(Editor’s note: The following listings are subject to change. Contact the venue to confirm details.)
Here are our top picks for events happening Nov. 25 to Dec. 1. We did our best to find something for everything. If we left something out, let us know by leaving a comment below.
11/25
WEDNESDAY
2 pm
Communicating Global Warming Sciences to the Public
NASA Electronic Theater, University of Utah, SLC
801-581-6136, www.met.utah.edu/events
Dr. Fritz Hasler, research meteorologist, discusses how to convey the sciences behind global warming to the masses in this atmospheric sciences seminar.
10 am
Old World Christmas Market
Grand Hall, The Gateway, SLC
www.downtownslc.org/christmasmarket
The festive atmosphere is modeled after European Markets. Shop for one-of-a-kind items by local artisans and crafters or enjoy food vendors offering traditional flavors of the season. From 11/21-29.
4 and 8 pm
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
EnergySolutions Arena, 301 West South Temple, SLC
801-355-SEAT (7328), www.energysolutionsarena.com
Night Castletells the tale of a young girl living in the beach house built by her grandfather. She can hear the ocean’s crashing waves of the largest storms to the quietest of breakers, on the calmest of nights.
7 pm
Weekly Nature Walk
Swaner EcoCenter, 1258 Center Drive, Park City
435-649-1767, www.swanerecocenter.org
Enjoy weekly nature walks on the south side of the Swaner Preserve for an easy stroll. Learn about the Preserve’s history, what animals and plants call it home, and how it changes through the seasons. Reservations required.
7 pm
David Archuleta in Concert
Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, SLC
801-355-2787, www.arttix.org
In the 2007 season, Archuleta captured the heart of Utah and the nation when he placed second on American Idol. He now has three songs debuting at once on the Billboard Hot 100. Also 11/24.
11/26
THURSDAY
Thanksgiving Day
8 am
2nd Annual Turkey Run for Hunger
Snap Fitness, 1726 W. 12600 South, Riverton
801-634-5490, www.active.com
Cost is $28 day of race, family rates available. Start and finish are at Snap Fitness. Drawings for free pies and turkeys will be held. All proceeds are donated to the Utah Food Bank.
8 am
4th Annual Utah Human Race
Draper Factory Outlet Mall, Draper
Cost is $10 per individual, $50 per family. Family-friendly 5K fun run/walk Turkey Trot to benefits the Utah Food Bank and other humanitarian services. Help us achieve our goal of 5,000 participants and $50,000.
8 am
Earn Your Turkey Run/Walk & Kids Races
Orem Fitness Center, 580 W. 165 South, Orem
801-223-7010, www.earnyourturkey.com
Since 1982, the Orem Fitness Center has held the most prize-laden Thanksgiving Day races in Utah. For a modest entry fee, participants can win turkeys and pies, and guilt free feasting the rest of the day.
9 am
City Creek Cold Turkey 6K Run
Capitol Building, SLC
801-583-6281, www.sports-am.com
Runners and walkers have enjoyed this race for 15 years. Course beings at the Capitol, goes up City Creek Canyon, turn around and ends at Memory Grove. As an option, consider the Mill Creek 5K.
9 am
Kick the Stuffing Out of Cancer
www.huntsmancancerfoundation.org
Six different races are part of this fundraising event: City Creek Cold Turkey 6K, Cottonwood Heights 5K, Fleet Feet 5K (American Fork), Millcreek Cold Turkey 5K, South Davis Run 10K/5K/Kids 1K (Bountiful), Turkey Trot 5K (Tremonton). Register by 11/20.
9 am – Noon
Feast with the Beasts
Hogle Zoo, 2600 E. Sunnyside Ave., SLC
801-582-1631, www.hoglezoo.org
Watch keepers give food-based enrichment to various animals — everything from turkey shaped piñatas to pumpkins for the animals to stomp, roll, drop and chomp!
11/27
FRIDAY
10 am
Holiday Pottery Sale
Sugarhouse Garden Center, 1602 E. 2100 South, SLC
Kick off the holiday season with handmade gifts. Over 25 Utah ceramic artists will meet to sell their bowls, plates, teapots, vases, beads, sculptures, and other wares. Also 11/28.
2 pm
Christmas Nativity Celebration
Historic Kaysville Tabernacle, 198 W. Center, Kaysville
801-544-3537, www.kaysvillecity.com
Free. Seventh annual event will have art displays, wall hangings, world tour nativity display, over 20 concerts and choirs, a live children’s nativity on stage and hands-on children’s nativity crafts. Also 11/28, 11 a.m.
4:30 pm
Lights On Holiday Kick-off
Downtown, SLC
www.downtownslc.org
Annual celebration of the illumination of holiday lights and spectacular showcase of the downtown holiday season. Event combines four significant venues: the Gallivan Center, Temple Square, The Gateway and Broadway Boulevard.
6 pm
Candlelight Christmas
This Is The Place Heritage Park, 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave., SLC
801-582-1847, www.thisistheplace.org
Enjoy Father Christmas with real reindeer, live nativity scene, lights, carolers, homemade decorations, children’s crafts – everything to observe a Christmas like the pioneers did – quieter, simpler, fun for all. Through 12/23.
6-10 pm
Holiday Lights Display
Thanksgiving Point, 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi
801-768-2300, www.thanksgivingpoint.com
$8/car. Enjoy an enchanting drive through more than one million twinkling lights. Through 12/28 (closed Sundays).
7 pm
Sleeping Beauty
Children’s Theatre and School of the Arts, 237 S. State, SLC
801-523-6000, www.tctheatre.org
A beautiful girl named Briar Rose was cursed by an evil fairy and now the fate of this sleeping beauty and the kingdom is in the hands of a courageous prince and his persistence to break the magic spell. Through 11/28.
7:30 pm
It’s a Wonderful Life
Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Circle, SLC
801-581-7100, www.kingsburyhall.com
Now in it’s fifth year, this full-length work is based on the classic holiday film and is filled with all the numerous dance styles and creative storytelling you’ve come to expect from Odyssey Dance Company. Through 12/5.
7:30 pm
Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical
SCERA, 745 S. State, Orem
801-225-ARTS (2787), www.utahvalley.org
Set as first TV special taped in studio built by Reverend Mother in convent basement. Show is filled with typical Nun-sense of humor, sing-a-longs, favorite carols and a Secret Santa audience participation. Through 12/21.
7:30 pm
X-Mas Men “The Island of Misfits”
Off Broadway Theatre, 272 S. Main, SLC
801-355-4628, www.theOBT.com
Christmas is never the same at Misfit Island! Can Santa Claus help these beloved misfits save the world? A tale full of adventure and Christmas spirit between X-Men and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Through 1/10.
11/28
SATURDAY
5:30 and 7:30 pm
We Also Sing Concert
LDS Tabernacle, Temple Square, SLC
Directed by Merrilee Webb, this 360-member choir is composed of women from throughout Utah. “We laugh, we cry, and we try to make a difference. Oh, and We Also Sing.†Free performance, but tickets are required.
7 pm
Kearns Holiday Festival
Utah Olympic Oval, 5662 S. Cougar Lane, Kearns
801-968-6852, www.olyparks.com
Meet the 2002 Olympic Games Mascots while enjoying skating ($2), games, pizza dinner ($1), live entertainment, figure skating show, hockey game, inflatables, kids’ crafts and holiday boutique.
7:30 pm
Miracle on 34th Street
Sugar Factory Playhouse, 8201 S. 2200 West, West Jordan
801-294-1242, www.sugarfactoryplayhouse.com
Get into the Christmas spirit with this tale of a girl who doesn’t believe in Santa Claus. This family classic is sure to bring a smile to your face and Christmas warmth to your heart. Through 12/14.
7:30 pm
KUTV Holiday Pops Concert
Cottonwood High School, 5715 S. 1300 East, Murray
801-467-TIXX (8499), www.casu.org
Featuring the Choral Arts Society of Utah and West Valley Symphony which will perform favorite Christmas music with special guest contemporary guitarist Michael Dowdle. Enjoy an audience sing-a-long and visit from Santa.
8 pm
The Swell Season
Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, 138 W. 300 South, SLC
801-581-7100, www.kingsburyhall.org
Members Glen Hansard (from the Irish band, The Frames) and Marketa Irglova (classically trained Czech pianist and vocalist) international acclaim and notoriety in the film Once, which earned them an Oscar for Best Song.
11/29
SUNDAY
10 am – 6 pm
Grand American Hotel, 555 S. Main, SLC
801-258-6000, www.grandamerica.com
Tour the handcrafted gingerbread wonders of Grand Gingerbread Village and view a cozy collection of teddy bears arranged in holiday suite sponsored in support of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Through 12/20.
5 pm
Zoolights!
Hogle Zoo, 2600 E. Sunnyside Ave., SLC
801-582-1631, www.hoglezoo.org
Utah’s largest animated holiday light park is going wild! View glittering animated animals made out of lights, warm up under heaters and enjoy savory seasonal treats along the way. Through 12/31.
7 pm
Messiah Sing-In
Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, SLC
801-355-2787, www.utahsymphony.com
Hallelujah! Susanne Sheston conducts the 32nd annual thrilling event. Bring your family (and your score) and sing along with the Utah Symphony. Also 11/28.
7 pm
Sundays @ 7 Faculty Spotlight: Jie Lu and Ning Lu
Libby Gardner Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Circle, SLC
801-581-7100, music.utah.edu
The program will include two-piano repertoires of Mozart, Brahms and Darius Milhaud.
11/30
MONDAY
4 pm
Teen Crafts for the Holidays
Bingham Creek Library, 4834 W. 9000 South, West Jordan
801-943-4636, www.slcolibrary.org
Teens make something for your friends or family — choose from a snowflake key chain, snowflake picture frame, snowflake bookmark, felt mascot or pretty bracelet. Payment required at door, pre-registration recommended.
5:30 pm
America @ 1 Billion
College of Architecture, University of Utah, 375 S. 1530 East, SLC
Will 1 billion people be good for America? Dr. Arthur Nelson discusses that with sound planning and design this population mark can be a milestone instead of a millstone.
7 pm
Jingle Dale Rock Christmas Concert
Tahitian Noni, 333 River Park Drive, Provo
801-224-1000, dalejessee.com
Come and enjoy an evening of Christmas music that will get you in the mood for the holidays featuring contemporary new age pianist Dale Jesse, a capella group Vocalocity and the Utah Valley Handbell Ringers.
7 pm
Christmas in the Heart of a Child
Summit Academy, 1285 E. 13200 South, Draper
801-572-4166, www.draperartscouncil.org
Consists of six playets — Santa and the Gimmee Gimmee, The Little Drummer Boy, The Nutcracker, The Gift of the Magi, The Little Match Girl, and The Littlest Angel. Holiday family entertainment at its best. Through 12/7.
12/1
TUESDAY
6:30 pm
Science Movie Night: Newton’s Dark Secret
Main Library, 210 E. 400 South, SLC
Besides revealing Newton’s secretive and vindictive personality, this film shows how he made the bold intellectual leaps that transformed science. Screening and lively discussion with U’s Department of Physics and Astronomy.
6 pm
Annual Festival of Lights
Wheeler Historic Farm, 6351 S. 900 East, SLC
801-264-2241, www.wheelerfarm.com
Come down to the farm and take a wagon ride through lighted woods, warm yourself by a fire, enjoy a hot drink and visit with Santa. Through 12/22.
7:30 pm
Jeff Hamilton Trio
Sheraton City Center, 150 W. 500 South, SLC
801-278-0235, www.jazzslc.com
One of the most celebrated drummers of our time, Jeff Hamilton along with bassist Christoph Luty and Tamir Hendelman creates a musical symbiosis and “… lays into an earthy swinging groove.
7:30 pm
Bar J Wranglers
McKay Events Center, 800 W. University Parkway, Orem
801-863-7469, www.mckayeventscenter.com
Some folks call it a western music show, some call it a stand-up comedy show with masterful cowboy music; others call it the best musical experience in the West. Come and listen for yourself. barjchuckwagon.com
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