A Utah Valley December runs on a calendar that starts before Thanksgiving: the choir drawing in late October, the light walks and Giving Machines around Thanksgiving, then a month of devotionals, Nutcrackers and nights out north. This hub gathers the guides, with the dates from the 2025 season as a guide to 2026.
The guides
- Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point: Utah Valley's big light walk, with dates and tickets.
- Christmas in Provo: The city's lights and holiday events.
- Light the World in Utah Valley: The Giving Machines at University Place and BYU, JustServe and the December calendar.
- The Christmas Devotional and choir tickets: The First Presidency's devotional, the Tabernacle Choir drawing and the free Sunday broadcast.
- Christmas in Salt Lake: ZooLights, the Grand America's windows, the Nutcracker and Christkindlmarkt.
- Ogden's Christmas Village and the Ice Castles: The free village an hour and a half north, and the castles on pause.
- The Nutcrackers near Provo: Ballet West and the Utah Valley productions.
- Nativity and crèche events: The December nativity displays.
- Santa in Utah Valley: Breakfasts, photos, runs and parades.
- Christmas boutiques and craft fairs: The circuit from October through December.
- Christmas tree farms and cutting permits: The Forest Service permit and the farms.
- What's open on Christmas Day: Restaurants, gas, pharmacies and movies.
- New Year's Eve in Utah Valley: The countdowns, including the family-friendly ones.
The December calendar
Dates are from the 2025 season; most events keep the same shape each year.
- Late October: the Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concert ticket drawing opens (October 28 in 2025).
- Thanksgiving weekend: Ogden's Christmas Village opens the Saturday after Thanksgiving; Ballet West's Nutcracker plays Ogden; Hogle Zoo's ZooLights begins (November 28 in 2025).
- Late November: the Giving Machines open at University Place in Orem.
- Early December: the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional on a Sunday evening; Christkindlmarkt for four days at This Is The Place Heritage Park (December 3 to 6 in 2025).
- Through December: Ballet West's Nutcracker at the Capitol theater, local Nutcrackers in Provo and Orem, and the Tabernacle Choir's Christmas concerts (December 11 to 13 in 2025).
- December 25: what is open, and what is not.
- December 31: New Year's Eve, including the countdowns for families.
Every guide
16 guides sit under this hub.
New this season
- Utah Valley Christkindlmarkt 2026: Provo's First German-Style Christmas Market, Dec. 10-12 at the Historic Courthouse updated November 9, 2026
- Christmas Tree Farms and Cut-Your-Own Permits Near Provo: The Forest Service Permit, the BLM Permit, and the Lots updated November 9, 2026
- Christmas in Provo: Holiday Events & Lights Guide updated November 9, 2026
- Christmas Concerts in Utah Valley 2026: BYU, the Noorda, the Covey Center and a Messiah Sing-Along updated November 7, 2026
- Christmas Crafts and Handmade Gifts in Utah Valley: Ornaments, Greenery, Neighbor Gifts and a Gingerbread House for the Festival of Trees updated October 20, 2026
- Christmas Boutiques & Craft Fairs in Utah Valley: The Circuit, From October Through Christmas Eve updated October 20, 2026
Temple Square's lights have their own guide under Salt Lake County: Temple Square in December From Provo. For giving locally, see Holiday Giving in Utah Valley.
Frequently asked
When do Utah Valley's Christmas lights start?
Most start around Thanksgiving. Ogden's Christmas Village opens the Saturday after Thanksgiving, Hogle Zoo's ZooLights opened November 28 in 2025, and the Giving Machines usually open in the second half of November.
When do Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert tickets open?
By random drawing in late October; in 2025 registration ran from October 28 to November 7 for concerts December 11 to 13. Tickets are free, up to four per household.
Where can I see The Nutcracker near Provo?
At Provo's Covey Center and Orem's Ashton Auditorium, where local companies have staged it, and at Ballet West's runs in Ogden over Thanksgiving weekend and at Salt Lake City's Capitol theater in December.