Local Guides  β€Ί  Where to See Christmas Lights in the Salt Lake Valley
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Where to See Christmas Lights in the Salt Lake Valley

Christmas lights in Salt Lake City are at Temple Square, Hogle Zoo, Christmas Street in Sugar House and Draper Park, where the lights turn on November 30. Temple Square, ZooLights and Christmas Street have not posted 2026 dates yet. Candlelight Christmas runs December 11 to 23, and Gardner Village runs November 21 through December 31. Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point is in Lehi, outside Salt Lake County.

At a glance

Free walkChristmas Street, Sugar House
For kidsZooLights at Utah's Hogle Zoo
DowntownTemple Square
South valleyDraper Park
Old-fashioned nightCandlelight Christmas at This Is The Place Heritage Park
1

Temple Square

πŸ“ Downtown Salt Lake City
A walk downtown

The Church lights Temple Square downtown each Christmas season. 2026 dates not announced yet. The Salt Lake Temple renovation closes some areas, so check the official closure map for which grounds are open.

Tip: Take TRAX downtown instead of hunting for parking on a December weekend.
2

ZooLights at Utah's Hogle Zoo

πŸ“ Salt Lake City (Emigration Canyon mouth)
Kids who want animals and lights

The zoo runs ZooLights on select nights, with light displays, hot chocolate and Santa in the Wild Zootique gift shop. It is a separate ticketed event from daytime admission. 2026 dates not announced yet; the zoo's page still shows last season.

Tip: Check the zoo's ZooLights page in November for the 2026 nights before you plan the evening.
3

Christmas Street

πŸ“ Sugar House, Salt Lake City
A short neighborhood stroll

Glen Arbor Street is a cul-de-sac off 1500 East near 1745 South, and its houses have been decorated every December since 1947. It costs nothing to visit and you walk it. 2026 dates not announced yet.

Tip: Park a block or two away on a side street and walk in. Keep your voice down late at night, people live here.
4

Draper Park

πŸ“ Draper
South valley families

Draper switches on its park display at the city tree lighting on Monday, November 30, 2026, with Santa and special guests. More than three million lights go up on the park's trees and stay on nightly through January 1. All activities are free.

Tip: The tree lighting night is the busiest. Any other evening in December is easier.
5

Gardner Village

πŸ“ West Jordan
Lights plus a little shopping

Christmas in the Village at 1100 West 7800 South runs November 21 through December 31, 2026, with lights and an elf scavenger hunt. There is no admission or parking fee to visit, though fees may apply for select activities.

Tip: Breakfast with Santa has its own reservation link, so book it separately from the village visit.
6

Candlelight Christmas at This Is The Place Heritage Park

πŸ“ Salt Lake City (east bench)
An old-fashioned evening

The pioneer village fills with the Heritage Carolers, a live Nativity, Father Christmas and 1800s Christmas customs in the historic homes. For 2026 it runs December 11 to 23, closed Sundays.

Tip: Dress for the cold. The night is spent outdoors on village streets, and the park's ticket site handles admission.
7

Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point

πŸ“ Lehi (Utah County, outside Salt Lake County)
A walk-through light show south of the county line

Thanksgiving Point turns Ashton Gardens at 3900 North Garden Drive in Lehi into a walk-through light show from November 12 to January 9. It is closed Sundays, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and entry is by timed ticket. Lehi is in Utah County, so this one is outside Salt Lake County.

Tip: Book a timed entry early. Time slots start every 15 minutes.
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Local note: Displays run from downtown Salt Lake City to Draper and West Jordan. Temple Square, ZooLights and Christmas Street have not posted 2026 dates yet, so check the official link for each before you go.

How to pick the right one

Start with what kind of night you want. For a walk downtown, go to Temple Square, and check its official page for which grounds are open during the Salt Lake Temple renovation. For kids who want animals and lights, ZooLights at Hogle Zoo is the ticketed pick, and it is a separate ticket from daytime zoo admission.

For a neighborhood tradition, walk Christmas Street in Sugar House, a cul-de-sac decorated every December since 1947. South valley families can skip downtown: Draper Park turns on more than three million lights at its tree lighting on Monday, November 30, 2026, and Gardner Village in West Jordan runs Christmas in the Village from November 21 through December 31 with no admission or parking fee. For an old-fashioned evening, Candlelight Christmas at This Is The Place Heritage Park runs December 11 to 23. Temple Square, ZooLights and Christmas Street have not posted 2026 dates, so check each official page before you go.

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Common questions

Where can I see Christmas lights in Salt Lake City?
Temple Square, ZooLights at Hogle Zoo, Christmas Street in Sugar House and Draper Park are the main displays in Salt Lake County. Gardner Village in West Jordan and Candlelight Christmas at This Is The Place Heritage Park add village options, and Luminaria in Lehi is the nearest big show outside the county.
Where can I see free Christmas lights in Salt Lake City?
Christmas Street in Sugar House and Draper Park cost nothing to visit. Gardner Village in West Jordan charges no admission or parking fee, though fees may apply for select activities.
When do the Temple Square Christmas lights turn on in 2026?
The Church has not announced 2026 dates for the Temple Square lights yet. Check the official Temple Square page in November, and look at its closure map, since parts of the grounds are closed for the Salt Lake Temple renovation.
When is ZooLights at Hogle Zoo in 2026?
Hogle Zoo has not announced 2026 ZooLights dates yet, and its page still shows last season. ZooLights is a separate ticketed event from daytime admission, and it runs on select nights.
Is Luminaria at Thanksgiving Point in Salt Lake City?
No, Luminaria is in Lehi, in Utah County, outside Salt Lake County. It runs November 12 to January 9 at Ashton Gardens, closed Sundays, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, with timed-entry tickets.
Where is Christmas Street in Sugar House?
Christmas Street is Glen Arbor Street, a cul-de-sac off 1500 East near 1745 South in Salt Lake City. Its houses have been decorated every December since 1947, and it is free to walk.
When is the Draper tree lighting in 2026?
Draper's tree lighting is Monday, November 30, 2026, at Draper Park. Santa and special guests turn on the lights, all activities are free, and the lights stay on nightly through January 1.
When is Candlelight Christmas at This Is The Place in 2026?
Candlelight Christmas runs December 11 to 23, 2026, closed Sundays, at This Is The Place Heritage Park. It includes the Heritage Carolers, Father Christmas and a live Nativity.

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