The Ultimate Guide to Making Holiday Magic in Lake Havasu
Depending on where you live, you can ditch the snow, freezing temperatures, or rain this holiday season for desert sunshine, waterfront celebrations, and twinkling lights. There are myriad ways to make holiday magic in Lake Havasu. From the annual Festival of Lights to the spectacular Parade of Lights in December—and a New Year's Eve spent celebrating lakeside—there's plenty happening around the lake to put you in a festive mood.
Planning a 2026 holiday getaway? Here's your guide to holiday events in Lake Havasu that you won’t want to miss, plus a few ideas for making the most of your stay.
(Oh and P.S. — We decorate each one of our vacation homes for the holidays with luxe style, so all you have to do is show up. We put the JOY in enjoy!)
Havasu Holiday Events at a Glance
November 27, 2026: Festival of Lights Kickoff
December 12, 2026: Parade of Lights
November–January: Ice skating at London Bridge Resort
December 31, 2026: New Year's Eve & New Year’s Day Celebrations
Festival of Lights
Friday, November 27, 2026 | London Bridge Resort
The holiday season officially gets underway in Lake Havasu the day after Thanksgiving with the annual Festival of Lights Opening Night at London Bridge Resort.
The evening begins with the Bridgewater Channel Swim Race, where swimmers compete for the honor of flipping the switch that illuminates more than 750,000 holiday lights around the resort and waterfront. Once the lights come on, the London Bridge Resort and surrounding area transform into a festive holiday display, with animated light show every half houranimated light show every half hour set to the beat of your favorite Christmas carols. Enjoy holiday entertainment, a visit with Santa, and ice skating (see more below!). The festival of lights continues throughout the holidays and is free to attend, making it an easy addition to any post-Thanksgiving weekend in Lake Havasu.
Date: November 27, 2026
Location: London Bridge Resort, 1477 Queens Bay
Time: 6–8 p.m.
Admission: Free
Parade of Lights
Saturday, December 12, 2026 | Bridgewater Channel
One of Lake Havasu's most beloved holiday traditions is the Parade of Lights, which brings more than 100 decorated boats into the Bridgewater Channel, where they cruise beneath the London Bridge covered in holiday lights. The result is a uniquely Havasu holiday experience—and one that can be enjoyed from anywhere along the waterfront.
We recommend watching the Parade of Lights from a few places, including English Village, Rotary Community Park, London Bridge Beach, or Lake Havasu State Park. If you're planning to attend, arrive early since the area around the London Bridge can get busy. If you’re arriving by boat, mooring in the channel is restricted beginning at 4 p.m. on parade day.
Our family likes to make a night of it by grabbing dinner near the London Bridge. Find a waterfront viewing spot and stay downtown to enjoy the holiday spirit before heading back for a soak in the hot tub underneath the desert sky.
Date: December 12, 2026
Location: Bridgewater Channel at London Bridge
Time: 6–11 p.m.
Admission: Free
Ice Skating in the Desert
London Bridge Resort
Lace up your skates for a season (well, usually 8 weeks) of ice skating in Lake Havasu. Each holiday season, London Bridge Resort brings a real ice skating rink to the desert, creating one of the area's most unusual (and chilly!) experiences. The rink is set against the backdrop of the resort's holiday lights and the London Bridge, making it especially festive after dark.
Ice skating is part of the Festival of Lights kickoff, and the rink traditionally remains open throughout the holiday season. This year’s skating hours and admission details should be confirmed with London Bridge Resort before you go, as the schedule can vary throughout the season. It's an easy activity to pair with an evening stroll around the English Village and Bridgewater Channel or a dinner in town with the family.
Location: London Bridge Resort, 1477 Queens Bay
Ring in The New Year in Lake Havasu
As the focus shifts to celebrating the arrival of a New Year, know that there are plenty of ways to ring in the New Year in style in Lake Havasu.
Local restaurants, bars, resorts, and event venues typically host New Year's Eve celebrations, so check the Go Lake Havasu events calendar and the Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce event calendar as December approaches for the latest announcements and ticket information.
Looking for a more relaxed way to celebrate? Make dinner reservations, head downtown for drinks and and live music, or spend a luxurious evening at home with friends and family. And if you'd rather spend the last day of the year at home, fire up the grill, pour a drink, take a dip in the heated pool, and watch the clock roll toward midnight at one of our luxurious Lake Havasu vacation rentals. With your own private pool, spa, outdoor living space, and fully equipped kitchen, you don't need to go anywhere to have a memorable New Year's Eve in Lake Havasu.
Note: If you're planning to use fireworks, keep in mind that Lake Havasu City allows permissible consumer fireworks from December 24 through January 3, unless a fire restriction is in effect. Fireworks cannot be used on public property, and local regulations apply.
Set the tone for 2027
We love setting the tone for the whole year by doing something intentional on New Year’s Day. If health and wellness are your focus this coming year, you can take a desert hike, run or bike the Island Trail, or make a spa appointment and let the stresses of 2026 melt away on your January 1st visit. We love Rev Fitness for a morning spin class workout—and don’t forget to fuel your body with a delicious breakfast one of our favorite breakfast spots in Lake Havasu!
If you want to kick of 2027 with a bit of adventure, Lake Havasu offers fishing, wakesurfing, boating, ATV off-roading, and countless other ways to get your adrenaline pumping. The area also offers some excellent golf courses but you should book now if you’re planning to play a round on the 1st of the year.
Our fully equipped kitchens in our Lake Havasu vacation rentals make a big New Year’s dinner a breeze for any group size, and our properties have pools, hot tubs, indoor-0utdoor dining and lounge spaces—not to mention mini-putt and pickleball courts in some homes.
Plan Your Holiday Getaway NOW
From the first twinkly lights to the final countdown on New Year's Eve, Lake Havasu offers plenty of reasons to plan a stay through the holiday season.
And at one of our welcoming vacation rentals as your home base, you can enjoy all of it on your own schedule. Gather around the kitchen for a holiday meal, relax in the spa after a night out, watch the Parade of Lights from the waterfront, or simply enjoy a few days of sunshine and desert scenery with the people you love most.
Ready to spend the holidays in Lake Havasu? Browse our collection of Lake Havasu luxury vacation rentals and start planning your holiday getaway today.
