Utah offers a variety of festive activities for those visiting the state during the holiday season, according to a September 29 report by Visit Utah. The report highlights seasonal options ranging from light displays to holiday-themed performances and dining experiences.
Holiday light displays are available across the state. Thanksgiving Point in Lehi features Luminaria, which includes millions of lights and themed displays across 50 acres of Ashton Gardens along with an eight-minute Fire & Ice show. In Salt Lake City, visitors can visit the Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary, ZooLights at Hogle Zoo, or drive through Christmas in Color in South Jordan and World of Illumination. The Temple Square Christmas Lights are an annual tradition that typically begins the day after Thanksgiving and runs until January 1, though access to the Salt Lake Temple will be limited during the 2025 season due to ongoing renovations. In Ogden, the city hosts a free Christmas village display in the Municipal Gardens, while the Cache Valley Straw Maze in Richmond offers a Christmas light maze and horse-drawn wagon rides.
Seasonal ice skating and sleigh rides are also available. The Gallivan Center Ice Rink in downtown Salt Lake City is open from mid-November through February and features the free annual GLOW art installation. Other skating locations include Midway, Millcreek, Logan, Brian Head, and Ruby’s Inn near Bryce Canyon National Park. Millcreek Commons ice ribbon is scheduled to open on November 14 alongside a Utah's Own public market pop-up. For sleigh rides, Rocky Mountain Outfitters guides riders through a light show at Wasatch Mountain State Park in Midway. Other options include Broken Arrow Sleigh Rides at Deer Valley Resort, Snowed Inn Sleigh Company at Park City Mountain Resort, and Thurston Farms in Morgan, which features Clydesdale-led rides.
The holiday season also includes various performances and dining. Ballet West will perform The Nutcracker at the Capitol Theatre from November 28 to December 27, 2025. The Egyptian Theatre in Park City will host a Holiday Spectacular & Sing-a-long from December 12 to 21, 2025. In the south, Tuacahn Amphitheatre near St. George will host Elf The Musical and the Christmas in the Canyon event. For dining, Flanker Kitchen & Sporting Club in Salt Lake City hosts holiday pop-up bars, while Homestead Resort and Zermatt Resort offer breakfast with Santa through December. Taste 117 in Provo provides holiday chocolate and tea tastings.
Utah's winter season is characterized by its access to the mountains, and many ski resorts host torchlight parades and fireworks to ring in the new year.
