Planning Your Utah Desert Holiday
Where to find 2025 holiday lights, performances, farms and activities in Southern Utah.
Dreaming of a holiday season with palm trees or red rocks?
For travelers seeking a mild winter escape, Utah's southern deserts offer festive activities to make your celebration shine. Here's a sampling of holiday events you can enjoy in 2025.
Experience the spirit of Christmas with lights under the red rock cliffs at the Tuacahn Center for the Arts.
Photo: Greater Zion Convention & Tourism Office
Holiday Lights
The Holiday Lights at Red Hills Desert Garden in St. George presents a winter wonderland with thousands of lights on display nightly from Nov. 27 through Dec. 31.
As Hanukkah approaches, St. George and Cedar City often celebrate the Jewish "festival of lights" with public menorah lightings downtown around the middle of December. Make sure to catch Cedar City's Downtown Lighting Ceremony and Christmas market on November 29th to ring in the magic of the season.
Hurricane City (pronounced Her-ah-kun, not Her-ah-kane), will host their annual Christmas Tree Festival on Dec. 11-13, with Christmas trees, nativities, a train room, live entertainment and more.
Springdale near Zion National Park, hosts an annual holiday light parade scheduled for Dec. 12 this year.
You can also enjoy the bright lights of the Polar Express in a classic American West town from Dec. 1-13. Kanab has converted an old school bus to a holiday-like train where families can take a magical ride to the North Pole and visit Santa’s Sleigh Shop.
Moab hosts its Electric Lights Parade on the first Saturday in December. Visitors can enjoy floats and treats along the city’s Main Street. And for guests sticking around after the holidays, Moab Music Festival hosts their Winterlude in late January, with workshops, concerts and events.
The St. George Temple Christmas lighting is open to the public, with the lights remaining on through New Year’s Day.
Holiday Performances
No Utah arts organization celebrates the holidays quite like Tuacahn Center for the Arts, near St. George (Read: Discover an Outdoor Stage in Utah's Canyon of the Gods). Performances of "Elf The Musical" kick off November 21. And from Nov. 28 through Dec. 23, their "Christmas in the Canyon" event features over 250,000 twinkling lights, a live nativity, visits with Santa and train rides on the Tuacahn Express. Entry to the Tuacahn is free, but tickets are required for the nativity, train rides and "Elf The Musical." The Tuacahn gift shop will also be open for browsing. And for those looking for more ways to shop locally, the nearby Red Cliff Gallery hosts its “Gift of Art” event from Nov. 14 through Dec. 18.
Encore Performing Arts will also be presenting “A Christmas Carol” at the Electric Theater in St. George from Nov. 28 - Dec. 20.
The Dickens' Festival Victorian Theatre and Christmas Market at the Dixie Convention Center in St. George, December 3-6, offers a unique market experience set in the Victorian era. Think Olde English shops, period costumes, handcrafted goods, sweet treats and more.
Tuacahn also hosts live nativity performances in their outdoor amphitheatre.
Tuacahn's "Christmas in the Canyon" event features over 250,000 twinkling lights.
At Staheli Family Farm, you can enjoy a holiday light drive-through and pick up a fresh-cut Christmas tree.
Photo: Courtesy of Staheli Family Farm
Holiday Farms
On December 6, Red Acre Farm in Cedar City will host their annual holiday farm celebration. You can pick out a Christmas tree, while enjoying other fun holiday activities, including candle-making. And you can also shop locally via their farm stand. (Read: Red Acres Is the Place for Me)
The Nature Hills Farm in Cedar City will open for Christmas tree sales and holiday shopping in December. They also have some holiday events planned, including a Christmas on the Farm celebration Nov. 28-29 with a caroling hay rides, Santa visits, crafting workshops and a cocoa cafe. There will also be a live nativity on December 9.
Can’t make it out to the farm? Check out the Festival City Farmer’s Holiday Market with other farmers, artisans and musicians in the heart of Cedar City on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through November and December. Cedar City is a terrific Southern Utah winter base camp, given it's proximity to both Brian Head and Eagle Point ski resorts.
Staheli Family Farm in Washington, Utah, will host a holiday light drive-through with music and thousands of lights illuminating the surrounding farmland. You can drive through in your own car or reserve a seat in their open air wagon. Guests will also find fresh cut Christmas trees for sale, and a live nativity on select nights in early December.
At Ruby's Inn, you can take a glide around their ice ribbon, located just outside Bryce Canyon National Park.
Photo: Courtesy of Ruby's Inn
Holiday Outdoors
While the Bryce Canyon Winter Festival won’t kick off until February, winter celebrations begin a bit earlier at Ruby’s Inn in Bryce Canyon City when their outdoor ice ribbon opens (weather dependent). Ruby’s Inn Winter Activity Center also offers cross-county ski and snowshoe rental for the more adventurous trekkers.
The Run Run Reindeer 5k Fun Run at Ivins City Park on December 20 is another festive way to get outside and celebrate. Participants enjoy holiday music along the course plus selfie stations, post race treats and more.
However you choose to celebrate, we hope your holiday season is bright. And if you need festive ski ideas, we've got you covered, see 5 Festive Activities to Brighten Your Utah Ski Holiday.
Larger Than Life: Winter in Southwestern Utah
This desert is dramatic. In a really good way. Experience the towering heights of Zion, the depths of Buckskin Gulch, the dunes of Snow Canyon, the sunset over Gooseberry. Southern Utah’s wilds are wearing their winter splendor.
Highlights
- Zion National Park
- Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
- Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
- Mountain Biking on a Red Rock Mesa
- Hike Zion's Most Iconic Trails
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