The best Christmas lights in Salt Lake City

7 displays · 2 free · Utah

Salt Lake City's holiday glow starts at Temple Square, where hundreds of thousands of lights have drawn crowds downtown since the 1960s, and radiates out from there. This is a city with a cul-de-sac that has called itself Christmas Street since 1947, a zoo in the foothills strung with lights, and a state park that turns its campground into a drive-through show.

The season kicks off around Thanksgiving and, thanks to reliable December snow, the lights here regularly get the white backdrop other cities dream about. Bundle up properly, because the best displays are outdoors and the canyon air means business after dark.

1.Christmas Lights at Temple Square

Downtown Salt Lake City

Walk-throughFree

The city's signature holiday tradition, with hundreds of thousands of lights wrapped through the trees and gardens around Temple Square. It has anchored downtown Decembers for generations and costs nothing. Ride TRAX downtown, since December parking near the square is its own winter sport.

Season: Thanksgiving weekend through New Year's

2.Christmas Street

Glen Arbor Street, Sugar House

Free neighborhoodFree

A Sugar House cul-de-sac that has decorated collectively since 1947, complete with a lighted arch reading Christmas Street and a glowing tree in the center circle. Every house joins in, from Polar Express themes to penguin scenes. Walk it rather than drive it, and look for the hot chocolate stand.

Season: Early December through New Year's

3.ZooLights at Hogle Zoo

Foothills, east Salt Lake City

Ticketed eventaround $15 to $20 per person

Utah's Hogle Zoo strings its hillside grounds with animal-themed light displays on select winter nights, with Santa visits and the carousel running. The foothill setting means city views between exhibits. Dress warmer than you think, since the zoo sits noticeably higher and colder than downtown.

Season: Late November through early January

4.Luminaria

Thanksgiving Point, Lehi

Ticketed eventaround $25 per person

Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point becomes a walk-through world of light, with a glowing hillside of luminarias, a fire-and-light show, and synchronized music. It is about 30 minutes south of Salt Lake and worth the drive. Timed tickets sell out on December weekends.

Season: Late November through New Year's

5.Fantasy at the Bay

Willard Bay State Park

Drive-through$20 per car

A drive-through light show winding through the campground at Willard Bay State Park, about 50 minutes north of the city. Grab the 3D snowflake glasses at the entrance and tune your radio to the synced station. At $20 a carload it is one of the best light-show values in Utah.

Season: Early December through Christmas week

6.Christmas in Color

South Jordan

Drive-througharound $35 per car

A drive-through show south of the city with more than a million lights synchronized to music you play through your car radio. The pulsing tunnels are the highlight. Buy a timed ticket online, since it keeps the entry line moving on busy nights.

Season: Late November through New Year's

7.Candlelight Christmas

This Is The Place Heritage Park

Ticketed eventaround $15 per person

The pioneer village at This Is The Place Heritage Park does Christmas the 1800s way, with lantern-lit streets, live nativity scenes, wagon rides, and craftsmen working in the historic cabins. It is less about megawatt lights and more about atmosphere, and kids love the train.

Season: Select nights in December

Local tip

Take TRAX downtown for Temple Square instead of driving. The City Center and Temple Square stops put you right at the lights, and you skip the December parking hunt entirely. Then walk a block to City Creek Center, which runs its own light displays and keeps you warm between stretches.

Displays and prices are researched from recent seasons and stated approximately; hours, routes, and admission change year to year, so check an event's official page before you drive out.

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Common questions

When do Christmas lights go up in Salt Lake City?

Temple Square flips on around Thanksgiving weekend, and that is the traditional start of the season. ZooLights, Luminaria, and Christmas in Color all open in late November too, while Christmas Street in Sugar House glows from early December through New Year's.

Where can I see free Christmas lights in Salt Lake City?

Temple Square is the big one, free and spectacular in the middle of downtown. Christmas Street on Glen Arbor in Sugar House is the beloved neighborhood option, a decorated cul-de-sac tradition since 1947. Both together make a perfect zero-dollar evening.

What is Christmas Street in Sugar House?

It is Glen Arbor Street, a cul-de-sac near 1700 South and 1500 East where every home has decorated together since 1947. A lighted sign arches over the entrance and a tree of lights stands in the center circle. Park nearby and walk in, since the street is small and fills with visitors.

Is Luminaria worth the drive to Lehi?

Yes, it is probably the most polished walk-through light experience in Utah, with a luminaria-covered hillside and a light-and-fire show in the Ashton Gardens. Give yourself 90 minutes on site and book a timed ticket ahead for December weekends.

Which Salt Lake area lights can I see without leaving my car?

Fantasy at the Bay at Willard Bay State Park is a $20-per-car drive-through with a radio soundtrack, and Christmas in Color in South Jordan syncs over a million lights to music through your speakers. Both are great on nights when the canyon winds make walking miserable.

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