Utah takes its Christmas lights seriously. Every year, gardens, parks, zoos and whole city blocks light up from Lehi to St. George, and plenty of families make a tradition of visiting a different one each week.
Here are the best displays for the 2026 season. Where 2026 dates have been announced, we’ve listed them. Where they haven’t yet, we’ve noted last year’s schedule so you know what to expect. Dates and prices can change, so check each link before you go.
1. Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point (Lehi)
Come for: the biggest display in the state.
Luminaria fills 50 acres of Thanksgiving Point’s gardens with about 10 million lights, according to Thanksgiving Point. The Merry Mosaic area alone has 6,500 luminaries and a 120-foot tree. New this year are “Christmas on the Lake” and an “Ignite the Night” show.
2026 dates: November 12, 2026 to January 9, 2027. Closed Sundays, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Most nights run from 4 p.m. to about 9 or 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: Paid, timed tickets at thanksgivingpoint.org
Where: 3900 N. Garden Dr., Lehi
2. Christmas Village (Ogden)
Come for: a free, old-fashioned holiday tradition.
Ogden’s Christmas Village is one of the longest-running holiday traditions in Utah. In 2025, its 63rd year, it featured nearly a million lights and 57 little cottages in the heart of downtown, and it was nominated for USA Today’s 10Best “Best Public Holiday Lights Display.”
2026 dates: November 28, 2026 to January 1, 2027. Lights on at 5 p.m., off at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at midnight Friday and Saturday.
Tickets: Free (donations welcome)
Where: 2549 Washington Blvd., Ogden. Details at ogdencity.com
3. Temple Square (Salt Lake City)
Come for: Utah’s most famous lights, now in their seventh decade.
Temple Square was first lit for Christmas in 1965 with about 40,000 lights. The Salt Lake Temple is still under renovation, so parts of the grounds remain closed, but the lights have continued around the construction. For 2026, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced plans to display testimonies of Christ submitted from around the world.
2026 dates: Not announced yet. In 2025 the lights ran November 28 to January 1, early morning and evening, daily.
Tickets: Free
Where: Temple Square, downtown Salt Lake City
4. ZooLights at Utah’s Hogle Zoo (Salt Lake City)
Come for: glowing animal displays and a giant light tunnel.
ZooLights turns the zoo into an evening walk through animal-shaped light displays. One thoughtful touch: December 26 has traditionally been “Silent Night,” a sensory-friendly evening for guests who prefer a calmer visit.
2026 dates: Not announced yet. In 2025 it ran select nights from November 28 to January 4, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Tickets: Separate from daytime admission. In 2025, $19.95 for adults and $16.95 for ages 3 to 12. See hoglezoo.org
5. Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary (Salt Lake City)
Come for: a cozy stroll through Liberty Park.
Tracy Aviary’s Lightwalk spreads across about eight acres, with a walk-through light tunnel and a life-size gingerbread house in 2025. It’s smaller and calmer than the big displays, which makes it great with little kids.
2026 dates: Opens November 23, 2026. Entry 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Last year it closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Tickets: $17.95 adults, $13.95 children, under 2 free, at tracyaviary.org
Where: 589 E. 1300 South, Salt Lake City (Liberty Park)
6. Draper City Park (Draper)
Come for: the Tree of Life.
Draper City Park glows with more than three million lights, and its centerpiece is the Tree of Life, wrapped in more than 1,000 strands of lights. The idea came from a former city forester, and it has become one of the most photographed holiday trees in the state.
2026 dates: The city lists its tree lighting for Monday, November 30, 2026, 6 to 8 p.m. Lights then run evenings (and early mornings) through January 1.
Tickets: Free
Where: 12500 S. 1300 East, Draper. See draperutah.gov
7. Holiday Lights at Red Hills Desert Garden (St. George)
Come for: Christmas lights among the cactus.
Southern Utah does the holidays its own way. Red Hills Desert Garden, a water-wise garden run by the Washington County Water Conservancy District, strings tens of thousands of lights through its desert plants and red rock. Short sleeves at a light show in December is a very St. George experience.
2026 dates: November 25 to December 31, 2026, nightly until 10 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Where: 375 E. Red Hills Pkwy., St. George
8. Lights Before Christmas (Layton)
Come for: a free display you can walk, drive or ride a train through.
Layton Commons Park kicks off its season with a countdown lighting ceremony, and visitors can take in the display on foot, by car or aboard a little train.
2026 dates: Not announced yet. In 2025 it ran November 24 to December 31, dusk to 11 p.m.
Tickets: Free
Where: Layton Commons Park, 465 N. Wasatch Dr., Layton
9. Snow Globe Art Stroll (Park City)
Come for: giant snow globes on Main Street.
It’s more art walk than light show, but it’s one of the most charming holiday outings in the state. The Historic Park City Alliance places life-size snow globes created by Utah artists along Main Street, each hiding a silver snowflake to find.
2026 dates: Not announced yet. In 2025 the stroll ran from late November into early January.
Tickets: Free
Where: Historic Main Street, Park City
10. Fantasy at the Bay (Willard Bay State Park)
Come for: a drive-through show with 3D glasses.
Stay warm in the car for this one. Fantasy at the Bay is a drive-through display at Willard Bay State Park in Box Elder County, and visitors get 3D glasses at the entrance to make the lights pop.
2026 dates: Not announced yet. In 2025 it ran evenings, 5 to 10 p.m., through December 24.
Tickets: In 2025, $20 per vehicle. State park passes have not been accepted in past years.
Where: Willard Bay State Park, Willard
A note on the Ice Castles
If you’re wondering about the Ice Castles in Midway, the attraction paused its Utah location for the 2025 to 2026 season. The company said it was not a goodbye for good, but as of late October 2026 we haven’t seen a 2026 to 2027 announcement.
Tips for a better lights night
- Go early in the season or on a weeknight. Weekends in December get crowded everywhere.
- Buy timed tickets ahead for Luminaria, ZooLights and Lightwalk.
- Dress warm. Northern Utah December nights are cold, even if you’re only walking for an hour.
- Pair it with a local dinner. Support a nearby family restaurant before or after.
Find more Best Of guides and local stories from around Utah. Run a business that hosts a holiday event? Tell us about it.
Dates and prices come from each organizer’s website and from reporting by the Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune, Standard-Examiner, KSL and TownLift, as of late October 2026. Events change, so confirm before you go. Top photo: Bobjgalindo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.