The 19th Annual Red Rock Fantasy promises to dazzle Sedona vacationers with the man-made marvel adding magical sparkle to the area’s natural beauty with more than a million lights. The lighting ceremony is Thursday, Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. and the festival will run through Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010.

Visitors to Sedona can view 23 bright spots participating in the Red Rock Fantasy festival and vote for their favorite. All displays are at the Los Abrigados Resort & Spa. The electrifying holiday displays were each created by families from the Southwest.

Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, children 4 through 12 are $2 and children under 4 are free. Every evening, when Mother Nature is cooperative, visitors can enjoy the festive display. Sunday through Thursday the display is 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, it’s open 5 to 10 p.m. Wear walking comfortable walking shoes, it takes about an hour to walk the entire display.

Befitting of the season, Red Rock Fantasy benefits local charities and dozens of families. Proceeds are given to such organizations as Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona, Institute of EcoTourism and Verde Valley Sanctuary.

So where are you spending the holidays? Checkout Resort Rentals to book a fabulous Sedona vacation. More information about Red Rock Fantasy can be found on the festival’s Web site.

Photo: Courtesy of Sedona Chamber of Commerce

Hey, foodies! Yes, we’re talking to you. The hottest thing about Arizona this June isn’t the pavement but the inaugural Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest. The 16-day culinary event is guaranteed to be a party for the taste buds as well as the wallet.

Here’s the scoop, a variety of Sedona restaurants are offering three-course, prix-fixe dinner menus beginning Monday, June 15 through Tuesday, June 30, 2009. Diners will be able to select an appetizer, entree and dessert. There are three different price points fitting every foodie’s dining budget.

The Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest Web site lists all the participating restaurants but here are our picks from each price point:

Modest Dining $19.95
Dine like a Sedona local at the hopping Blue Moon Café with cooked-to-order entrees and portions mama used to serve. Dining options are outdoors on the patio (where Fido’s welcomed) and inside.

Classic Dining $29.95
Okay, we admit the name of this Sedona restaurant piqued our interest and although it’s a favorite with tourists, the Southwestern cuisine on the menu is worth the trip. We’re talking about the Barking Frog Grill which proclaims to be “An American restaurant with a Southwest bark!” Don’t worry, you won’t find any dishes made with amphibian frogs on the menu.

Elegant Dining $39.95
Planning a date night during the Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest? Reserve a table at Cucina Rustica for the romantic atmosphere, magical musicians and Continental cuisine. Enjoy an adult beverage before or after dinner on the outdoor patio to take in a perfect Sedona evening.

Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest is coordinated by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce. Ready to book your Sedona vacation? Check out the best accommodation rates available June 15 – 30, 2009. Importantly, don’t forget to tip your server!

Photo Courtesy: Sedona Chamber of Commerce

The kidlets will be out of school soon and time to start planning that family summer vacation. Consider a Sedona vacation and plan the trip around one of these hot summer festivals:

Festival of Native American Culture, June 5 – 13, 2009: The weeklong celebration is an opportunity to learn more about the indigenous people of the Southwest. A film festival, fine arts and crafts festival, music and dance festival, and educational programs round out the event. New this year is the Conference on Archaeoastronomy of the American Southwest. For those unfamiliar with Archaeoastronomy, it’s basically the study of how people of the past understood the sky and the role the sky had influencing their cultures.

Red Rocks Music Festival, August 30 – September 6, 2009: Enjoy world-class sounds including classical, smooth jazz and show tune favorites. Tickets begin at $25 each and that’s pretty cheap for topnotch entertainment.

Moonlight Madness Street Festival, September 5 – 7, 2009: Nothing says “goodbye summer” and “hello fall” like a good old sidewalk sale. This festival combines the best of free music and entertainment with children’s activities and fabulous sidewalk sales along Hwy. 89A and Hwy. 170. Be sure to bring an empty suitcase to bring home all your new treasures.

Ready to go? Book your summer Sedona vacation now.

Photo Credit: ©Janise Witt