As the holiday season falls upon us like Utah’s powder snow, there’s no better place to experience the enchantment of winter than Park City and the surrounding areas. From outdoor activities to cozy indoor experiences, here are some delightful ways to spend the holidays in Park City.
1. Ski Area Torchlight Parades
Experience the magic of the season as you join Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort for their respective torchlight parades this year. Start on Christmas Eve with the annual parade at the Park City Mountain Village as they welcome Santa on his biggest night of the year. Carolers, cookies and cocoa will keep everyone festive with the event starting at 4:00 and the parade at 5:30pm.
Deer Valley holds its parade at Snow Park Lodge the Saturday after Christmas, which in 2023 is December 30th. This event features skiers on Big Stick run and is made complete with hot chocolate, cider and cookies, which will be served from 5:30 to 7:30pm.
2. Where to See Santa in Park City
Santa is coming to town! You can catch him on December 16th when he comes to Town Lift. This event begins at 5:00 p.m. with Santa’s arrival at 6:00 p.m. The Big Guy himself will also be visiting Deer Valley on Christmas Eve, December 24th. He’ll be at Snow Park from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and then he’ll move to Silver Lake until 1:30 p.m.
3. Main Street Snow Globe Stroll
Historic Park City invites visitors to wander through Main Street with its festive lights, adorned with life-sized snow globes. Each globe showcases unique scenes, creating a festive wonderland. As you walk, discover Santa’s mailbox, weekly giveaway drawings, festive window displays and art exhibits.
4. Musical Traditions at The Egyptian
Immerse yourself in the rich musical traditions of the holiday season at the Egyptian Theater with two standout events that have become integral parts of Park City’s festive calendar. From December 8 to 17 at 8 p.m., the Egyptian Theater hosts the Park City Holiday Spectacular Sing-a-long! A cherished family tradition, this event brings together local performers and talents in a heartwarming sing-along experience, making it the ideal way to unleash your holiday cheer with the entire family.
Continuing the musical festivities, from December 21 to 24 at 8 p.m., the Egyptian Theater welcomes the Emmy-Award winning composer Kurt Bestor for a holiday celebration like no other. Revel in the magic of the season as Kurt Bestor delivers a mesmerizing performance featuring both traditional Christmas favorites and his own original compositions.
5. Have a Snowy Adventure
From world class ski resorts to snow tubing with the whole family, there are so many ways to enjoy a White Christmas in Park City. Some of the adventures you’ll find on our winter activities blog include downhill skiing, snow tubing, freestyle skiing, fat biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice skating and snow tubing.
6. Park City Santa Pub Crawl + Toy Drive
The Santa Pub Crawl is one of my favorite events of the winter. Visitors 21 and up can get excited for a festive affair like no other. This merry event invites participants to don their most spirited winter and Santa themed costumes and spread holiday cheer throughout town. specifically, you’ll start from Butcher’s Chophouse and Bar at 6:00 p.m. with your new, unwrapped toy to donate (or a $10 donation). The group will then bounce to Downstair, Flanagan’s, The Cabin and No Name.
7. North Pole Express in Heber
Please note that this event was an early sellout this year. My hunch is that social media has discovered this gem of an event. Embark on a magical journey to the North Pole with the Heber Valley Railroad’s North Pole Express. Holiday spirit is plentiful on board the festively decorated train, complete with decorations, caroling and a visit from Santa himself.
8. Christmas Shopping in Park City
Still need to do a little Christmas shopping in Park City? Never fear, there are plenty of options here. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite local businesses for Christmas shopping here. You’ll find lots of other options on Park City’s Main Street, at The Outlet Mall and many stores sprinkled in between!
9. Savor the Magic of Gingerbread
Indulge in the sweet spirit of the holidays with two options to experience gingerbread houses this season. For those looking for a hands-on experience, grab tickets and head over to the Grocery Cafe where you can craft your own gingerbread masterpiece. Or, to be wowed by an amazing gingerbread spectacle, venture to the Stein Eriksen Lodge to see a life-size gingerbread firetruck that includes 190 pounds of gingerbread and 120 pounds of icing!
10. Sleigh Rides!
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? The Park City area has a few options for an epic sleigh ride that is straight out of a Christmas carol. With a cozy blanket on your lap and a sense of nostalgia in your mind, this is a charming way to go through a winter wonderland together.
- One of the quintessential options is Broken Arrow Sleigh Rides, the premier horse drawn sleigh company of Deer Valley.
- The Snowed Inn Sleigh Company and The Viking Yurt provide an unforgettable experience with a sleigh ride to dinner.
- In Midway, you can enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride through a magical display of lights.
- Park City Sleigh Rides offers private horse-drawn sleigh rides for up to twelve passengers.
- Last, but not least, High Star Ranch features Clydesdale Wagon Rides in Kamas December 7th to 30th.
Do you plan to spend the holidays here in Park City? It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and I hope you and yours have a great one.