Last updated: November 11, 2024
Get ready for festive fun in West Valley City! Our guide features all the top holiday events and activities. From longtime West Valley City residents to temporary visitors, our guide is your passport to yuletide adventures.
This holiday season, visitors can enjoy the enchanting lights and decorations at Christmas on Temple Square, where the spirit of the season comes alive. With beautifully crafted trees and holiday displays, the beloved Festival of Trees showcases stunning creations while supporting a good cause. And the timeless performance of Ballet West: The Nutcracker is something you definitely don't want to miss. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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West Valley City Holiday Light Displays
Christmas on Temple Square
- What to Expect
- Annual light display with historical significance.
- Description
- Temple Square transforms into a spectacular display of over one million lights, symbolizing the birth of Jesus Christ. The lights are turned on the day after U.S. Thanksgiving and remain until January 1. Complimentary guided tours are available daily, and virtual tours are available in multiple languages. The event also features special musical performances and international nativities.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Christmas on Temple Square
ZooLights at Utah’s Hogle Zoo
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration in a zoo setting
- Description
- At Utah's Hogle Zoo, ZooLights transforms the zoo into a vibrant holiday spectacle with thousands of lights and nature-focused displays featuring animal and holiday scenes.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : ZooLights at Utah’s Hogle Zoo
Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point
- What to Expect
- Synchronized light and fire performance with themed areas.
- Description
- Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point is a spectacular holiday light display featuring millions of twinkling lights, themed areas, and interactive elements. The event includes a Fire and Ice show, the Tree of Life sculpture garden, and various food and drink options.
- Where
- Lehi | More Info : Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point
Festival of Lights
- What to Expect
- Large-scale holiday light display with interactive musical elements.
- Description
- The Festival of Lights at Canyon View Park features over a million twinkling lights, interactive musical displays, and festive tunes, creating a spectacular holiday display.
- Where
- Spanish Fork | More Info : Festival of Lights
Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary
- What to Expect
- Dazzling light displays in a natural setting.
- Description
- Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary features eight acres of dazzling light displays, a life-size gingerbread house, and a lighted walk-thru tunnel amidst the aviary's natural surroundings.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary
Christmas Village 2023
- What to Expect
- Free holiday light display with Santa visits and train rides.
- Description
- Christmas Village in Ogden, UT, features a downtown area illuminated with colorful lights and festive displays. Visitors can stroll through the village, peek into historical cottages, ride a train, and meet Santa. The event is free and includes a firework show.
- Where
- Ogden | More Info : Christmas Village 2023
Candy Rush by World of Illumination
- What to Expect
- Interactive light and music experience with a candy-themed display.
- Description
- Candy Rush by World of Illumination features a mile-long journey with millions of colorful lights and Christmas music, hosted by Chef Kuma, highlighting larger-than-life Christmas characters and confections.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Candy Rush by World of Illumination
Snow Globe Stroll
- What to Expect
- Life-size snow globes themed around holiday songs.
- Description
- Seven life-size snow globes, each themed around different holiday songs, are placed along Historic Park City's Main Street, creating a visually appealing and festive atmosphere.
- Where
- Park City | More Info : Snow Globe Stroll
Tree Lighting at Valley Fair
- What to Expect
- Spectacular lighting display with festive music.
- Description
- Valley Fair's Tree Lighting event features a grand illumination of the mall's exterior and interior spaces, accompanied by festive music and holiday decorations.
- Where
- West Valley City | More Info : Tree Lighting at Valley Fair
Herriman’s Night of Lights
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration with Santa, music, games, and ice skating.
- Description
- Herriman’s Night of Lights is a holiday event featuring Santa, musical performances, games, crafts, and ice skating at Crane Plaza and City Hall.
- Where
- Herriman | More Info : Herriman’s Night of Lights
Draper Tree Lighting Ceremony
- What to Expect
- Spectacular holiday light display with various festive activities.
- Description
- Draper City's annual Tree Lighting Ceremony features over three million lights displayed throughout Draper City Park, with activities including Santa visits, hot chocolate, cookies, pony rides, and marshmallow roasting.
- Where
- Draper | More Info : Draper Tree Lighting Ceremony
Holladay Tree Lighting Event
- What to Expect
- Community celebration with Santa and holiday treats.
- Description
- The Holladay Tree Lighting Event features a festive gathering with Santa, singing, hot chocolate, and cookies, all set against the backdrop of a beautifully lit Christmas tree.
- Where
- Holladay | More Info : Holladay Tree Lighting Event
Taylorsville Tree Lighting Ceremony
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration with hot chocolate and cookies.
- Description
- Join Taylorsville City for their tree lighting ceremony at Centennial Plaza on Monday, November 27, at 6:30 PM. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies while celebrating the holiday season.
- Where
- Taylorsville | More Info : Taylorsville Tree Lighting Ceremony
Winter Lights Fest
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration with handmade fire barrels and Santa photo opportunities.
- Description
- Join the community at North Salt Lake's Winter Lights Fest for holiday music, hot cocoa, and treats. Enjoy chatting with friends by handmade fire barrels and take photos with Mr. and Mrs. Santa.
- Where
- North Salt Lake | More Info : Winter Lights Fest
Orem Holiday Lighting Event
- What to Expect
- Community-driven holiday celebration with extensive light displays and family-friendly activities.
- Description
- Orem's holiday lighting event features over 100,000 lights and decorations in City Center Park, with a festive atmosphere and activities like free train rides and holiday market vendors.
- Where
- Orem | More Info : Orem Holiday Lighting Event
Holiday Electric Light Parade
- What to Expect
- Elaborate floats and fireworks display.
- Description
- The Holiday Electric Light Parade in Ogden, UT, features elaborate floats and fantastic performers along Washington Blvd, culminating in a spectacular fireworks show.
- Where
- Ogden | More Info : Holiday Electric Light Parade
Winter Lights Parade
- What to Expect
- Synchronized light and sound show along a scenic route.
- Description
- The Winter Lights Parade features a spectacular display of holiday lights and decorations, illuminating the evening with vibrant colors and festive atmosphere.
- Where
- Spanish Fork | More Info : Winter Lights Parade
Lighting of Riverwoods
- What to Expect
- Spectacular light display with live entertainment and fireworks.
- Description
- The Lighting of Riverwoods is an annual event featuring over 1.5 million lights, live entertainment, life-sized photo ops, and fireworks. It takes place at the Shops at Riverwoods, offering a festive atmosphere to welcome the holiday season.
- Where
- Provo | More Info : Lighting of Riverwoods
West Valley City Holiday Markets and Shopping
Christkindlmarkt at This is the Place Heritage Park
- What to Expect
- Traditional German-inspired holiday market with local vendors and festive entertainment.
- Description
- Christkindlmarkt at This Is The Place Heritage Park offers a unique holiday shopping and cultural experience inspired by German Christmas markets. Tantalizing food and festive entertainment await you as you stroll through wooden vendor booths amidst the park's backdrop. The event includes special events like the St. Martin's Lantern Parade and opportunities to celebrate service.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Christkindlmarkt at This is the Place Heritage Park
Nativity Market
- What to Expect
- Largest shopping selection of nativities in the country.
- Description
- The Nativity Market is a Christmas celebration featuring over 400 nativities, live community performances, children's activities, artist and author signings, giving machines, home decor, and holiday concessions.
- Where
- Sandy | More Info : Nativity Market
Holy Cow Christmas Boutique
- What to Expect
- Seasonal boutique with handmade and unique gift items.
- Description
- Holy Cow Christmas Boutique offers a variety of handmade and seasonal items, including home decor, clothing, baby items, jewelry, and Big Buns made from scratch. The event features over 65 vendors showcasing unique gifts and decorations.
- Where
- Lindon | More Info : Holy Cow Christmas Boutique
Beehive Bazaar
- What to Expect
- Unique handmade goods from local artists.
- Description
- Beehive Bazaar is a premier holiday market featuring unique, handmade goods from over 100 local artists and makers. The event showcases a diverse array of arts, crafts, and edibles in a curated pop-up shop setting.
- Where
- Provo | More Info : Beehive Bazaar
West Valley City Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Festival of Trees
- What to Expect
- Unique blend of community-created holiday decorations and live performances.
- Description
- The Festival of Trees is a holiday event featuring beautifully decorated trees, wreaths, and handmade items, all benefiting Primary Children's Hospital. Community volunteers create stunning holiday decorations, including extravagant trees, stunning wreaths, and hand-crafted gingerbread houses, which are bid on in a silent auction. The event also includes live performances, Santa Land, and various activities.
- Where
- Sandy | More Info : Festival of Trees
Ballet West: The Nutcracker
- What to Expect
- World-class ballet performance with elaborate sets and costumes.
- Description
- Ballet West's production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Willam Christensen, features Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's iconic score and elaborate sets and costumes. This classic ballet brings to life Clara's dream world with a prince, evil Mouse King, dancing snowflakes, and the enchanting Sugar Plum Fairy.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Ballet West: The Nutcracker
Handel’s Messiah at Abravanel Hall
- What to Expect
- Community sing-along with the Utah Symphony Chorus.
- Description
- Handel’s Messiah at Abravanel Hall features the Utah Symphony Chorus performing the beloved choral numbers of this famous composition, including the “Hallelujah” Chorus, drawing inspiration from both the Old and New Testaments.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Handel’s Messiah at Abravanel Hall
GENTRI Christmas
- What to Expect
- Heartfelt performances of Christmas classics with powerful harmonies.
- Description
- GENTRI Christmas features heartfelt performances of beloved classics, blending musical mastery and powerful harmonies to create a pure Christmas experience.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : GENTRI Christmas
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
- What to Expect
- All-new version of "The Lost Christmas Eve" with fan-favorite compositions.
- Description
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra is renowned for its elaborate live performances, blending rock music with symphonic elements and visual grandeur. Their shows feature complex light shows and pyrotechnics, incorporating seasonal classics with rock flamboyance. The orchestra's repertoire includes fan-favorite compositions like "Wizards in Winter" and "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24," making their concerts a spectacle of music and visual storytelling.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Utah Symphony: 63rd Annual Salute to Youth
- What to Expect
- Unique opportunity for young musicians to perform with the Utah Symphony.
- Description
- The Utah Symphony's 63rd Annual Salute to Youth is a prestigious event celebrating exceptional young musicians from Utah. The competition features talented students in various instruments, including piano, strings, winds, brass, percussion, harp, and voice, competing for the opportunity to perform as soloists with the Utah Symphony.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Utah Symphony: 63rd Annual Salute to Youth
The Nutcracker by Utah Dance Institute
- What to Expect
- World-class ballet performance by young dancers.
- Description
- Utah Dance Institute presents The Nutcracker, a ballet performed by dancers aged 2-18 from the University of Utah, featuring two acts with a 95-minute run time including a 10-15 minute intermission. Recommended for all ages, children under 13 months do not require a ticket.
- Where
- Taylorsville | More Info : The Nutcracker by Utah Dance Institute
Lights On at the Eccles
- What to Expect
- 15 musicians playing over 20 instruments with multimedia effects.
- Description
- Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis is a beloved holiday tradition featuring classic Christmas hits in the distinctive Mannheim sound, accompanied by dazzling multimedia effects in an intimate setting.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Lights On at the Eccles
Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four Concert
- What to Expect
- Christ-centered Christmas concert with family performances.
- Description
- Grammy-nominated violinist Jenny Oaks Baker and her talented children, Family Four, present an inspiring Christ-centered Christmas show featuring sacred, exhilarating, and treasured Christmas carols. The performance includes music by Emmy Award-winning composer Kurt Bestor, narration by New York Times Best-selling author Jason F. Wright, and dancing by BYU Theatre Ballet and Shelley School Irish Dance. The show promises to usher in an uplifting and celebratory spirit to your Christmas season.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Jenny Oaks Baker & Family Four Concert
North Pole Express
- What to Expect
- Santa's special gift-giving experience on board.
- Description
- Join the Heber Valley Railroad for a 90-minute round trip to the North Pole, featuring hot cocoa, Mrs. Claus' famous chocolate chip cookies, and festive holiday music.
- Where
- Heber City | More Info : North Pole Express
Music & The Spoken Word
- What to Expect
- Longest-running weekly radio broadcast in the United States.
- Description
- The Tabernacle Choir's "Music & the Spoken Word" is a weekly broadcast featuring music and inspirational messages, broadcast live from Salt Lake City's Temple Square.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Music & The Spoken Word
Celebration of Christmas
- What to Expect
- Annual concert celebrating the holiday season with combined choirs and Philharmonic.
- Description
- The BYU Celebration of Christmas features a well-loved annual concert by the combined choirs and Philharmonic, celebrating the holiday season with beautiful music.
- Where
- Provo | More Info : Celebration of Christmas
Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir
- What to Expect
- Timeless carols and treasured Christmas songs with a story of heroic service.
- Description
- The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square join with award-winning artists Lea Salonga and Sir David Suchet for a festive and uplifting Christmas special. This concert weaves together inspirational music with hope-filled storytelling about heroic service and the birth of Jesus Christ.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir
Christmas Concerts on Temple Square
- What to Expect
- World-class holiday music performances with guest artists.
- Description
- The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square host annual free Christmas concerts featuring guest artists, traditional carols, and festive music in the 21,000-seat Conference Center.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Christmas Concerts on Temple Square
Savior of the World
- What to Expect
- Scripturally based musical drama with 38 musical numbers.
- Description
- Savior of the World is a sacred musical drama depicting the life of Jesus Christ, focusing on His birth and resurrection. It features 38 musical numbers and is a testament to Christ's divine mission as the Savior and Redeemer of the world.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Savior of the World
Utah Baroque Ensemble Christmas Concert
- What to Expect
- Live performance of Baroque-style choral music.
- Description
- The Utah Baroque Ensemble's Christmas Concert features a blend of traditional and modern compositions, including Latin liturgy, performed by a select group of singers specializing in early period sacred music.
- Where
- Provo | More Info : Utah Baroque Ensemble Christmas Concert
Utah Valley Handbell Choir
- What to Expect
- Longest-running community bell choir in Utah.
- Description
- The Utah Valley Handbell Choir is Utah's oldest community bell choir, established in 1993. They ring throughout the state, entertaining audiences with their rich and harmonious music.
- Where
- Provo | More Info : Utah Valley Handbell Choir
Wasatch Chorale Christmas
- What to Expect
- High-quality, community-driven holiday music performance.
- Description
- The Wasatch Chorale Christmas Fundraiser Concert features a blend of traditional and contemporary holiday music, performed by a community choir with skilled instrumentalists.
- Where
- Provo | More Info : Wasatch Chorale Christmas
West Valley City Other Holiday Activities
Walk the Windows at The Grand America
- What to Expect
- Interactive window displays with a scavenger hunt.
- Description
- The Grand America Hotel's Holiday Window Stroll features 14 themed windows celebrating Utah's winter wonders, including a scavenger hunt for Snowball, the playful kitty. Each window display includes a QR code with a letter to read, and answering all 14 quiz questions correctly enters you into a drawing for a free night stay.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Walk the Windows at The Grand America
Breakfast with Santa at Gardner Village
- What to Expect
- Yummy buffet breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
- Description
- Join Santa and Mrs. Claus for a delightful breakfast buffet, music, and activities at Mill Plaza in Gardner Village. Enjoy a variety of dishes including juicy watermelon, skillet potatoes, scrambled cheesy eggs, chocolate chip pancakes, smoked bacon, hot creamy chocolate, coffee, orange juice, and water. Make lasting memories with your family in a charming holiday setting.
- Where
- West Jordan | More Info : Breakfast with Santa at Gardner Village
Santa Arrives in Farmington
- What to Expect
- Santa's helicopter arrival and drive-through event.
- Description
- Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive at Station Park in Farmington via helicopter, offering children the opportunity to see them drive through the property in a shiny convertible.
- Where
- Farmington | More Info : Santa Arrives in Farmington
Illuminate Light Art + Creative Tech Festival
- What to Expect
- Interactive light art and technology festival with drone shows and STEAM Lab activities.
- Description
- ILLUMINATE is a festival celebrating the intersection between art and technology, featuring large-scale art pieces, an interactive STEAM Lab, drone shows, and multimedia artwork.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Illuminate Light Art + Creative Tech Festival
Bountiful Art Classes: Gingerbread House Decorating
- What to Expect
- Hands-on holiday baking and decorating activity.
- Description
- Decorate a gingerbread house with intricate designs and creative flair, perfect for all ages.
- Where
- Bountiful | More Info : Bountiful Art Classes: Gingerbread House Decorating
Candlelight Christmas
- What to Expect
- Traditional holiday activities in a historic setting.
- Description
- Visit This Is The Place Heritage Park for a traditional holiday experience featuring Father Christmas, a live Nativity, and Heritage Village Carolers. Enjoy candle making, letters to Santa, and homemade gifts from historic pioneer homes and cabins. The event also includes holiday shopping at the Gift Shop and ZCMI Mercantile, as well as a hot meal at the Huntsman Hotel.
- Where
- Salt Lake City | More Info : Candlelight Christmas
A Pioneer Christmas
- What to Expect
- Holiday celebration in a historic pioneer setting
- Description
- Celebrate the holiday season with traditional crafts, stories, and games at Provo Pioneer Village. Enjoy refreshments and festive atmosphere amidst historic buildings.
- Where
- Provo | More Info : A Pioneer Christmas
Santa's Art Shop
- What to Expect
- Science-themed art projects for all ages.
- Description
- Join Santa's Art Shop at the Springville Museum of Art on December 12, 2024, from 5:00-7:00 PM. Meet Santa, enjoy cookies and milk, and create science-themed art projects suitable for all ability levels.
- Where
- Springville | More Info : Santa's Art Shop
Santa Run
- What to Expect
- Unique 5K course with festive lights and river trail setting.
- Description
- The Utah Santa Run - Provo is a festive 5K event that takes place along the Provo River Trail and Provo Canyon, offering a joyful and fun experience for participants.
- Where
- Provo | More Info : Santa Run
Torchlight Parade
- What to Expect
- Annual ski resort tradition with festive procession and refreshments.
- Description
- The Torchlight Parade at Deer Valley Resort features a festive procession down Big Stick ski run, accompanied by complimentary hot chocolate, cider, and cookies.
- Where
- Park City | More Info : Torchlight Parade