Any amount of time on social media will show, from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, it’s spooky season. But as soon as the calendar turns over to Nov. 1, the Halloween decorations, parties and content disappear, gobbled up by Christmas cheer, winter holiday events and Mariah Carey. The pop singer shows off her famous range (in more ways than one) with a video on Twitter, transforming from a catsuit-clad witch to a Santa Claus-inspired holiday reveler, looking like she walked straight out of her “All I Want For Christmas Is You” music video. And who are we mere mortals to disagree with Mariah Carey? “All I Want For Christmas Is You” tops the charts every year around the holidays and it’s one of the best selling singles of all time. 

IT’S TIME!!! 🎄☃️ #MariahSZN pic.twitter.com/CtRsxYyLo8

— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) November 1, 2022

“But what about Thanksgiving?!” Come the cries from a small contingent in the back. To which we say, “What about it?” There’s a reason radio stations start playing Christmas music as soon as the clock strikes 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 1 and not Thanksgiving music. What is Thanksgiving music, anyway? Aside from listening to Taylor Swift’s Red or Folklore albums on loop? Most people seem fine dedicating Thanksgiving to just one day—Thanksgiving Day—and these holiday events throughout the month of November, all over the state of Utah, reflect that sentiment. Happy Holidays! 

Upcoming Holiday Events

Holiday Lights

Lighting of Riverwoods 2022
Nov. 18, 6 p.m.-9 p.m., The Shops At Riverwoods, Provo 
This is the annual Lighting of Riverwoods event featuring over one million lights, live entertainment, ice sculptures and a firework show.

Lights On! at the Eccles
Nov. 21, 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. at Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City
An event to light up the annual Eccles Theater holiday art installation by local artist Lenka Konopasek. The evening includes a performance from One Voice Children’s Choir and tasty holiday treats. This is a free festive event. Eccles Theater has partnered with Volunteers of America, Utah to collect coats and other warm winter items for families in need. Attendees are encouraged to bring clean, gently-used donations to this event.

Kanab Christmas Light Parade & Festival 2022
Nov. 26, 6:30 p.m., Kanab Center, Kanab 
The event starts with a tree lighting ceremony and then shuts down the highway to begin the Christmas Light Parade. After the parade entries float down Center Street comes the launch of the Wishing Lanterns.  

Ogden’s Holiday Electric Light Parade 2022
Nov. 26, 5:30 p.m., Downtown Ogden, Ogden 
Ogden’s holiday season begins with the Electric Light Parade that fills Washington Boulevard from 22nd Street to 26th Street. The parade is full of elaborate floats, sensational themes and fantastic performers.

2022 Midway Tree Lighting Celebration
Nov. 26, 6 p.m., Midway Town Hall, Midway 
Festivities include holiday entertainment, hot cocoa and cookies, live reindeer, Mr. and Mrs. Claus, old fashioned candy and peanut bags, tree lighting ceremony and fireworks. Bring a canned food item for discounted ice skating at the Midway Ice Skating rink.

Draper Tree Lighting Ceremony 2022
Nov. 28, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Draper City Park, Draper
Draper City’s annual Tree Lighting Ceremony will include appearances by Santa and special guests, with more than three million lights placed on trees throughout the park. The biggest attraction is the large Globe Willow tree in the center of the park which alone boasts over 75,000 lights.

Sandy’s Light up the Cairns 2022
Nov. 28, 6 p.m., Sandy City Hall and Promenade, Sandy 
Sandy City turns on the Holiday lights at City Hall with holiday music and hot chocolate. This year will also include a drone show.

Herriman Night of Lights 2022
Nov. 28, 6 p.m., J. Lynn Crane Park, Herriman 
Ring in the season with the annual Night of Lights, featuring musical performances, games, crafts and ice skating.

Mapleton City Christmas Tree Lighting, Wreath & Christmas Festival 2022
Nov. 28, 5 p.m., Mapleton City Park, Mapleton 
This yearly event includes the annual lighting of Mapleton City Park, children’s choir, carolers, a visit from Santa, face painting, s’mores by the fire and food trucks. There will also be a display and silent auction of wreaths to benefit the Sub for Santa program.

2022 Saratoga Springs City Christmas Tree Lighting
Nov. 28, 6 p.m., Neptune Park, Saratoga Springs 
This is the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting with Santa, featuring crafts for the kids and musical entertainment, food truck and a fireworks show. 

Performing Arts & Entertainment Holiday Events

The Nightmare Before Christmas
Nov, 2, 7:00 p.m., Peery’s Egyptian Theater at Peery’s Egyptian Theater, Ogden
Jack Skellington, king of Halloween Town, discovers Christmas Town, but his attempts to bring Christmas to his home causes confusion. Rated PG. Run time: 1h 16m

‘Fright-mare Before Christmas’
Nov. 4-26, The Off Broadway Theatre Company, Draper
Playwright Eric Jensen’s newest parody for the ‘tween season (between Halloween and Christmas)—a horror/comedy/musical/holiday extravaganza! Skully, a lonely skeleton, and the icons of other holidays around the calendar battle Dracula, ruler of the underworld, in Christmasland. 

‘The Nutcracker’
Nov. 11-12, Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, Taylorsville
Utah Dance Institute presents The Nutcracker.

The Utah Baroque Ensemble 2022 Christmas Concert
Nov. 13, 1081 W. 1060 North, Provo; Nov. 20, 481 E. Center Street, Orem
A concert of Christmas-themed baroque music. The 2022 concert includes works by Bach, Byr and Sweelinck, as well as music in the Baroque style by a variety of composers including Rutter, Mathias and Sargent. This is a free event.

Ballet West Academy’s ‘A Merry Little Christmas Show’
Nov. 14-15, 7 p.m., Covey Center for the Arts at Covey Center for the Arts, Provo 
This ballet student performance includes holiday music and entertaining choreography.

Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular!
Nov. 19, 7:30 p.m., The Maverik Center, West Valley City
Three-time Grammy Award-winning artist Pentatonix brings their Pentatonix: A Christmas Spectacular! 2022 Tour to West Valley City on November 19th. In tandem with the tour, Pentatonix will unveil their 11th overall full-length and sixth holiday album,  Holidays Around The World (RCA Records).

As Long as There’s Christmas
Nov. 19, 7 p.m., Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, Taylorsville 
Join Santa’s elves as they try to raise enough Christmas Spirit to save the holiday season. All of their efforts are in vain until one little girl reminds everyone of the reason for the season.

David Archuleta: The More the Merrier Christmas Tour
Nov. 18-19, 7:30 p.m., Tuacahn Amphitheatre and Center for the Arts, Ivins 
David Archuleta brings his The More the Merrier Christmas Tour to Utah. 

Bells at Temple Square Concert 2022
Nov. 18-19, 7:30 p.m., Tabernacle on Temple Square, Salt Lake City UT
The Bells at Temple Square will present its annual holiday season concert, led by LeAnna Willmore, conductor of the Bells at Temple Square, and featuring the handbell choir playing on two sets of English handbells. 

The Forgotten Carols 2022 Tour
Nov. 21, 7 p.m., Wasatch High School, Heber City 
Touring since 1991, The Forgotten Carols brings to life the story of Constance Louise Chamberlain, a nurse who hasn’t laughed or cried in over 30 years. But that all changes when she meets and cares for a homeless man with dementia who insists he’s been alive for over two thousand years and recounts the story of Christmas. 

Trans-Siberian Orchestra – The Ghosts Of Christmas Eve
Nov. 22, 3 p.m., Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City
The holidays rock a whole lot harder with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. By infusing seasonal classics with rock flamboyance, a symphonic sense of scope and an eye-popping visual presentation, complete with lasers and pyrotechnics.

Ballet West’s ‘The Nutcracker’
Nov. 25-26, Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts, Ogden 
For nearly 70 years, The Nutcracker by Ballet West has been one of Utah’s most beloved traditions. The longest-running Nutcracker in the country, Ballet West’s production features fantastical sets, gorgeous costumes and spell-binding special effects.

GENTRI Christmas
Nov. 25-26, The Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City 
Live at the Eccles presents GENTRI: The Gentlemen Trio. GENTRI: The Gentlemen Trio brings their holiday spectacular show, CHRISTMAS, to the Eccles stage. 

‘The Polar Express’
Nov. 26, 10:30 a.m., Peery’s Egyptian Theater, Ogden 
The Polar Express Event is back for the 8th year, and this year it’s a holiday pajama party. We encourage everyone to wear your most festive fuzzy pants and slippers. This is also a fundraiser to benefit the Egyptian Theater Foundation. Rated G. Run time: 1h 40m.

2022 Messiah Sing-in
Nov. 26-27, 7:30 p.m., Abravanel Hall, Salt Lake City
This cherished tradition invites all to share in the joy of singing Handel’s masterpiece with the Utah Symphony and Utah Opera Chorus. Ranked as one of the “Top 100 Things to do in Salt Lake Before You Die” by Salt Lake editor Jeremy Pugh.

Holiday Fairs And Shows

Salt Lake’s Family Christmas Gift Show
Nov. 10-12, Mountain America Expo Center, Sandy
Start your holiday shopping at the 23rd annual Salt Lake’s Family Christmas Gift Show with 485 booths of gifts amid holidays light displays, decorations, music and, of course, Santa. Children 13 years of age and under enter free. 

Highland Holiday Craft Fair
Nov. 11-12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Highland Community Center, Highland
The Highland City Arts Council is sponsoring the Highland Holiday Craft Fair. The two-day event will feature local crafters and artisans, live music, food and door prizes. This is a free event.

Logan Holiday Gift Show 2022
Nov. 11-12, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Riverwoods Conference Center, Logan 
This is Cache Valley’s place to find the most unique gifts and holiday décor made by local artisans. 

2022 Helper Christmas Craft Fair
Nov. 18-19, Helper Civic Auditorium, Helper 
The small town of Helper, Utah comes alive during the Christmas season, starting with the Annual Christmas Craft Fair, featuring booths, food and entertainment.

5th Annual Gingerbread Competition Display
Nov. 21-28, University Place Orem, Orem
The 5th annual University Place Gingerbread House Competition houses will be on display in the west wing of the shopping center, near Tradehome Shoes.

2022 Jubilee of Trees
Nov. 22-23, Dixie Convention Center, Saint George 
Jubilee of Trees is a holiday celebration to raise funds for the advancement of medical services at Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital. It is open to the public and showcases decorated Christmas trees and wreaths created by local designers, businesses and community groups that are available for auction.

19th Annual Vernal Holly Days Festival
Nov. 25, 11 a.m., Various locations in Vernal, Vernal UT
The Vernal Holly Days Festival is back with zipline, bounce houses, swings, pony rides, cotton candy and prizes. The Annual Vernal Holly Days Festival is a free event.

Parowan: Christmas in the Country
Nov. 25-26, 10 a.m., Various venues in Parowan, Parowan 
This holiday event features the Holiday Bazaar, Santa’s Parade and Candlelight Walking Parade.

2022 Spanish Fork Christmas Gift and Craft Show
Nov. 25-26, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Spanish Fork Fairgrounds, Spanish Fork UT
This is Spanish Fork’s 43rd Annual Christmas Gift and Craft Show.

2022 Novemberfest Arts and Crafts Fair
Nov. 25-26, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Cache County Event Center, Logan 
The Novemberfest Holiday Fair has become an annual tradition, featuring nearly 100 vendors and artisans.

Holiday Market 2022 at Legacy Park
Nov. 25–26, 10 a.m., Washington County Legacy Park, Hurricane 
Get your holiday shopping done all at once while supporting local businesses, crafters and artisans. This is a free event. 

2022 Wheeler Holiday Market
Nov. 25-27, Wheeler Historic Farm, Murray 
Shop locally made treats for those on your holiday list at the Wheeler Holiday Market.

Santa Claus Comes To Town

Santa’s Grand Arrival at University Place
Nov. 25, 9:30 a.m., University Place Orem, Orem 
A long-standing tradition at University Place, Santa makes an unforgettable entrance to University Place. Santa’s Grand Arrival will take place in the parking lot in front of Tucano’s Brazilian Grill. There will be live entertainment and refreshments, while supplies last, as attendees wait for the big guy to land in his helicopter.

Santa’s Arrival in Riverton 2022
Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m., Riverton City Park, Riverton
Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at the park on a bright red fire engine. Children can greet Santa to make their Christmas requests and also write their letter to Santa. There will be free scones, hot chocolate, marshmallow roasting, cookie decorating and crafts.

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Attended by researchers, policymakers, state and federal leaders and other lake stakeholders, the second annual Great Salt Lake Summit convened Thursday. Presenters tried to outline progress that has been made to save the lake since the last summit and experts explained the threat, Utah’s water sources, trends and cycles, and discussed possible solutions.

The Great Salt Lake is at a historical low elevation. Should the Great Salt Lake continue to follow the current trend and dry out, the environmental, economic and ecological impacts would be devastating. The increased dust would worsen Utah’s air quality and introduce more particulate matter, including heavy metals and arsenic, to the air. The industries that depend on the lake, like magnesium mining and aquaculture harvesting, could dry up as well. The life that dwells in and relies on the lake are already in decline.

Presenters Dr. William Anderegg, Director of the Wilkes Center for Climate Science and Policy, and Dr. Brian Steed, Executive Director of the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water & Air, surmised, if we act now, with interventions, the lake can return to healthy levels over the next 30 years. However, we have to recognize that human activity and water consumption are the dominant contributors to the Great Salt Lake’s dramatic drop in water level (from 67-73%). And of that water consumption, agriculture interests divert the most water from the Great Salt Lake. The difficulty of addressing this challenge is multiplied when we consider that Utah is projected to double in population in the next 4-5 decades. In short, Utah needs to dramatically change the way it diverts and consumes water, mostly by using a whole lot less of it than we are now. 

“I am proud of the work we have done and the progress that has been made, but we still have a long way to go,” said Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson, who hosted the summit. “Protecting and preserving the Great Salt Lake is a marathon, not a sprint. It will take a continuous effort for many years, from government, the private sector, and all Utahns. And while we may never fully see the impacts of our work, this is simply a race we cannot afford to lose.” 

Wilson began the summit by referencing a recent Deseret News and Hinckley Institute of Politics poll that found that 80% of Utahns are either “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about the Great Salt Lake, which seems to show public support is behind efforts to stave off the lake’s demise. So far, those efforts have included throwing some money at the problem, including a $40 million trust to increase water for Great Salt Lake and improve the lake’s upstream habitat, created by the Great Salt Lake Watershed Enhancement Program (H.B. 410). The Utah legislature also appropriated $50 million in 2022 (to supplement $20 million in funding appropriated in November 2021 and the Agricultural Water Optimization Task Force created in 2018) for agricultural water optimization to reduce water use.

At the summit, Speaker Wilson announced his intent to introduce legislation to create “Utah Water Ways,” which he described as a nonprofit, public-private partnership with the mission to help educate all Utahns on how they can do their part to conserve water. 

But there is much more to do to build on the State’s piecemeal approach, including the retrofitting of landscapes away from traditional turf and new practices to avoid over-watering. Wastewater reuse might not be the answer, given that water is depleted in the recycling process, but it could have its place, according to Candice Hasenyager, Director of Utah Division of Water Resources. Cloudseeding could also play a part. Steed explained that further examination is also needed of how to keep agriculture production up while using much less water. A pipeline from the Pacific Ocean to the Great Salt Lake probably isn’t the most feasible option. 

To conserve water, experts hit on the need for more education, incentives and regulation. While many of the State’s water-wise incentive programs are just barely up and running, when it comes to regulation, “Every municipality needs to be looking at their water ordinances,” said Bart Forsyth, Director of Jordan Valley Water Conservancy. He added that there should not be any new building construction without planning for water optimization.  

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Another FanX is in the books, having delivered an extremely high turnout and some fun moments for fans—from celebrity photo-ops and Q&As, panels, art and so, so much merch. In particular, we have to mention FanX cosplay. It’s one of the things the show is known for—the sheer number of attendees that show up in cosplay just because they love it. In addition to FanX cosplay, there were some new features this year that made the con for fans. 

FanX Cosplay

“Best cosplay” is pretty subjective, but in our wanderings around the exhibitor floor and artist alley at the Salt Palace Convention Center, we found some cosplay that stood out from the crowd and offer a little insight into what makes them special. 

Two cosplayers dress as The Sisters from Kubo and the Two Strings. They posted about the “behind the scene” making of the cosplay on their Instagram, @camilla_art_247, showing how they captured the unique style of the stop-motion animated film.  

Big cosplay builds require a fusion of artistry, imagination, engineering prowess and time—lots and lots of time—like this B73-NS from Overwatch cosplay, capable of mobility with articulated joints. 

Some cosplayers make armor from materials like craft foam, leather fabrics and thermoplastics (such as Worbla or Sintra) and make it look like the real thing, like these Star Wars Mandalorians hanging out in Jabba’s Palace. 

It looks like a full-body prosthetic mold was used to make this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cosplay that looks like it could have walked right out of one of the 90s movies. 

In addition to being a fun and loving take on the character, this Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street cosplay utilized puppetry to bring the beloved character to life as they do on the show itself. 

While some cosplayers aim for accuracy, others like to put their own spin on a character, like these steampunk Disney cosplayers. 

Of course, classic Disney characters (here we see Lady Tremaine from Cinderella and the Evil Queen from Snow White) still show up in force.

Magical Moments

Fans of fantasy, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), other tabletop games got to have a rest-up and enjoy a drink at Evermore Park’s (the fantasy-themed adventure park in Pleasant Grove, Utah that Salt Lake magazine wrote about previously here) booth, where they could also meet TikTok, Twitch and social media stars like Quincy’s Tavern, Critical Dice, and The Smoking Barrel.

It’s not the last collaboration between Evermore Park and the tabletop-savvy TikTokers. They’re planning an upcoming event called The Convergence. The Convergence is an immersive D&D getaway that will take participants into the once virtual-only world of Quincy’s Tavern, which will be transported to this material plane at Evermore Park for the event. Convergence: Quincy’s Tavern at Evermore Park is coming May 2-6, 2023, and tickets are on sale now.

Cosplay Meet-ups are scheduled events at the convention that set aside a time and place for all of the people cosplaying as characters from a particular intellectual property (think Marvel Cinematic Universe, Harry Potter or Doctor Who). They are a cornerstone of FanX and FanX cosplay. It gives fans a chance to get together at the convention (which can be difficult, given the crowds), show off their handmade costumes and props and geek out about the thing they all love. It’s hard to find time on the schedule for a cosplay meet-up for every fandom, so some fans took things into their own hands this year. As part of a grassroots started by a local Facebook group, then spread by word of mouth at the convention, fans of the online streaming phenomenon Critical Role, organized their own unofficial cosplay meet-up with a much bigger turnout than some of the official cosplay meet-ups.

​This year, a well-known local cosplayer took the top prize at the FanX Cosplay Contest: 1st Prize in the Cosplay Contest Masters category. We interviewed Gayle Dowdle for our September 2021 issue of Salt Lake magazine along with other talented local cosplayers making couture-level cosplay. Dowdle creates beautifully accurate recreations of Queen Elizabeth I of England’s infamous gowns. She came to FanX with her latest, a lovingly rendered “Armada” portrait gown. Her victory at the FanX Cosplay Contest comes on the heels of another victory—her battle with cancer. (See more of how she made her award-winning Armada gown on her Instagram, @dowdledesign.) Congratulations, Gayle! 

Salt Lake FanX will return to the Salt Palace Convention Center September 21-23, 2023. 

FanX Day One Highlights

FanX Day Two Highlights

FanX Day Three Highlights

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