Christmas Activities in Utah 2020

2020 is a unique year. Masks, social distancing, and other changes to our lives have made adventuring a little bit different this year. Tree lighting events and other activities where large crowds are involved have been cancelled, but there are still plenty of fun, safe Christmas Activities in Utah for families. We have separated each type of activity into categories to help you find the activities that are right for your family.

See our list of cancelled events at the bottom of this post.

Tree Lighting or Santa Arrival Events

Lighting of the Riverwoods (Provo): November 20 @ 6:00-8:30 pm FREE Masks and social distance required.

Lights on at the Gateway (SLC): November 20 @ 6-9 PM FREE Masks required.

Outlets at Traverse Mountain Virtual Tree Lighting (Lehi): November 21 @ 6:30 pm FREE. Tree will be lit at 7:00. More details on their event post.

Salem Pond Christmas Lighting (Salem): November 27 @ 6-9 PM. FREE

Santa’s Arrival at Station Park (Farmington): November 27 @ 9 AM. FREE

Midway Tree Lighting Celebration: December 5@ 6-8 pm FREE

Light Displays: Perfect for Social Distancing!

Most of these displays you view from your car. Others you can walk through, but make sure to social distance and check if advanced tickets are needed. These are Christmas light displays we visited last year, but sometimes homes don’t put their lights up. We will update if we find a problem.

Park City Snow Globe Stroll: Park City, November 28-January 3  FREE

Zootah Christmas Lights: Logan, November 28-Dec.17 (Th, F, and Sat). 4:30-8:00 pm at Zootah with reindeer encounters.

Weber/Davis County

Ogden Christmas Village: Ogden FREE

Lights On Sherwood: Kaysville FREE

Fantasy at the Bay: Willard Bay

Layton City Lights: Layton FREE

We found this list of other great light displays in Weber/Davis counties.

Salt Lake County

Christmas in Color: Located at the Salt Lake County Equestrian Center in South Jordan. Use our discount code of “adventureincolor” to save 15% off tickets. 

Tree of Life: Draper FREE

Lights on Wakefield: West Valley City FREE

Whoville: West Valley City FREE

Christmas in Cottonwood: Cottonwood Heights FREE

Highland Valley Club Drive: Sandy FREE

Shoop Christmas Lights: Sandy FREE

Bible Street: Sugarhouse FREE 

Frosty’s Winter Wonderland: SLC FREE

Christmas Street: Sugarhouse FREE

Christmas Street: Taylorsville FREE

Christmas Street: Magna FREE

Temple Square Lights: SLC FREE Only viewed from outside the fence/gate this year. Temple Square is closed.

Zoo Lights: SLC–bonus: you can ride the carousel and sometimes see a few animals. Sold out for 2020.

Lumaze: SLC–new this year. Walk through light festival at the Utah Fairgrounds.

Drive in Holiday Light Spectacular: Maverik Center. New this year! Laser light show in the parking lot of the Maverik Center in SLC.

Utah County

Luminaria: Thanksgiving Point in Lehi. 

Highland Christmas Lights: Highland FREE

Saratoga Springs Christmas Light Drive: 8 different houses in one night FREE

Engh Family Christmas Lights: Saratoga Springs FREE

A Very Merry Meridian: Saratoga Springs FREE

Lehi Christmas Lights: Lehi (11 different houses pretty close to each other)  FREE

Butterfield Family Lights: Lehi FREE

Howlett Family Light Show: Lehi FREE

On the Bright Side: Lehi FREE

Edwards Family Lights Show: Pleasant Grove FREE

Pleasant Grove Christmas Lights: 9 Houses in one night. FREE

Imaginorium: Pleasant Grove at Hee Haw Farms (Lights and other activities)

Christmas at the Orchard: Orem FREE Not open Sundays.

Spanish Fork Winter Reverse Lights Parade: November 27-Dec. 31 FREE

Spanish Fork Lights: Spanish Fork

Salem Pond Lights: Salem FREE

Christmas Story Murals: Salem FREE

Shepherd Family Christmas Lights: Spanish Fork

Washington County

Christmas in the Canyon (St. George): Nov. 27 – Dec. 23 at 6-8:30 PM. Lights, train rides, live Nativities, and Santa.

Red Hills Desert Garden Lights (St. George): Nov. 26-Dec. 31. Lights are on until 10:00 pm. FREE

Check out this list of ideas for Christmas Lights.

Rides (trains/boats, wagons….)

We really enjoyed the Christmas Cruise on the Provo River.

Cross E Ranch Christmas at the Ranch Drive-Thru: Brand New this Year! $20/vehicle. Don’t leave your car, but enjoy the lights, treats, and a live Nativity. November 27-Dec.19.

North Pole Express (Heber) Nov. 23 – Dec. 23. Ride the Heber Valley Railroad with Santa.

Provo River Cruise (Provo) Nov. 30- Dec. 23. Take a cruise on the Provo River and Santa rows up in a row boat.

Santa Sleigh Ride (Midway): Looks like these sleigh rides are just for the ice castles this year, so after Christmas.

Riley’s U-Pick Genola (Genola): Wagon rides and donuts included in the $10/family price at this family farm.

Miscellaneous

Night in Bethlehem (Pleasant Grove): November 27-30. 5:30-9:00 PM. Living Nativity. Tickets required (FREE).

Christmas on the Farm (Cedar City): November 27-28 at 10-4. Tickets required ($5/person).

Christmas on the Farm Live Nativity (Cedar City): November 30 at 6-8 PM. Tickets required (FREE)

Holly Days Festival (Vernal): November 27: A day full of fun, FREE activities throughout the Vernal area including a light parade and fireworks. 

Candy Windows (South Jordan): Dec. 2-31 FREE

Festival of Trees (Virtual): Dec. 1-5. Proceeds benefit Primary Children’s Hospital. Virtual Live Event on Dec. 4.

Macys Candy Windows (SLC): Nov. 20-Jan. 1 FREE

Gardner Village Elves (West Jordan): Nov. 21- Dec.31 FREE

Evermore Park Aurora Winter Festival: Pleasant Grove. Dates beginning Nov. 28, 2020. Thursdays-Saturdays. Two different events: Aurora Winter Festival and Christmas Carol. Can combine the two.

Christmas Town Utah (Helper): Nov. 27 Lights on Ceremony at 6:00 pm. Dec. 4 & 5 are electric light parades at 7:00 pm. Fireworks after the Dec. 5 parade. There are many events and tons of lights in Helper since it is know as Christmas Town Utah.

Christmas at the Homestead (Cedar City): Frontier Homestead Museum has decorations, including the Twelve Trees of Christmas. Dec. 7-11. $2/person or $5/family.

Cancelled Events for 2020

  • Candlelight Christmas at This is the Place Heritage Park
  • Alpine Living Nativity
  • Christkindlmarket at This is the Place
  • Lights on Wakefield Lighting Event
  • Park City Electric Light Parade
  • Spanish Fork Winter Lights Parade
  • Ogden City Lights Parade and Lighting Ceremony
  • Jingle Bus
  • Santa Sleigh Rides through Rocky Mountain Outfitters
  • Grand America Holiday Windows (only open to guests who are staying in the hotel)
  • Hardware Ranch Sleigh Rides (elk viewing still available, but no rides).
  • Polar Express Lindon
  • Young Living Farm Holiday Event

Leave a Reply

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. Julane

    Curious if you know how long after Christmas these house lights are up for? We’re possibly looking at going to Lehi, Saratoga springs lights between Christmas and New Years.

    1. Natalie Ockey

      We don’t know for sure because these houses are all individual homeowners, but most homes leave their lights on until New Years Day. But every spot will be different. Sorry…I wish I knew more definitely.

  2. Maria

    Young Living also canceled their event for 2020