Photo Credit: Amanda Baillie
Cochise County has year-round attractions!
Cochise County has pleasant weather all year, a wide variety of activities and wide open spaces, and offers something for everyone from the solo traveler to families and groups.
Visit Cochise County in the Wintertime and explore attractions such as festivals, Santa, mural walk, arts and culture, birding, and hiking.
WINTER FESTIVALS
Looking for some fun activities to get you out of the house during the holiday season? Or maybe ways to entertain the kids during winter break? Here are a few community festivals that will help put the “win” in your winter excursion to Cochise County.
BENSON
Christmas OFF Main Street (Benson) – Family Fun, Entertainment and Vendors. Benson’s premier Christmas event where there is something for everyone. Lots of activities for the kids, non-stop music, Santa, vendors vendors (items like arts and crafts, jewelry, jams/jellies, and more), and delicious food.
BISBEE
Festival of Lights and Small Town Holiday (Bisbee) – An event to provide you and your family with hours of entertainment and opportunities to support Bisbee artisans and small businesses. Craft an ornament for your tree, vote on your favorite shop window, and enjoy entertainers much of the evening.
DOUGLAS
Douglas On Ice (Douglas) – This is an event you don’t want to miss! Come meet Santa and ice skate Downtown. Enjoy games, food vendors, craft vendors, movies, and more! This is a free and fun event for all ages.
SIERRA VISTA
Lighting of the Christmas Tree Festival (Sierra Vista) – The festival includes a holiday-themed obstacle course, games, snow, and a skating rink! It will be a magical time for children of all ages as you enjoy holiday entertainment courtesy of the Sierra Vista Community Band, with a special appearance by Santa Claus himself immediately following the tree lighting. Come out for a not so silent night – packed with fun and delight!
BIRDING
Southern Arizona has some of the best bird watching in the world. People come from all over to see many rare species found in few other places. With some of the most diverse landscape in Arizona, Cochise County is home to more than 400 species of birds. It is no surprise the American Birding Association has called it the “Birdiest Inland County in the United States.”
Wings Over Willcox – The Wings over Willcox festival is held over Martin Luther King, Jr Weekend. It is a wonderful opportunity to see the winter migrants and southwest bird species that are found in the Sulphur Springs Valley. The festival provides many opportunities to explore nature in Southeast Arizona through tours for photography, geology, archeology, history, botany, agriculture, and ranching. A nature expo in the Willcox community center has educational booths, live animal displays, and a wide variety of vendors with nature-related crafts and wares. Free seminars about many different topics are offered throughout the day in the community center.
SANTAS IN THE PARK
There is much “Claus” for celebration when the Old World Santas return to Veterans Memorial Park in Sierra Vista from December 1st through December 31st.
The hand-painted Old World Santas first debuted in 2006 and became a hallmark of the holiday season. In 2019, the Santas were reproduced on long-lasting material thanks to generous community support from the City’s Save the Santas campaign. Today, you can enjoy 51 Old World Santas hard at work: painting and hauling toys, baking cookies, pushing sleighs and tending to children or animals.
Each year two of the Santas will be reproduced as ornaments, and you can take home your very own reminder of this awesome exhibit, or send them to family and friends!
HIKING
Adventure into the beautiful scenery of Cochise County’s wide-open spaces on a hiking trail or two. Discover the wonder of southeastern Arizona along mountain trails or scenic waterways. Trails offer enough versatility for novice to advanced hikers, so there is no need to be an elite athlete. Come prepared with sunscreen, water, and hat. Lace up your boots and head out for some great hiking.
CARR HOUSE
Carr Canyon Nature Trail in the Huachuca Mountains is a popular trail. Less than two miles in length, the trail offers numerous benches for hikers who want to rest or enjoy the local wildlife. Visitors who venture to this well-liked canyon can stop by the Carr House Information Center for suggestions on area hikes.
CHIRICAHUA MONUMENT
Known as the “wonderland of rocks,” the terrain of the Chiricahua National Monument includes Big Balanced Rock and other soaring geologic formations. These rock pinnacles, many of which are balanced on small bases, can rise hundreds of feet into the air. Visitors can choose from 14 trails, between easy and strenuous.
COCHISE STRONGHOLD
This rugged natural fortress was home base for Chiricahua Apache leader, Cochise. Among its many hiking paths is the popular Stronghold Nature Trail. The easy trail is just under a mile long. Cochise Stronghold is located in the Coronado National Forest; day-use or camping fees may apply.
CORONADO MEMORIAL
Visitors can choose from several trails at the Coronado National Memorial. Coronado Peak Trail is an easy hike of less than half a mile. Joe’s Canyon Trail is a more moderate three-mile hike, while the more strenuous Crest Trail is more than five miles.
FORT BOWIE
Hiking the 1.5 miles into Fort Bowie National Historic Site, visitors can view interpretive exhibits about the Apache Wars of the late 1800s. This former military outpost is reached by a trail that meanders past the ruins of Butterfield Stage Station, the old Chiricahua Apache agency, a cemetery, and Apache Springs before arriving at the old adobe fort. Benches and rest areas make the 3-mile round-trip easy for novice hikers.
SAN PEDRO
The nationally-known birding destination, San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, is also a hiking hotspot. Trails include the San Pedro House Interpretive Loop, an easy 1.5-mile route taking hikers past ponds, historical attractions, and animal habitats. The San Pedro River Trail Complex is a long-distance trail of nearly 30 miles; trail information is available at the San Pedro House.
MURAL WALK
In June 2013, Benson Clean and Beautiful, Inc. was revitalized with the idea of creating outdoor murals that would celebrate the history and culture of Cochise County and of Benson.
Several popular murals were already painted. The most famous was on the Horseshoe Café – which has now been restored to its original splendor – and series of murals were painted on wall panels close to the Benson Visitor Center. During the first year of activity more than a dozen new murals were added.
Today, there are 42 murals throughout the town (and eight more planned), from Kachinas to cowboys, cattle drives to vintage cars, bears, cats, and dogs, to many of the people who helped make Benson and Cochise County what they are today.
ARTS & CULTURE DISTRICT
To truly escape the mundane schedule of everyday life, one should experience something new, strange, and spectacular. This exact reason is why so many people find themselves in Bisbee, and why so many more choose to stay.
The town of Bisbee is known as a progressive and free-spirited town. The arts and culture in the area are what make Bisbee such an amazing place to be.
There are murals on different corners, colorful houses, and a collective of local artists within the town. In order to further promote this innovative spirit of Bisbee, the town has been registered as an Arts and Cultural District. This classification not only enhances the appreciation for the arts in the area, but it also accepts the art, culture, and heritage as vital to the town’s character.
RESOURCES
Looking for more seasonal information? Check out the resources below.
| 1 | Visit Cochise County in the Springtime and explore attractions such as golfing, stargazing, climbing, hiking, wine tasting, and wildflowers. | Visit |
| 2 | Visit Cochise County in the Summertime and explore attractions such as caverns, mines, mountain biking, birding, museums, and water recreation. | Visit |
| 3 | Visit Cochise County in the Fall and explore attractions such as festivals, western lifestyle, wine tasting, farms and produce, cycling, and leaf peeping. | Visit |
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