Ice Skating and A Million Lagoon Lights Turn Fairmont Scottsdale into a Winter Wonderland At 'Christmas at the Princess'

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Dec. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrating the splendor of the season, it's the most wonderful time of the year at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess during the annual "Christmas at the Princess" festival now through January 6, 2013. Magical and enchanting, this AAA Five Diamond resort transforms into a winter wonderland in the desert with the all-new Desert Ice Skating Rink, Lagoon Lights and Princess Express Train, carolers, visits from Santa and a four-story musical Christmas tree. Other holiday activities include carolers, marshmallow roasts, lighting of the menorah, special holiday menus, seasonal cocktails and crafts for the kids.

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With more than a million lights illuminating the resort's majestic lagoons, visitors can stroll through a lit fantasy land to see graceful swans floating on the water, a buccaneer pirate ship, poinsettias, a rocking horse, toy soldiers, Santa fishing, a candy cane forest and many other whimsical displays. Throughout the resort, 75 trees are wrapped in lights, many draped with icicles and snowflakes, along with a 10-foot lighted menorah and dreidels, the Three Wise Men and a skating polar bear. Making it even more festive is hitching a ride on the WMPO Princess Express, which offers complimentary rides on Friday and Saturday nights around the lagoons to spectators of all ages.

The Desert Ice, a 5,400 square-foot ice skating rink built within a scenic cactus garden, is made with real ice and a portion of the proceeds from skating benefit Phoenix Children's Hospital. The resort is also a drop-off location for unwrapped gifts for Toys for Tots.