5 Festive Activities to Brighten Your Utah Ski Holiday

Written By Visit Utah

A group of people gathered around a fire pit, roasting marshmallows, with houses in the background decorated with Christmas lights."
Luminaria   |  Courtesy of Thanksgiving Point

Snowy mountains and cozy lodges make Utah the perfect winter escape. But during the holidays, things feel particularly festive. So if you’ll find yourself on a holiday ski escape in Utah this season, we’ve got a few ideas to brighten your travels and raise the bar on holiday spirit. 

1. Delight in the Twinkling Lights

Holiday lights displayed on the darkest of nights can bring a sense of wonder to the season. And there’s no shortage of displays for visitors in Utah. Luminaria, at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, features millions of lights and themed displays across the 50-acre Ashton Gardens. Alongside the displays, you’ll also find their Fire & Ice show, an eight-minute program featuring 20-foot flames and twinkling lights set to holiday music. 

If you’re near Salt Lake City, the Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary and ZooLights at Hogle Zoo are two terrific annual displays that are a big hit for families. And if lights seen from the comfort of your warm car sounds more inviting, don’t miss the holiday light drive throughs at Christmas in Color in South Jordan or World of Illumination in Salt Lake City. The Temple Square Christmas Lights are also an annual rite of passage for many visitors. The lights typically turn on the day after Thanksgiving and remain on until January 1. Due to ongoing renovation of the Salt Lake Temple, please note that access will be limited for the 2024 season. 

In the northern town of Ogden — near Powder Mountain, Snowbasin and Nordic Valley — the city hosts a free Christmas village display in the Municipal Gardens. If you’re staying slopeside, many of Utah’s ski resorts also host torchlight parades and fireworks to ring in the new year.

And in the state's northernmost reaches, in Richmond, Utah, you'll find the Cache Valley Straw Maze. Located just north of Logan, in a county renowned for its dairy heritage, here you can enjoy the Christmas light maze and horse-drawn wagon rides. And its just around the corner from family-owned ski resort, Cherry Peak.

"Holiday lights displayed on the darkest of nights can bring a sense of wonder to the season. And there’s no shortage of displays for visitors in Utah."

Holiday lights on a dark night are sure to brighten your evening.

Holiday lights on a dark night are sure to brighten your evening.

Photo: Courtesy of Thanksgiving Point

Luminaria, at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, features millions of lights and themed displays across the 50-acre Ashton Gardens.

Luminaria, at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, features millions of lights and themed displays across the 50-acre Ashton Gardens.

Photo: Courtesy of Thanksgiving Point

Ice skating at Gallivan Center.

Ice skating at Gallivan Center.

Photo: Steve Greenwood

2. Take a Glittery Glide Across the Ice

Utah ice skating includes Olympic rinks, county complexes and magical light-strung rinks spinning the sounds of the holidays. Perhaps the most well-known location is the Gallivan Center Ice Rink in downtown Salt Lake City. Open mid-November through February, it’s easy to get some fresh air, exercise and a little hand holding during the cold winter months. And while you're there, don't miss Gallivan’s free annual "GLOW" art installation, featuring 25 illuminated art sculptures.

You can find additional indoor and outdoor skating options across Northern Utah. In the southern part of the state, there’s also a rink in Brian Head, and an ice ribbon at Ruby’s Inn just outside Bryce Canyon National Park. Need more Southern Utah ideas? We've got you covered, see Planning Your Utah Desert Holiday.

Want to add some local holiday shopping to your activity list? Millcreek Commons ice ribbon (just south of Salt Lake City) opens November 15, alongside a Utah's Own Holiday Shoppes pop-up. Open daily through December 24, the pop-up will feature 44 of Utah’s Own members, a great opportunity to support local Utah businesses this holiday season.

3. Dash Aboard a Horse-Drawn Sleigh

Picture this: you're nestled snugly aboard an open sleigh, dashing through a snow-covered forest on a starry night. “Oh what fun it is to ride!” You’ll find a number of horse-drawn sleigh ride opportunities around Northern Utah. In Jordanelle State Park, just outside of Park City, Rocky Mountain Outfitters guides sleigh riders through a light show in the woods, with hot chocolate and s’mores available to help fend off the cold. You can also reserve a horse-drawn sleigh ride with Broken Arrow Sleigh Rides at Deer Valley Resort or a Western-inspired sleigh ride and dinner via Snowed Inn Sleigh Company at Park City Mountain Resort. And at Thurston Farms in Morgan (about 30 minutes southeast of Ogden), Clydesdales lead the way for a historic exploration of the 100-year-old farm. 



"Picture this: you're nestled snugly aboard an open sleigh, dashing through a snow-covered forest on a starry night."

In Jordanelle State Park, just outside of Park City, Rocky Mountain Outfitters guides sleigh riders through a light show in the woods.

In Jordanelle State Park, just outside of Park City, Rocky Mountain Outfitters guides sleigh riders through a light show in the woods.

Photo: Courtesy of Rocky Mountain Outfitters

An open sleigh in a snow-covered forest is pure winter fun.

An open sleigh in a snow-covered forest is pure winter fun.

Photo: Courtesy of Rocky Mountain Outfitters

4. Delight in a Holiday Performance

In Salt Lake City, the Utah Symphony hosts holiday inspired performances throughout December (Read: Salt Lake City: A Place to Play). And it may surprise some visitors, but Salt Lake City is home to America’s longest-running production of The Nutcracker. Performed by Ballet West at the Capitol Theatre, shows run from Dec. 6 to 28, 2024. If you’re in Park City, the Egyptian Theatre on Historic Main Street hosts a Holiday Spectacular & Sing-a-long from Dec. 13 to 22, 2024. For travelers heading south, don’t miss "A Christmas Carol: The Musical" at Tuacahn Amphitheatre near St. George, or their "Christmas in the Canyon" event featuring a live nativity performance. For a full listing of holiday performances, visit our partners at nowplayingutah.com. 

Salt Lake City is home to America’s longest-running production of The Nutcracker, performed by Ballet West.

Salt Lake City is home to America’s longest-running production of The Nutcracker, performed by Ballet West.

Photo: Luke Isley/Visit Salt Lake

"The holiday season in Utah is a delight for all the senses, and taste is no outlier."

Nothing beats an après ski, especially during the holiday season.

Nothing beats an après ski, especially during the holiday season.

Photo: Mike Schirf

5. Get a Taste for the Season

The holiday season in Utah is a delight for all the senses, and taste is no outlier. Après ski or “after ski,” is a cherished tradition rooted in the enjoyment of good food and drinks. And while there is always no shortage of après experiences in and around Utah’s ski resorts, you can also find some holiday-inspired treats come December. In Salt Lake City, Flanker Kitchen & Sporting Club hosts holiday pop-up bar experiences. And beyond the bar scene, there are other festive dining experiences to explore. Near to Park City, Homestead Resort and Zermatt Resort host breakfast with Santa events through December. And Taste 117 in Provo offers holiday chocolate and tea tastings at their Provo location. Whatever dining experience you're after, just remember to get your reservations in early.

 

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About the Author – Visit Utah

We at VisitUtah.com love good storytelling. We love meeting the people and discovering the places that define the Life Elevated experience. You'll find those stories here. We also provide great information to help you plan your trip. Above all, our mission is to elevate life in Utah through responsible tourism stewardship.

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