Winterhaven Festival of Lights by Party Bike – Sunday 12/21/2025

Winterhaven Festival of Lights by Party Bike – Sunday 12/21/2025

Trip Cost $38

NOTE -- IMPORTANT CHANGES:

Be sure to have your GVR card with you for each and every field trip. Without it, you won't be allowed to go on the trip. No refunds will be granted for failure to comply with this requirement.  To protect GVR and club member benefits, GVR has implemented a new process that requires each field trip participant to come into the club and scan his/her GVR card to confirm eligibility. We no longer have the option of typing in your name or GVR number – only the physical GVR card will do.

We will no longer meet in the parking lot. We will meet in the GVR Photography Club where you will scan your GVR card confirming your eligibility to go on the trip. We’ll also review important/late-breaking information, pair up drivers and riders, provide driving directions, and give participants a chance to visit the restrooms prior to departure. Again, be sure to have your GVR card with you.

Since 1949 the Winterhaven Festival of Lights has grown to become a Tucson Tradition - one of the longest running festivals of its kind in the country. The Festival of Lights celebrates the holiday season in Tucson and is visited by hundreds of thousands of people from all over southern Arizona. In the past, one day was set aside to allow people to drive through the neighborhood, but there are no drive-through dates this year. Your choices are limited. You can walk or you can take a trolley tour.

Or better yet, you can take a pedal-powered group bike - the “funnest” way to experience the amazing Winterhaven Festival of Lights! We’ll pedal a 14-passenger party bike on a 45-minute Winterhaven ride and enjoy the festival’s sights while our captain steers. LED lights and pop Christmas music will provide a great ambiance for the ride. The captain will make one to two stops inside the festival so we can get a closer look at the displays and take photos. And yes, you do have to pedal but the bike has a pedal-assist motor so it’s easier than it looks. Check out a short video about the Winterhaven Festival and the Arizona Party Bike here.

Additional information about the Winterhaven Festival of Lights is available here.

We’ll meet at the Photography Club at 2:30 PM for carpooling, departure at 3:00 PM. Dress warmly and wear comfortable close-toed shoes. Please wear your GVR Photography Club or Camera Club badge if you have one. For those carpooling, $5.00 is an appropriate contribution to the driver.

Prior to the tour, participants are invited to an optional no-host dinner at Shooters, located at 3115 East Prince Road in Tucson. Arizona Party Bikes will pick us up at Shooters. Details will be provided once the reservation is confirmed.

Tom Parker will be the trip leader. For questions call Tom at 618 304-1456 or email at tparker324@aol.com. He will be disseminating more information to registered participants via e-mail as we get closer to the event.

GVR requires that every person participating in club's field trips must sign a waiver absolving GVR of any liability.  You will be required to sign the waiver at the Photography club before the trip departs. 

If you need to cancel, please contact the Field Trip Co-Chair Lynn Rozema at 719-351-5193 or email lrozema51@gmail.com.  We may have people on the wait list to take your place.  On the morning of the trip, please call Tom and Lynn as soon as you know you cannot make the trip.

NOTICE:

All participants need to be responsible for an assessment of their mobility and health issues relating to field trips. Some trips may not be appropriate, but you must make that determination. However, the trip leader may deny participation in a specific field trip to anyone deemed not suitably prepared or able to walk with the group.

The club strives to provide several field trips specifically designed for members with physical limitations. 

In order to participate in this event, you must be a member of the GVR Photography Club and GVR.