesselhoff, president and CEO of the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and a Holiday Central committee member. “In fact, it was so popular that we still get calls inquiring about the event — even after four years.  

“That time lapse has given us the chance to reinvigorate the event, and create something new, festive and exciting, while capitalizing on the brand recognition that Red Rock Fantasy established over the years. We are incredibly thankful to the city of Sedona and Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village for stepping up to revitalize this holiday tradition for the community.”  

Red Rock Fantasy activities will include:

• Sycamore dancing lights: Every evening, 15-minute intervals
• Outdoor classic holiday movie screenings: every Thursday evening
• Tinsel Town: Community light exhibits from Tuesday, Dec. 1, through Sunday, Jan. 1
• Festival of Lights: Lighting of 6,000 luminaries on Saturday, Dec. 10
• Sweet Stroll: Saturday, Dec. 17
• Ice skating: Friday and Saturday, Dec. 30 and 31

Tlaquepaque, the city of Sedona, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau, the Sedona Main Street Program, and the business community have collaborated once again to bring visitors and locals more than 40 events during the holiday season.

“Tlaquepaque is honored and excited to have the opportunity to bring back such a memorable holiday experience,” Tlaquepaque General Manager Wendy Lippman said. “It will be a fantastic community collaboration and we look forward to future growth and continued commitment.”

Another big change set for this year will be the moving of the Sedona Parks and Recreation’s Tinsel Town from Posse Grounds Park to Tlaquepaque. The committee felt this will give more exposure to those businesses and nonprofits that participate in Tinsel Town. Attendance is expected to increase because it will be added to Tlaquepaque’s long list of existing holiday events.

Lippman said they will be offering Tinsel Town participants designated spaces throughout the property on a first-come, first-served basis. She is asking that participants provide her with a concept in writing ahead of time to help determine a theme and where to place them.

“I am excited about the plans to relocate Tinsel Town to Tlaquepaque and hope that the community exhibitors will embrace the location change as well,” Sedona Parks and Recreation Manager Rachel Murdoch said earlier this summer. “I think the new location will give our visitors what they were looking for — something else to do after walking through the light displays.”

For more information, visit holidaycentralsedona.com.