Holiday Things to Do in Utah

Utah takes the holidays seriously. There are millions of lights, a ballet that sells out every December, and a city that briefly forgets it is cold. Here is our short list for 2026, plus one entry that is a little stranger than the rest.

Christmas Town: The Nightmare Before Christmas Pop-Up Bar

We will start with our own, since it is the one we can vouch for personally.

All fall, The Rabbit Hole beneath Lake Effect was Halloween Town. Now the cobwebs are down and Christmas Town has taken over: Christmas as seen by a skeleton studying it with a chemistry set. A little baffling, a little too cheerful, and entirely on purpose.

It is a 21+, ticketed, 90-minute cocktail and dining experience inspired by The Nightmare Before Christmas. The drinkware is hand-thrown, the menu is illustrated by hand with a local artist, and the cocktail list stays sealed until you are seated. The decor, drinks and food are all new, so even if you saw Halloween Town, this is the rest of the story.

Christmas Town dates:

• Thursday, November 12 (opening night)
• Monday, November 16
• Monday, November 23
• Monday, November 30
• Monday, December 7
• Monday, December 14 (final night)

Tickets are $25 per guest and hold your table for 90 minutes. Food and drinks are ordered once you are seated, and there are non-alcoholic drinks on the menu for anyone skipping the spirits. Tables seat up to eight, which makes it an easy small holiday party, a December date night or a reason to drive down from Park City, Ogden or South Salt Lake on a Monday.

Holiday Lights in and Around Salt Lake City

• Temple Square. The lights around Temple Square are a downtown tradition, free and a few blocks from Lake Effect. They typically run from late November into the new year.
• ZooLights at Utah's Hogle Zoo. Runs select nights from November 25, 2026 through January 2, 2027, from 5:30 to 9pm. Nightly December 3 to 31, closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
• Magical Lantern Nights. A holiday lantern experience making its Utah debut at the Utah State Fairgrounds, November 20, 2026 through January 10, 2027.
• Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point. Lehi's walk-through light display runs through early January.

Holiday Performances Downtown

• Ballet West's The Nutcracker. At the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre from December 4 to 26, 2026. The theater is one block east of Lake Effect on 200 South, which makes dinner and a drink before the curtain very easy to arrange.
• The Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert. Usually held in mid-December at the Conference Center. Tickets are free but required, and go quickly.

Skating and Markets

• Ice skating at the Gallivan Center. The outdoor rink downtown typically opens for the winter season around Thanksgiving. It's not too far a walk from Lake Effect for a warm-up drink afterward.
• Holiday markets. Salt Lake's Christkindlmarkt and the Festival of Trees in Sandy are both December fixtures. Check their sites for this year's dates.

Make a Night of It Downtown

The best holiday nights in Salt Lake City stack two or three of these together. Brunch before the Gallivan rink. The Nutcracker, then a nightcap. Temple Square, then Christmas Town.

Lake Effect is open every day from 11am to 1am, with live music every night on the Main Floor and live jazz in The Rabbit Hole on Wednesdays. Wherever your plans land, the bar is a short walk away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Nightmare Before Christmas pop-up bar in Salt Lake City? In The Rabbit Hole, the downstairs bar at Lake Effect, 155 W 200 S in downtown Salt Lake City.

Is Christmas Town 21+? Yes. Every guest needs valid ID.

How much are tickets? $25 per guest for a 90-minute reservation. Food and drinks are ordered separately.

Is The Rabbit Hole wheelchair accessible? No. It is reached by stairs only. Guests with mobility concerns should contact us before booking.

What are good adults-only holiday events in Salt Lake City? Christmas Town at Lake Effect is 21+. The Nutcracker and an evening at Temple Square or the Gallivan rink pair well with dinner downtown.