Photographers and visitors flock to Besh Ba Gowah to view luminarias on Dec. 18th

Don’t miss Globe’s most famously festive holiday event: the one-night-only Festival of Lights when more than 1,000 luminarias light the walls of the rebuilt Besh Ba Gowah pueblo archaeological park in the city of Globe. Admission is free (donations always welcome, though); events start at sunset with a charming evening of breathtaking beauty, live music, hot cider and coffee. Nocturnal luminarias offer a fine finish for a day-trip to Globe where you can browse antique stores and a variety of unique, locally-owned shops.

Local dining options? Globe and Miami boast no less than 12 Mexican restaurants, famous enough that valley residents are known to drive up just for the carne asada and famous salsas. Each year this event lures dozens of skilled photographers, too: search the web using keywords “photos of besh ba gowah luminarias” to see how Joanne West, Dave Langdon, Trish Van Housen, Kenneth Chan and others have captured the scene. It’s a rare opportunity to get night shots of the restored thousand-year-old pueblo, illuminated by the flickering light of ‘farolitos’.

Here’s a tip from photographers who’ve been there: if you’re interested only  in photography, arrive around 7 pm once the evening entertainment has ended, crowds begin to disperse, and candlelight still flickers along the walls. Be there earlier for the haunting music of cedar flute echoing in the pueblo.

Volunteers are welcome; arrive at 3-4pm if you’d like to spend an hour or two helping place and light 1,000 candle-bags atop the walls. Where is Besh Ba Gowah? Set your GPS for 1324 South Jesse Hayes Road, Globe, AZ, 85501 (and if you get lost, call Besh staff and volunteers at (928)425-0320. 

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