25 October,2026 03:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Winter Gallivan Center Ice Skating Rink. Photo Courtesy: Special Arrangement
There is a lot to do in the United States of America, especially if you are going there during the holiday season.
While there are many places to visit, Utah is particularly festive during the holiday season, as it is known to be a popular skiing destination. It is known for its steep, jagged mountain ranges and dry, lightweight snow, making it an ideal setting for a memorable ski trip. With the holidays approaching, Utah offers the perfect winter escape, blending nature with the vibrancy and celebration of the upcoming festive season.
Here are five ways to embrace the holiday spirit:
Holiday lights displayed on the darkest nights can bring a sense of wonder to the season. There is no shortage of vibrant holiday light 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 will also find their Fire & Ice show, an eight-minute program featuring 20-foot flames and twinkling lights set to holiday music.
If you are near Salt Lake City, the Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary and ZooLights at Hogle Zoo are two dazzling annual displays that are a big hit with families. Opened in 2024, the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium hosts an outdoor Lantern Festival, where nature-inspired lanterns illuminate the night. Also, do not miss the holiday light drive-throughs at Christmas in Color in South Jordan or at 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.
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 are 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, you will 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. It's also just around the corner from the family-owned ski resort, Cherry Peak.
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, which is open from mid-November through February. While you are there, do not miss Gallivan's free annual "GLOW" art installation, featuring illuminated sculptures. Other downtown rinks are scattered around Midway, Millcreek, and Logan.
You can find additional indoor and outdoor skating options throughout Northern Utah. In the southern part of the state, there is also a rink in Brian Head and an ice ribbon at Ruby's Inn, just outside Bryce Canyon National Park.
Additionally, for local holiday shopping, Utah's Own public market pop-up offers great opportunities to pick up holiday goodies and support local Utah businesses.
There are several horse-drawn sleigh ride opportunities around Northern Utah. At Wasatch Mountain State Park in Midway, 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 with Snowed Inn Sleigh Company at Park City Mountain Resort. 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.
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 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. Adventure seekers can also try dining in a yurt at The Viking Yurt in Park City Mountain Resort for an experience like no other.
In Salt Lake City, the Utah Symphony presents holiday-inspired performances throughout December. Notably, the city is home to America's longest-running production of The Nutcracker, performed by Ballet West at the Capitol Theatre. If you are in Park City, the Egyptian Theatre on Historic Main Street hosts a Holiday Spectacular & Sing-a-long.
These experiences beautifully showcase Utah's holiday traditions, with a welcoming ski culture, that invites everyone to celebrate this auspicious season.
