Utah has lots to offer when it comes to the holidays! We all have traditions that we look forward to every year with friends and family. We mentioned many of those in our blog post all about making winter less cold and dreary and more full and fun, so make sure to read it for some great suggestions. This year, a few unique events and activities caught our attention and we just had to share! Maybe these will even become your next annual tradition!

Harry Potter fans are raving about this one! South Towne Mall is hosting a retail experience featuring Harry Potter products and decorations. You can purchase Bertie Bott's Every-Flavor Beans and Chocolate Frogs, plush owls, wands, Harry Potter ornaments, and more without having to travel to Harry-Potter World! Plus, there's animated window displays and photo opportunities for adults and kids.This is open now until January 6th, 2020 and may be the last year they do it, so don't miss out!

Held annually on the first weekend of December, Christkindlmarkt is a charming German-inspired market held at This is The Place Heritage Park in Salt Lake City. They offer amazing (and I mean YUMMY!) food, handmade products from a variety of vendors, and activities for kids. This is the perfect place to get unique gifts for friends and neighbors while supporting local vendors. Plus it's free to enter! This year Christkindlmarkt will be held December 4-7th and is open from 11:00-8:00 PM each day, so stop by for a taste of an old-fashioned Christmas!

Plan ahead for Snowbird's Torchlight Parade this year! For years this tradition has consisted of skiers coming down the slopes with lights in hand to create a spectacle of lights on the mountains for viewers. It's truly a unique experience to get in Utah! They host it on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, each with their own unique events. On Christmas Eve, Santa repels from a tram to visit the kids. On New Year's Eve they end the night with fireworks over the mountains. 😍 There are also fire pits and hot cocoa available to keep you warm in snowy mountains, so you can't go wrong!

Who's tried to make Gingerbread houses only to find that's it's way harder than it looks!? 🤦🏻‍♀️ That's one of the many reasons we're so impressed with these stunning Gingerbread creations! University Place is hosting the Bakers of Utah Gingerbread Competition December 2nd-7th this year so head on over to be blown away at the best Gingerbread creations in the state! Voting is open to the public, so take your friends or family to cast their vote and drool over these candy masterpieces!

Every year Draper holds a candy cane hunt for kids six and younger at Historic Park. It's the sweetest idea (no pun intended) and they hide thousands of candy canes throughout the park for kids to hunt. Specially marked candy canes can be redeemed for prizes and of course Santa and Mrs. Clause make an appearance! Join them Monday December 9th at 4:00 PM sharp to hunt for treats and say hello to the Clauses.

What's this you say? Just a magical bus decked with jingle bells that takes you on a tour of downtown Salt Lake to show you all of the lights, window displays, and historical buildings that you might find interesting. It takes you to the many famous sites that go all out for Christmas time including The Gateway, Temple Square, City Creek Center, Gallivan Plaza, and Capitol Theatre. Jump aboard for a night downtown for FREE. That's right. It's free! What better way to explore downtown Salt Lake for the holidays?

Who else misses outdoor movies in the park that they put on in the Summer? Watching Christmas classics may take the cake! It's time to get cozy and join in at the Viridian Event Center to watch these holiday classics with family and friends. Every Monday in December they're showing a different classic, from Frosty the Snowman to The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. This is another family friendly activity that will get you out of the house and enjoying the holidays. So get your PJ's on, grab some popcorn and hot cocoa (provided), and soak up the magic!

"The best way to spread holiday cheer is singing loud for all to hear!" Buddy the Elf knows best! Park City is just magical in December, and this event is no exception. This show is at The Egyptian Theatre and features local talent that leads you in a sing-along and brings the true spirit of Christmas. It's an experience for all ages and a wonderful way to bring people together. Click here to buy tickets ahead of time to save your spot. Will you try it out this year?

We've mentioned them before, but couldn't help but tell you about them again. If you haven't been to the Midway Ice Castles, these are a MUST! They are one of the Utah's best Winter events and are only up for a limited amount of time (because who knows what the weather might bring). We highly suggest going at night to see the lights that change the ice into a spectacle of colors! They often have performers, slides for the kids (and a big one for adults too!), and tunnels that transport you to another world. Tickets sell out fast, so plan your visit ASAP!

That's hardly all Utah has to offer for the holidays! We have so many more fun plans that we're looking forward to! Whether or not you're local, tell us what you're doing for the holidays! We'd love to hear your traditions in the comments down below. Until next time, best wishes!