The Biltmore's holiday season this year begins at two event spaces off Camelback Road that hadn't held a holiday event before. On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Esplanade sets up a long family-style dinner table on its renovated plaza. On Wednesday, Nov. 18, Biltmore Fashion Park holds a tree lighting on its newly rebuilt Center Lawn. Both are first-year events, and both happen before the Arizona Biltmore resort, which has defined holiday traditions here for nearly a century, starts its own calendar on Nov. 27.
The timing traces back to construction. In recent years, both properties at 24th Street and Camelback rebuilt their outdoor space. The Esplanade added shaded outdoor gathering areas, and Biltmore Fashion Park reworked its Center Lawn to host more events. This season is the first time both are using that space for the holidays.
The Esplanade Sets a Table on Its Plaza
The first Esplanade Community Table turns the plaza at 2501 E. Camelback Road into what organizers call Phoenix's largest communal dining table. More than 150 guests will sit down to a family-style meal, and all proceeds go to St. Mary's Food Bank.
Three James Beard-nominated chefs are writing a four-course menu just for the night. Roberto Centeno owns Espíritu. Armando Hernandez and Nadia Holguin are the team behind Tacos Chiwas and Cocina Chiwas. All three are also partners in Main Burger. Four Esplanade restaurants each pair a cocktail with one course: FLINT by Baltaire, Camello, The Mercer and Hearsay. Around the table, the plaza will have live-fire cooking, handmade tortillas, floral installations and live entertainment.
AZ Big Media reported that sponsors, including Shamrock Foods Company, JLL, CBRE and Prologis, have already raised $50,000 for the event. St. Mary's says it turns each $1 donated into five meals, so that comes to more than 250,000 meals. Tickets were listed at $500 per person through the Esplanade Community Table website.
A representative of the Esplanade's ownership explained to AZ Big Media why the dinner is outdoors:
"The Esplanade has always been a place where Phoenix's business community comes together and now with a renewed focus on creating exciting experiences with our food and beverage partners on the ground plane, we wanted to launch something that brings people to the table for a cause we all share." Robert Marino, Esplanade Ownership, speaking to AZ Big Media
"Ground plane" means the plaza level, and the renovation is what put it to use. AZ Big Media puts the ownership's investment at $60 million. When the work was finished, InBusinessPHX reported a $45 million renovation in its January 2025 coverage. Whichever number is right, the project added landscaping, shaded outdoor gathering space and a 16,000-square-foot, two-story amenity building. Hearsay fills the ground floor with a vinyl listening room and private dining. The restaurants followed. The Little Pickle reopened at the Esplanade on May 19, 2025, and Camello opened on Feb. 2, 2026. A plaza with restaurants on every side is a place you can hold a dinner for 150 people.
Next Door, a Lawn Rebuilt for Crowds
The Esplanade connects directly to Biltmore Fashion Park, which spent this fall on its own outdoor rebuild. In October, RED Development finished landscape work on the Center Lawn. Walkways are wider, the turf is new, there is more greenery, and the open lawn now has more room for events. InBusinessPHX reported that the work was meant to increase the property's capacity for year-round programming by tenants and community partners. About 4,000 square feet of the old turf went to Vista College Prep's Hadley Campus to replace a worn-out play area.
The lawn's October schedule tested that capacity. Sweat & Reset ran 9 a.m. fitness classes every Sunday with [solidcore], lululemon and Life Time. Paint & Sip: The Fashion Edit drew an evening crowd on Oct. 22. The first holiday event comes next.
On Nov. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m., the Arizona Wishmakers Council and Make-A-Wish Arizona hold the Trees of Joy tree lighting on the Center Lawn. It is the council's first tree lighting at Biltmore Fashion Park. Each tree is designed around a local wish kid. Tickets include bites from Fox Restaurant Concepts, cookies from Mrs. Claus, Santa photos and hot cocoa. In September, the Biltmore Area Partnership listed early-bird tickets at $100 for adults and $20 for children.
The trees stay up after the lighting. Make-A-Wish Arizona describes Trees of Joy as a six-week program, with the decorated trees displayed around Biltmore Fashion Park from mid-November through the end of the year. You don't need a ticket to see them on any errand run in December.
New Tenants Around the Lawn
Anyone coming for the tree lighting will find tenants that weren't there a month ago. Vuori opened Oct. 16 in a 3,952-square-foot space next to Citrine. La La Land Kind Cafe, the Dallas-founded coffee and matcha concept, held its grand opening at Biltmore Fashion Park on Oct. 31 in a 1,261-square-foot space. PAIGE has signed a lease near Alo, with an opening set for spring 2027.
Fà-me Cafe, the long-running brunch spot on Central Avenue, has announced a move to 2375 E. Camelback Road, Suite 115, in the 24th at Camelback complex. Phoenix New Times reported in June that the move was planned for fall 2026, with a patio, more space, and dinner service planned for 2027. Check the restaurant's own channels for an opening day before planning a holiday brunch there.
Where the Resort Picks Up
The Arizona Biltmore, at 2400 E. Missouri Ave., starts its season the day after Thanksgiving. Its calendar is built around afternoon teas and family classes, a different format from the outdoor evening events next door.
The Nutcracker Tea pairs afternoon tea with family-friendly performances inspired by The Arizona Nutcracker, presented with The Madison Center for the Arts. The Teddy Bear Tea is a December afternoon tea that also raises money for a cause. Two weekly music nights continue through the season: Jazz Nights at Wrigley Mansion on Thursdays at 7 p.m. and live music at the Wright Bar on Friday nights.
The Biltmore Area Partnership holds its holiday celebration at the resort on Tuesday, Dec. 8, from 4 to 6 p.m., with tickets listed at $50 to $55.
Here is the full season in order, from the plaza to the ballroom:
| Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sat., Nov. 7 | Esplanade Community Table | Esplanade plaza, 2501 E. Camelback Rd. |
| Wed., Nov. 18, 6–8 p.m. | Trees of Joy tree lighting | Biltmore Fashion Park Center Lawn |
| Mid-November through year-end | Trees of Joy display | Throughout Biltmore Fashion Park |
| Fridays and Saturdays from Nov. 27 | Sparkle & Stroll: Sip & Shop | Arizona Biltmore |
| Nov. 28; Dec. 5, 12, 19 | Gingerbread decorating classes | Arizona Biltmore |
| From Nov. 28 | Letters to Santa | Arizona Biltmore |
| Sun., Nov. 29 and Dec. 13 | Nutcracker Tea | Arizona Biltmore |
| Sun., Dec. 6 and Dec. 20 | Teddy Bear Tea | Arizona Biltmore |
| Tue., Dec. 8, 4–6 p.m. | BAP Holiday Celebration | Arizona Biltmore |
| Dec. 24–25 | Christmas dinner to go, pickup | Arizona Biltmore |
| Thu., Dec. 31 | New Year's Eve at Spire Bar, 21+, or in the Grand Ballroom | Arizona Biltmore |
As of late October, the resort listed details for the gingerbread classes and the New Year's Eve event as coming soon. Reservations for both open through Arizona Biltmore's holidays page. Christmas dinner to go is open for preorder now, with pickup on Dec. 24 and 25.
From the Esplanade plaza to the Wright Bar is a short drive, and the trees on the Center Lawn will stay up through New Year's Eve.
Gregory Hidder + TEAM has spent decades working around 24th Street and Camelback and keeps close track of how the area's gathering places change. If you are weighing a home within walking distance of the Esplanade and Biltmore Fashion Park this season, or would like a quiet conversation about the area, we would be glad to arrange a private consultation.
