Visiting the Wishing Tree FAQ
The Winterhaven Festival of Lights is one of the longest-running festivals of its kind in the country. The festival celebrates the holiday season in Tucson and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from across southern Arizona.
Come enjoy the lights! FREE!
When?
In 2026, the tree will celebrate its 26th year, December 19 - January 2, 2026.
Hours: 6:00 to 10:00
Where?
The Wishing Tree is located in Tucson, Arizona, in a neighborhood called "Winterhaven". Winterhaven is one square mile block, between Country Club and Tucson Blvd., and between Ft. Lowell Road and Prince Road. The tree is located on the main street called "Christmas Ave.”
Helpful hints
Winterhaven is a "walking-only" event. So you will need to park outside the neighborhood after 5:00 PM (barricades will be up).
Winterhaven's Festival of Lights includes many other attractions to see as you walk. There's even hot chocolate, cupcakes, and hot dog trucks!
How much does it cost to wish?
Nothing! Making a wish is always free!
For many years, we saved them all! For the first six years of the tree, our daughter, Liz, counted each wish, typed them all up into notebooks, and analyzed them. And for many years afterwards, we saved every one of them in bag after bag that we stuffed into our rafters, sheds, and even our unused bathtub! However, now that they total tens of thousands each year, we have started "offering them up". On New Year's Day, we sit by the fire pit in our front yard and quietly offer each wish to the flames. As the wishes disappear and the smoke floats upwards, we make our own wish that they all will come true.
What do you do with all the wishes?
Do you read all the wishes?
Not intentionally. Sometimes, as we are stapling the chains higher up on the tree to keep them safe or dry, we will read a few. Most often we hear about a wish when a visitor stops by to tell us their tale of a wish that came true.
Do wishes ever come true?
Yes, absolutely. Our family is fortunate to hear story after story of wishes that came true. Babies were born after years of waiting, and engagements and even weddings occur each year. The Wishing Tree is not a "milgro tree"; however, occasionally we do hear of seemingly miraculous changes in health after visiting the tree. Our favorite wish remains that of a four-year-old who wrote in garbled letters, "I WiS for CHeeeSe!" We hope that wish came true!
About Winterhaven
Is it true you get free electricity?
No. However, Tucson Electric Power is one of Winterhaven's main sponsors, and their employees contribute to the event by donating their time and energy to put up the lights in the neighborhood each year! Cox employees support the event by contributing their trucks and time as well!
Where can I get something to eat or drink?
Food trucks are located at "the island" that sits in the center of the Winterhaven neighborhood!
Where can I go to the bathroom?
PortaPotties are located throughout the neighborhood.
Do residents of Winterhaven HAVE to decorate?
No, they don't. Of course, we are all encouraged to do so. You may see some houses that are not decorated. Often that is because the residents are getting older and it is harder for them to keep up with the maintenance involved.
Photo Credit Mike Christy
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