"At La Paloma, the season unfolds across weeks rather than hours." That line from the Westin La Paloma's Holiday Splendor page describes more than one resort. This year, the Foothills calendar around Thanksgiving runs from Friday, Nov. 20 through Sunday, Nov. 29. Thursday falls about two-thirds of the way through. If your family lands on the 24th and leaves on the 29th, two of the best free events will already be over, and some of the most useful evenings will come after the turkey.
The calendar below runs in order, from the first event to the last. Book the Thursday table early. The rest falls into place around it.
Friday, Nov. 20: the season opens before anyone lands
Holiday Splendor at the Westin La Paloma runs from November 20, 2026 through January 3, 2027. That six-week window sets the pace for the whole week. The resort's Thanksgiving buffet, its tree lighting and its gingerbread display all sit inside it, so the program is already running when your guests arrive.
For a host, the useful date is now rather than Nov. 20. Thanksgiving reservations at La Paloma go through OpenTable from the resort's own page. Hacienda del Sol takes Thanksgiving reservations by phone at (520) 529-3500. The Thursday section below compares the three resort tables. Settle that question first, and the weekend before and the weekend after are easy to fill.
Nov. 21–22: the weekend before belongs to La Encantada
The La Encantada Fine Art Festival fills the center's courtyards on Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 22, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. It is a juried show of artists from across the Southwest, covering sculpture, painting, jewelry, glass, fashion and mixed media.
The organizer has Northwest Tucson roots. Art State Arizona, formerly the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance, began in 1997 as the Greater Oro Valley Arts Council. The festival returns Jan. 16–17 and March 27–28, 2027. If your guests come in November, this is the only weekend they can catch it.
The festival's Sunday is also the first day of La Encantada's extended holiday shopping hours, which run from November 22 through January 2. A guest who wants a gift to take home can shop on longer hours from the very start of the visit.
One new table may be ready by then. Tucson Foodie reported that Frida American Brasserie, from owners Charles and Frida Hunt, is slated for 2905 E. Skyline Drive in the former Living Room space. The owners were aiming for a late-October opening after first planning an August debut. La Encantada's directory lists planned hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and until 11 p.m. on other days, seven days a week. Confirm it is open before you build a festival afternoon around it.
Thursday, Nov. 26: three resort tables, three different schedules
The three Foothills resorts don't serve Thanksgiving at the same hours, so your choice depends on how you want the rest of the day to go.
| Resort | Format | Hours | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hacienda del Sol | Thanksgiving Day buffet with Southwestern touches | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | $115 per adult, $50 ages 6–12, free for 5 and under |
| Westin La Paloma, LA LUZ | Buffet with carving stations, live music, photographer, kids' craft area and Kids Corner | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | $119++ per adult, $60 ages 10 and under |
| Loews Ventana Canyon | Three-course prix fixe dinner at Flying V, or brunch at Canyon Club | Both on Nov. 26 | See resort listings |
The hours matter more than the prices. Hacienda del Sol's seven-hour window works for a household that wants a slow morning and a late meal. La Paloma's buffet ends at 3 p.m., which leaves the evening open. Its menu includes chilled Gulf shrimp and snow crab, with turkey and prime rib carved to order. At Loews Ventana Canyon, the Canyon Club brunch includes fresh seafood, chef-attended carving stations and live entertainment. The Flying V dinner is the three-course option for a family that prefers to eat later.
Thursday morning is also a good time for a walk before the meal, with one change at Sabino Canyon. The Sabino Canyon Crawler's posted ticket terms list the shuttle as closed on Thanksgiving Day. The recreation area itself is a different matter. The Coronado National Forest says it is always open. On Thursday the canyon is on foot only, so plan a walk you can turn around early rather than a ride to the top.
Friday, Nov. 27: two evening events, half an hour apart
The day after Thanksgiving ends with two free evening events, and they barely overlap.
- 6:00 p.m., Westin La Paloma. The tree lighting runs from 6 to 8 p.m. on the Murphey & LA LUZ Patio and is complimentary. There will be live music, hot cocoa and spiced cider, cookies and candy canes, and a countdown as dusk settles over the Catalinas. The culinary team also unveils this season's gingerbread display that evening. Last season's Sonoran Gingerbread Desertscape used 350 pounds of gingerbread and 294 pounds of brown sugar.
- 6:30 p.m., La Encantada. Moon Glow 520 is free outdoor yoga held on the last Friday of each month, and the remaining 2026 sessions start at 6:30 p.m. In November 2026 the last Friday falls on the 27th, so this month's session lands on Thanksgiving weekend.
The two events suit different guests. Grandchildren will want the tree countdown, and a guest who has been sitting since Thursday may want the yoga mat. Either way, the Friday after Thanksgiving gives the Foothills two free reasons to be outside after dark.
Nov. 28–29: the weekend after, at River and Campbell
The last weekend of the visit is centered at River Road and Campbell Avenue.
The St. Philip's Plaza market runs Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., October through April, so its regular schedule covers Nov. 28 and 29. A late start helps when the house is still full of guests.
Across the intersection, Joesler Village sits at the northwest corner of River and Campbell, according to Visit Tucson. Its newest tenant is due around Thanksgiving. Tucson Foodie reported that Joesler Kitchen is preparing to open at 1825 E. River Road, Suite 119, in late November. It comes from Jeff Katz and Paolo DeFilippis, the owners behind Choice Greens, Graze Premium Burgers and Truland Burgers & Greens. The roughly 3,500-square-foot space seats about 110 across the dining room, bar and patio, and the patio welcomes pets. Entrées are expected to run $22 to $35, and the menu will include vegetarian and gluten-free options. The planned hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The name honors Josias Joesler, the architect whose work helped shape Tucson's character. No opening day has been announced, so treat a weekend dinner there as a maybe and keep a backup plan.
A little south on Campbell, Lovin' Spoonfuls Vegan Restaurant at 2990 N. Campbell Ave. served its last meal on Saturday, Oct. 24, as Tucson Foodie reported. If a plant-based guest remembers it from a past visit, plan another stop.
Saturday is also a better day for Sabino Canyon than Thursday. The Forest Service lists the day-use fee at $8 per vehicle per day or $10 per vehicle per week. That price difference matters during a long visit. A weekly pass costs $2 more than one day and covers a Thursday walk, a Saturday return and anything in between. The Forest Service lists visitor center and shuttle services from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Crawler's own terms list somewhat different tour hours. Check current shuttle times and fares at sabinocanyoncrawler.com before you promise anyone a ride.
After the guests fly home
Holiday Splendor keeps going after the visitors leave. Brunch with Santa and a Gingerbread Workshop at LA LUZ is on Saturday, Dec. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon. It costs $50 for adults and $25 for children 10 and under, and each child gets a gingerbread house kit. Christmas Eve dinner is a three-course prix fixe on Dec. 24, 5 to 9 p.m., at $109++ per person. Christmas Day brunch is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at $119++. On New Year's Eve, there is a dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. and a countdown at Casa 71 Tequila Lounge from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., each $129++ per person. If December brings a second wave of visitors, the second Fine Art Festival weekend arrives Jan. 16–17, 2027.
Many Foothills homeowners use Thanksgiving week to show visiting family the neighborhood they love, and some of those guests start asking about a place of their own. When that happens, the Brenda O'Brien Team is happy to put together a Foothills tour that fits around your holiday plans. Contact Us.
