Everyone has Christmas traditions – those activities that you just have to do every year, or it doesn’t feel like Christmas in Utah. Some of those traditions are uniquely Utah. Check out these enchanting things that Utahns do every year and see how many your family has on its list. How many of the best Christmas activities in Utah have you done? Which ones will you do this year? Let us know!

1. Go ice skating at Gallivan Center.

239 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, USA
Kathylc63/TripAdvisor
The rink at Gallivan Center opens on November 16th. Skate Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon; Friday and Saturday from noon to midnight; Sunday from 10 a.m. to noon., or from noon to 2 p.m. for groups up to 200. You can also get some tasty snacks and warm cocoa at the concessions. Visit Gallivan Center’s website for more information.

2. Stroll the streets of London (in St. George and Salt Lake) at the Dickens Christmas Festival.

1835 S Convention Center Dr, St. George, UT 84790, USA
9575 S State St, Sandy, UT 84070, USA
Dickens Christmas Festival/Facebook
It wouldn't be Christmas without the Dickens Christmas Festival. The St. George festival runs from the end of November through early December and is held at Dixie Convention Center. The Salt Lake festival runs next, typically for two days only, and is held at the Sandy Expo Center. This amazing traditional winter festival in UT is a can't miss.

3. Walk through a Christmas Tree forest at the Festival of Trees.

9575 S State St, Sandy, UT 84070, USA
Festival of Trees Utah/Facebook
The Festival of Trees has been a Utah tradition since 1970, and every penny raised goes directly to Primary Children's Hospital. This year's festival starts on November 29th and runs through December 2nd. Wander through the forests of Christmas trees, displays of wreaths, gingerbread houses, homemade crafts and candy from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 2-11, and $7 for seniors. It's held at the South Towne Expo Center. When it comes to Christmas activities in Utah, this is one of the best.

4. Eat some delicious funeral potatoes.

Flickr/Jeremy Jenum

5. Be enchanted at Temple Square.

Flickr/a4gpa
The lights at Temple Square are a holiday tradition and the perfect outing for the whole family. Gaze in wonder at nearly one million lights strung throughout Temple Square.

6. Visit Christmas Village in Ogden.

Ogden, UT, USA
Flickr/Christopher Eugene Lee
The festivities in Ogden never fail to disappoint. Line up along Washington Blvd. from 22nd Street to 26th Street for the Electric Light Parade. Santa rides on the last float, then he hops off and pushes the switch to turn Ogden's Christmas lights on.

7. Get wild at Zoo Lights.

Flickr/Suzzane Gieles
What's better than Christmas lights? Christmas lights at the zoo! The annual Zoo Lights runs in 2023 from late November through December. Lights go on at 5:30 p.m. Wander through the grounds and see over 200 lighted displays, and pick up some hologram glasses to go through the lighted tunnel. You'll find different family-friendly activities every night. Visit the Zoo Lights website for more information.

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8. See "A Christmas Carol" at Hale Center Theatre in Orem.

Hale Center Theater Orem, 225 400 N, Orem, UT 84057, USA
Hale Center Theatre Orem/Facebook
The musical runs November 24th through December 28th. Purchase tickets in advance for this Utah holiday tradition on the official website.

9. Participate in a $5 gift exchange.

Kari Bluff/flickr
If you have a large extended family (and odds are good that you do), then you might be familiar with the Utah $5 Gift Exchange. Since you can't possibly buy every aunt, cousin, and nephew a gift, you're instructed to bring a gift that costs $5 (or, if your family is a little wealthier ... up to $20), and then you play a long, drawn-out present game.

10. Get your tickets for Ballet West's production of The Nutcracker.

Ballet West, 50 W 200 S #200, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, USA
Ballet West/Facebook
Performances start December 8th and run through the 27th. Purchase tickets on Ballet West's official website.

11. Visit Utah's Christmas Town.

Helper, UT 84526, USA
Utah's Christmas Town/Facebook
Helper is the best Christmas town in UT, with plenty of pretty lights and tons of fun activities. Visit for the Helper Electric Light Parade held on December 2nd and 3rd at 7 p.m. The town hosts fireworks after the Saturday parade!

12. Give or Receive A 'Neighbor Gift.'

Stephen's Gourmet Cocoa/Facebook
If you're lucky, it will involve Stephen's Gourmet Cocoa. Utahns are big on community, and we're also pretty crafty folks, so you'll likely collect a bunch of charming (often edible!) gifts on your porch this season.

13. Sip Some Stephen's Gourmet Cocoa.

Stephen's Gourmet Cocoa/Facebook
We don't usually endorse products, but Stephen's is a Utah company (and their cocoa is soooo good). It just wouldn't be Christmas without several warm, delicious cups of this stuff, and if you've got homemade cookies too, all the better.

14. Grab a burger and go for a Christmas lights hayride in Layton.

Layton Park, Clearfield, UT 84015, USA
Burger Stop/Facebook
Every year, Burger Stop teams with Layton City, Wasatch Rods, and Custom Car Club to bring hayrides through the Christmas Lights at Layton Park. The event raises money for charity (over $100,000 since 1993).

Which ways to celebrate Christmas in Utah did we miss on this list? Tell us in the comments!

If you’re looking for a fun Christmas activity, visit some of these light displays in Utah around the Beehive State. And for more fun take a look at Airbnb Experiences for some exciting holiday adventures.

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More to Explore

Christmas Activities In Utah

Tori Jane | November 02, 2022

What are some super fun Christmas activities in UT?  

Winter in Utah is a pleasant time of year, even if it’s a bit chilly. There are lots of fun things to do in Utah in wintertime, but when Christmas time comes around, it gets even better somehow:

  • Head to Draper Park and visit the stunning Tree of Life, a beautiful old willow tree lit up in thousands of twinkling lights.
  • Go to Lehi and check out the Traverse Outlets for some of the best Christmas shopping in the state, and while you’re there, you might want to time it so you can catch the annual tree lighting ceremony.
    • While in Lehi, be sure to also check out the Luminaria at Ashton Gardens, another must-do Utah Christmas tradition you’ll love adding to your family’s list too.  

What is Christmas in UT like?  

Christmas in Utah is a delight. Despite the chill in the air, there’s still a certain kind of cheer and brilliance just about everywhere you go:

Christmas in UT is a very unique time – get outside and be sure to enjoy it (just be safe and bundle up, of course).  

What are some fun, traditional holiday events in UT to attend?  

Every single town in Utah has a plethora of wonderful holiday events to attend, many of which are almost too much fun:

  • Attend the annual Festival of Trees in Sandy while sipping hot cocoa and admiring the lights.
  • Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas unless you attended the famous German Christmas Market that only stops once a year known as Christkindlmarkt SLC.
  • Take a fun Christmas train ride in Utah on the North Pole Express.
  • Head to Salt Lake City and get photos with Santa, and then spend a few hours ice skating. 

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