Schnepf Farms is gearing up to transform its Queen Creek grounds into a holiday wonderland, with Christmas at Schnepf Farms listed to open on Friday, November 27, 2026, according to the event's own ticketing page. The farm at 24810 S. Rittenhouse Road is once again offering the kind of lineup that's made it a go-to holiday stop in the East Valley, from ice skating to visits with Santa.
Tickets, Timing and What's New
Admission prices vary depending on the date and time selected, according to schnepfchristmas.com, and season passes cover unlimited visits to the event. Kids ages 2 and under get in free, the official site notes, and military, police or firefighter members can grab a $15 discounted ticket, though that one has to be purchased on-site rather than online. Tickets are sold through schnepfchristmas.com, which also handles the event's official ticketing page listing the November 27 date.
One of the season's new additions is Cookies & Carolers, a cookie-decorating and live-music experience set on the farm's bakery patio, according to the WINK News report on the farm's holiday plans. Each seat includes a cookie-decorating kit and Ghirardelli hot chocolate with whipped cream and toppings, per that same report, and the experience runs Friday and Saturday evenings at 5 p.m. for ten nights. Pricing is $24 per child seat or $55 for a family table seating up to four guests, and it can be booked on its own or tacked onto a general admission visit — though reservations are required since seating is limited.
Returning Favorites and New Animal Encounters
The farm's organizer, Callie Rezzonico, described the new offering as intended to become a holiday tradition, saying Cookies & Carolers is a cozy experience intended to bring families back year after year, per the WINK News piece. Alongside the new cookie night, Christmas at Schnepf Farms is also adding baby Highland cow encounters, including 10-minute cuddle sessions, though availability for those is limited. The farm is also offering one 20-minute bottle-feeding opportunity each evening, the report notes.
Beyond the new attractions, the event keeps its familiar roster of holiday staples. The official site lists ice skating, a Sleigh Bell Slide, Christmas movies and bonfires among the things to do at the farm, and parking is free. Returning favorites also include Santa visits, the World of Illumination Express train, an obstacle course, reindeer-feeding hayrides, bonfires with s'mores, a beer and wine garden with live music, and holiday shopping, according to the same WINK News report. The illumination train in particular features lights synchronized to holiday music, per that report.
Planning a Visit
For families mapping out a trip, it's worth knowing the event's rain-or-shine policy: Schnepf Farms may delay, reschedule or cancel activities during severe weather for safety reasons, according to the terms posted on the event's ticket page. That same page states all ticket sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges unless Schnepf Farms cancels the event entirely.
Other holiday happenings around the Valley have followed similar formats in past seasons. A past edition of the festival was described by the Queen Creek Tribune as a 30-acre park with 50 holiday-themed attractions, including a Christmas carousel, a reindeer-feeding hayride, a petting zoo and ice skating. A review from East Valley Mom has also described the event's holiday festivities as centered along Santa Claus Lane, calling the area stroller-friendly for families pushing little ones through the grounds.
