Folks, let me set the scene. It’s late December 2026, the eggnog is flowing, my Xbox Series X is humming like a sleighful of reindeer, and I'm deep into Forza Horizon 5’s seasonal playlist. I’m not just some casual gearhead—I’m the kind of driver who can drift a hypercar around a cactus blindfolded. But nothing, and I mean nothing, prepared me for the odyssey that was the Holiday Spirit photo challenge. Holy guacamole, where do I even start?
](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Forza-Horizon-5-Where-to-Find-Giant-Christmas-Tree.jpg?&fit=crop&w=1600&h=900))
The playlist screen is blinking at me with promises of a Sleigh Bells Car Horn and two crucial Season Points—those precious little digital nuggets that inch me closer to the legendary Gingerbread outfit (a whopping 120 points required, like climbing Everest in a onesie). The mission? Find the Giant Christmas Tree in Guanajuato, hop into my 2002 Mazda RX-7 Spirit R Type A, and snap a photo. Sounds like a piece of cake, right? Wrong. It turned into a full-blown holiday hustle.
I spawned at the El Estadio Horizon Stadium, that monstrous bowl of burned rubber, and punched the gas northwards. The GPS kept trying to route me through some dirt race, but I was all “Nah, bro, I’m on a mission from Santa.” Guanajuato is that gorgeous hill town sitting middle-north on the map, just above the stadium. I swear I circled the town three times like a reindeer with vertigo. The giant tree, they said, is left of the Cathedral Circuit Road Race marker—a blue flag icon smack-dab in the center. I had flashbacks to last year’s snowman hunt where I missed one and wept real tears. Not today, Satan!
](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Where-to-Find-Giant-Christmas-Tree-in-Forza-Horizon-5.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1.5))
I finally spotted that colossal fir piercing the skyline like a beacon of festive chaos, its ornaments glinting under the Mexican sun. Suddenly, my heart sank faster than a stone in a lake—I was in the wrong car! I’d been cruising in a 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, which is a beast, but the challenge screams MAZDA or bust. Quick-thinking mode activated: I opened the menu, hit the Autoshow, and sorted by manufacturer like some spreadsheet wizard. Mazda… Mazda… there! The RX-7 Spirit R Type A. 30,000 Credits. Thirty. Thousand. That’s basically spare change, the equivalent of finding a quarter in your couch cushions. I bought it on the spot without even haggling. The rotary engine purred like a kitten drenched in eggnog, and I swear the candy-cane stripes on the road seemed to applaud my purchase.
Then came the photo-op. I parked beside the Giant Christmas Tree, framed the shot with my driver avatar popping a cheesy grin, and mashed the photo button. The game registered it instantly—ding! The Sleigh Bells Car Horn was mine. I equipped it from the Cars tab so fast my controller nearly overheated. Now, whenever I honk, it’s not just a sound—it’s a declaration of dominance, a jingle-bell war cry that terrifies bots and delights my online convoy. But wait, there’s more! Those two Season Points slid into my pocket like silk. My Gingerbread outfit dreams were suddenly 1.67% closer to reality. I may have screamed “YASSS, QUEEN!” to my cat.
](https://static0.gamerantimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Forza-Horizon-5-Holiday-Spirit-Photo-Challenge-Series-2-Autumn.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=1.5))
But my holiday grind didn’t end there—oh no, that’s just the tip of the candy cane. I dove headfirst into the “Mazda of All Trades” Accolade, which required smashing 25 Snowmen, 25 Candy Canes, and 25 Holiday Trees while piloting any Mazda. Suddenly, every pine tree and snowperson became a target. I drove through Mulege, the winter wonderland hub, like a caffeinated yeti on a rampage. The Holiday Market there is pure magic—twinkling lights, presents to smash, and gifts that sometimes grant you a whole car! If your smashing progress gets stuck, switching to Solo Mode fixes it faster than you can say “festive glitch.” I scored the Silent Night Music Box Car Horn and now my Mazda sounds like a lullaby on wheels. Combine that with the Sleigh Bells, and I’m basically a mobile holiday playlist.
Completing the “Carol of the Bel Airs” championship won me an ugly Holiday Sweater that I wear unironically, and the “Drivin’ Home for Xmas” championship unlocked a “Merry Christmas!” Forza Link phrase that I spam before overtaking opponents. The whole Series 2 is a masterclass in FOMO, and I am its most willing student.
Looking back, the Giant Christmas Tree challenge was less about navigation and more about patience, a sprinkle of madness, and the willingness to drop 30k Credits without hesitation. Whoever designed this event deserves a raise and a cookie. If you’re jumping into Forza Horizon 5 this season (which you absolutely should, even in 2026 because the game’s community is still lit AF), my advice: grab that Mazda, find the blue flag, and snap away. The Sleigh Bells horn isn't just a reward—it’s a status symbol, a ringtone for your roaring engine, and the ultimate flex. Happy holidays, my fellow speed demons, and may your drifts be ever jolly!