The sixth rendition of the ever-growing Kilby Block Party will take place May 15 to 18 at the Utah State Fairpark, and festival presenters Sartain & Saunders (S&S) have gone all out to provide Salt Lakers with another jam-packed weekend of local and national acts.
What began as an alt-block party outside of Kilby Court in 2019 has ballooned into the hottest spring ticket of the year. Last year we saw big-draw acts like The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, Wu-Tang Clan and LCD Soundsystem. This year promises more high-quality bookings. In their typical dream-big fashion, S&S has expanded Kilby Block Party 6 from three to four days, featuring 75 artists and an even larger festival footprint. Taking over the Utah State Fairpark, the 2025 Block Party is prioritizing festival goers with added space for amenities like water stations and relaxation areas. Organizers have also taken complaints about audio bleed from stage to stage into consideration and mapped out new areas for smaller stages to spread the sound around.
Ticket Info
The four-day festival begins on the evening of Thursday, May 14, 2025, and runs through Sunday, May 18, 2025. Like 2023, S&S is offering four-day passes only this year which will go on sale Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. Early bird passes for KBP6 went fast before the lineup dropped, so expect some competition when it comes to snagging this first tier of tickets! Of course, we’ll be providing readers with tons of pre-festival coverage as well as day-by-day reviews and photography of the 2025 festival, check out last year’s coverage here.
The 2025 Kilby headliner list has some stunners, including New Order, which is grinding out late-career touring like pros but might be moving toward the last-chance to-see column.
New Order
Beach House
Weezer
Justice
The so-called supporting acts are almost more exciting than the headliners. We’re looking at you Devo, which recently just started touring again. Future Islands and St. Vincent also raised our eyebrows. Here’s the full list.
Devo
Future Islands
Yo La Tengo
Slowdive
Car Seat Headrest
Wallows
St. Vincent
Toro Y Moi
TV on the Radio
Still Woozy
The supporting, supporting cast has a bright smattering of local acts (in bold) amid an interesting mix of up-and-coming performers and bands. Kilby’s free-range setup makes for a great chance to discover something new.
Teen Suicide, Levelor, Julien Baker & Torres, Built to Spill, Perfume Genius, Peter McPoland, Vacations, Youth Lagoon, The Lemon Twigs, Momma, Hey, Nothing, Hovvdy, Lunar Vacation, Wishy, Been Stellar, Being Dead, Cardinal Bloom, Free Range, Melancholy Club, Josaleigh Pollett, Montell Fish, Black Country, New Road, Panda Bear, Gang of Four, The Black Angels, IDKHOW, George Clanton, Wisp, Friko, Youbet, Over Under, Marchall Van Leuven, Hurtado, Nation of Language, Tennis, Real Estate, Boa, Jay Som, Geese, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Vagabon, Frost Children, Nourished by Time, Husbands, Lime Garden, Wlat Disco, Faerybabyy, Beeson, Gift, Hannah Frances, Poolhouse, Elowyn.
Other Kilby Court News
Kilby Court, Utah’s longest-running all-ages venue and the namesake of its biggest music festival, was recently sold to venture group Blaser Ventures in late October. The ownership change marks a new era for the venue. Buyer Brandon Blaser has assured Salt Lake music fans he plans to preserve the integrity of the venue. “Kilby is just such an essential part of the fabric of Salt Lake City and the Granary District. It’s one of those cultural icons and moments that is very unique to Salt Lake,” Blaser told development news source Building Salt Lake. “The loss of it would be absolutely detrimental to the history of the Granary area and what makes the Granary so special. We view it as an essential piece of our history and culture that we are proud to be partners in helping to preserve.”
The purchase of Kilby is another feather in Blaser’s cap of Granary Area acquisitions, which have included the Post District, Granary Square and the historic Pickle & Hide building next to the music venue. According to Building Salt Lake, all of Blaser’s projects in the area focus on adaptive reuse, rejuvenating local businesses, artist workshop spaces and other community hubs. Plans for the 2.3-acre Kilby Court development will follow suit as Blaser aims to reconfigure existing industrial and residential spaces into a cultural haven. Read Building Salt Lake’s full coverage here. (And let’s hope Blaser keeps his promises.)
Meanwhile, while you anticipate and work the angles on 2025 tickets, reminisce with our 2024 reviews and coverage.
Ice Castles, which creates immersive ice structures across the country, brings its cool archways, slides and tunnels back to Midway, Utah, this winter with new sculptures, designs and even fire.
The idea for the Fortress of Solitude-like backdrops began when founder Brent Christensen built an ice structure in his yard years ago in California. He later moved to Utah and created an ice cave for his kids to explore. In 2011, the Zermatt Resort approached Christensen to build an ice castle on their property, which became the first of five in the US.
Now located at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, Ice Castles has become a winter tradition for Utah families.
Ice meets fire this winter with a fire show and synchronized music in the evenings, said Amanda Roseth, Ice Castles marketing coordinator. She said guests should also expect to see new ice sculptures. “When they’re unveiled, it’s the first time that we’re all seeing what they’re going to be,” Roseth said. “And this year, we’re looking at increasing the number of sculptures we have in each of our castles because we have multiple ice sculptors on our team now.”
Returning features, she said, include a big slide, a kids’ slide and ice walls featuring LED lights with alternating patterns. Ice Castles will also bring back pathways inspired by Utah’s slot canyons.
The structures are made from nearly half a million icicles that are sprayed with water at night, and new icicles are added daily, Roseth said. While very little melts away mid-winter, Mother Nature will eventually make maintaining the structures impossible. So, don’t hesitate to buy tickets.
Ice Castles hopes to open its Midway location before the end of 2024 depending on the weather.
Here we are again. As much as we dream of a white Christmas, the snow storms and low temps mark the first tendrils of winter’s long grasp on the Beehive State. Winter is long enough. Why not trim a few days off the snowy calendar and escape to Hawaii? You might miss the lights at Temple Square, sure. But we think the endless summer of Hawaii is a trade-up. Instead of shoveling snow, you’ll explore outdoor adventures and unique cultural expressions, witness the season’s record-breaking surf and enjoy east-meets-west dining. Welcome to Waikiki on the fair Isle of Oahu. It sure beats grandma’s fruitcake.
Waikiki’s long, rolling waves are ideal for both beginner and seasoned surfers.
Photos courtesy Hawaii Tourism Authority
‘Where the Sea Meets the Sky’
In the 1800s when the Hawaiian monarchy ruled the islands, Waikiki Beach was an exclusive playground for the royals to lord over the scenic beaches and enjoy the waves in privacy. Today, the famous beach is the jewel of Honolulu, a vibrant city with world-class shopping, high-rise hotels and culinary gems surrounding this brilliant backdrop of sun (and beginner-friendly) surf. Make Waikiki your base and know that Oahu’s wonders area short drive away. (You are on an island, after all.)
No. 1: On The Trail
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is a vast 400-acre rainforest garden free and open to the public.
Photos courtesy Hawaii Tourism Authority
Oahu boasts spectacular volcanic ranges dotted with waterfalls and all-level hiking terrain. Just 12 minutes from Waikiki, Diamond Head rewards hikers who bust out the short but steep .8-mile ascent with breathtaking 360 views of the Pacific Ocean. To reduce overcrowding, non-residents must make a reservation online and pay a $10 fee per vehicle(gostateparks.hawaii.gov/diamondhead). In Hawaii, do go chasing waterfalls. Waimano Falls in the island’s center is reached by a challenging trek through a collection of natural pools. Just 30 minutes Southeast, Manoa Falls is a moderate family-friendly walk through a bamboo forest and banyan trees. And, while the trail gets a little muddy during Hawaii’s rainy season, it’s also the best time to marvel at the high-flowing 150-foot waterfall.
No. 2: Surfing & Sea Life
If you haven’t rented a car, consider using the Turo service or navigating public transit to visit North Shore, a surfing mecca where, during winter swells, waves reach up to 50 feet in height. Spectators can watch some of the world’s best surfers come to compete during major competitions throughout December —the HIC Haleiwa Pro and The Vans Pipe Masters. Intermediate surfers can rent a wetsuit and board from Surf N Sea and head to Pipeline, Sunset Beach or Waimea Bay for more achievable waves. For snorkeling and wildlife sightings, Laniakea Beach’s calm waters and sandy beaches are frequented by giant green sea turtles (Honu) soaking up the rays. On the opposite side of the island, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is brimming with marine life. Protected by a volcanic cone and its status as a marine life conservation park, the bay’s coral bottom and clear waters are a sure bet for snorkeling among the rainbow of Hawaii’s aquatic life (hanaumabaystatepark.com).
Hanauma Bay State Park
is a prime snorkeling spot.
Photo by Ryan Tishken/AdobeStock
No. 3: Cultural highlights
Find time to learn more of Hawaii’s deep and vibrant cultural history. (This doesn’t mean boring, there’s no shortage of fun ways to do so.) The Royal Hawaiian Center in the heart of Waikiki presents traditional Hawaiian dance performances every week and hosts a festive Rock-A-Hula show during the holidays (royalhawaiiancenter.com). Learn more about the early history of Hawaii and the neighboring Polynesian Islands at the Polynesian Cultural Center, which hosts daily luaus, theatrical performances and cultural activities. Take a guided tour through its “Islands of Polynesia,” a living museum dedicated to preserving the traditions of Tonga, Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, Aotearoa and Hawaii. (polynesia.com). Iolani Palace, the residence of Hawaii’s last reigning monarchs, offers succinct tours perfect for filling a rainy afternoon (iolanipalace.org), and Bishop Museum is filled with millions of artifacts, photos and heirlooms from throughout Hawaiian history (bishopmuseum.org).
No. 4: Eat your way around Waikiki
Waikiki has much to offer your tastebuds, from a quick and delicious ABC Store musubi (a beach day must-have) to casual noodle shops and elevated island cuisine. Start the day with some pink pancakes at Surf Lanai, an airy beachside cafe inside the Royal Hawaiian Hotel (surflanaiwaikiki.com). For a hearty lunch, visit Marugame Udon in Waikiki which has developed a rabid fan base for its well-priced noodles (marugameudon.com). Family-owned and operated since 1961, Rainbow Drive-In serves classic Hawaiian comfort food in a retro setting. Pro Tip: Order the Mix Plate: BBQ Beef, Boneless Chicken and Mahi Mahi with extra gravy, and thank me later (rainbowdrivein.com). To satisfy a seafood craving, Herringbone inside International Marketplace offers “$3 buck shuck” happy hour oysters alongside a fresh ocean-to-table menu (aoki.group.com/herringbonewaikiki.com). Finally, for a lux night out visit MW Restaurant and opt for the five-course tasting menu. The intimate eatery is curiously located on the second floor of a luxury car dealership, but don’t let its offbeat setting detract from the high-concept menu showcasing regional flavors (mwrestaurant.com.)
Owned by husband and wife duo Wade Ueoka and Michelle Karr-Ueoka, MW is a sleek dining experience specializing in regional cuisine and ingredients. Photo by Melissa ChangOwned by husband and wife duo Wade Ueoka and Michelle Karr-Ueoka, MW is a sleek dining experience specializing in regional cuisine and ingredients. Photo by Melissa Chang
Holiday Happenings
Get in the festive spirit with “Seven Days of Mele,” a week-long celebration of hula and song on Waikiki Beach Walk Plaza (waikikibeachwalk.com). The Holiday Lights tour is a two-hour hop-on-hop-off trolley bus tour through Honolulu’s most lit-up neighborhoods, Christmas caroling isn’t mandatory but highly encouraged (holidaylightshi.com). On the Friday following Thanksgiving Day, the Waikiki Holiday Parade takes over Kalakaua Avenue with marching bands, dancers and floats. And for those holiday imbibers, Christmas tiki bars pop up throughout Waikiki like The Christmas Bar at Twin Fin Hotel, Sippin’ Santa at Prince Waikiki and Ho-Ho Holiday Tiki Bar at International Marketplace.
Getting here (with Aloha)
Waikiki’s white sandy beaches and world-class surf were once exclusively reserved for Hawaiian royalty.
Photo courtesy of Luxury Collection Resort, Hawaii Tourism Authority
Last May, Hawaiian Airlines launched its first-ever nonstop route between Salt Lake City and Honolulu. The new route will get you to Hawaii’s capital city in about seven hours. And while Delta also offers a non-stop, we say fly Hawaiian. The airline is well-known for its warm island hospitality and the new flight features a locally-inspired menu curated by Honolulu chef Wade Ueoka and Michelle Karr Ueoka. For added travel ease, the airline offers its premium airport service, which provides passengers with a dedicated host for arrival to and departure from Honolulu. And on the way out, SLC passengers will get exclusive access to the HNL’s new speakeasy-style lounge, called Apt. 1929. Inside the swanky parlor, guests enjoy luxury amenities, personalized meals and craft cocktails from the James Beard-winning Bar Leather Apron. You’ll want to get to the airport early for this (hawaiianairlines.com).
The Flanker team collaborated with the Utah Arts Alliance to pack their Gateway location with “wow” moments, from thousands of lights wrapping the bar to giant gingerbread installations throughout the space. Hardcore holiday fans will be delighted to discover the subtle nods to their favorite seasonal films in the holiday pop-up, one scantily clad leg lamp included (“It’s a Major Award!”) Amping up the Christmas whimsy, Flanker’s mixologists have whipped up a signature cocktail menu filled with festive flavors, unique garnishes and on-theme vessels. It’s an adult’s winter wonderland.
Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club decks the hall of their parlor for the holidays.
photo Courtesy Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club
Transforming Flanker’s sizable dining room and parlor into a living Hallmark card is no easy feat, and the bar team collaborates with several local designers and carpenters to accomplish the task. In years past, Flanker’s Ryan Hopay brought Modern Display and the Utah Arts Alliance to help supply massive amounts of wrapping paper, Christmas bows and enough twinkling lights to make Clarke Griswold ruffle in jealousy.
The build-out takes a few weeks to design and layout, and Ryan is always finding new ways for guests to enjoy the space. “We push our imagination every year to try and find new ways for our guests to experience Christmas at Flankers.” This year attendees can expect larger-than-life ornaments, nutcrackers and Christmas trees placed throughout the dining room. Flanker’s backroom tiki parlor will still be the main star of the show, starting with the hallway lined with LED ornament archways and brilliant holiday lights on all sides. “The Hallway is always a very big ‘wow’ moment,” says Hopay. “It gives the guest a little taste of what they’re about to walk into.”
Carver Road’s Beverage and Hospitality Culture VP and renowned mixologist Francesco Lafranconi created the cocktail menu around the concept of holiday nostalgia. “Finding drinks that are only available for a certain time of year allows our guests to appreciate the moment,” he says. “Flavors like sage, cranberry, cardamom and ginger aren’t only delicious, but they have an emotional value.”
The festive design is the result of a partnership between Flanker and Utah Arts Alliance. Photo courtesy Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club
Taking their commitment to Christmas one step further, each liquid creation is served in a unique mug or glass, like last year’s Milk & Cookies cocktail which combined Titos, Kahlua, Heavy Cream and Vanilla-Cinnamon Syrup and served up in an adorable ceramic milk carton. Another favorite from 2023, The Grinch featured a Tiki-forward mix of Wahaka Mezcal, Pineapple Rum, Ginger Beer and Bitters sipped from a holiday mug with the likeness of Grinch himself returns. This year, guests can expect a new list of signature cocktails offering both festive flavor and heart-tugging sentiment. “Our holiday menu will fully evoke that Christmas excitement and nostalgia,” Lafranconi promises.
The special menu at Flanker’s holiday pop-up is sure to include signature, jolly-themed drinks
photo Courtesy Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club.
Along with a range of festive libations, Flanker’s Chef Daniel is whipping up a fun selection of small bites and desserts. Last year’s DIY S’mores platter was a hit with guests who were given a mini flame and all the fixins to recreate the childhood memory tableside. Guests can look forward to similar immersive food experiences this season like homemade pizzas served in a Little Nero’s pizza box—prepubescent delivery kid not included. Also in the cards, the Flanker’s crew is planning a packed program with holiday activities from movie screenings to DJ sets, and plenty of holiday card photo ops. Find their most up-to-date schedule on their website.
Flanker’s Holiday Pop-Up will be up and running right after Thanksgiving and is open during their regular business hours.
If You Go
Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club 6 N Rio Grande St. Suite 35, Salt Lake City. flankerslc.com
Tracey Thompson of Vine Lore Wine and Spirits – Entertaining Lessons Learned
As the President and CEO of Vine Lore Wine and Spirits, Tracey Thompson is involved with many events throughout the year. But that’s in her official capacity as a wine maven and spirit whisperer. She prefers her unofficial capacity during the holidays, focusing on creating relaxing and elegant gatherings for the people she loves the most.
Cook less, enjoy more
Tracey loves to cook and she spent her early hosting days, even with young children, laboring and fretting over complex, multi-course meals for formal sit-down dinner parties. “But I finally saw the light,” she says. “I look back now and go, ‘what was I thinking?'”
She still loves to cook, especially with her daughters, who have inherited their mother’s culinary entertaining genes, but she long ago dispensed with formality. “We always cook, but it’s something we can serve buffet style.” Tracey backstops her cooking by ordering items for the meal from “people who do things I would never attempt.” For example, last year for New Years Eve, she ordered a selection of buns from Romina Rassmussen’s Xao Bao Bao. “I bought four bags of buns and just we put a steamer on the stove. It was so easy and fun and everyone loved it.”
Photo by Adam FinklePhoto by Adam Finkle
Don’t be a bartender
“I am not a mixologist,” she says.. “The point of holiday parties is being with the people I love the most and clinking glasses together.” To that end, she sets up a drink station with basic spirits and mixes and perhaps the makings for one special cocktail that’s easy to prepare, like a negroni. And of course, as a wine expert, she will curate a selection of whites and reds, and “always rose and bubbles.” Over the years, she says, non-alcoholic options are growing part of the beverages she offers. “So many people are moderating more or more conscious of drinking” and there are so many new non-alcoholic options out there.”
Photo by Adam Finkle
Guests: Come and go as you please
During the holidays (or any day it seems) it’s hard enough to get people together for a single event. Make it easier for everyone and just entertain with an open house format. “Want people to enjoy, come in and have a drink without the anxiety of popping into a seated dinner,” she says. “It lends itself to a much more relaxed atmosphere.”
Put your feet up
“If I’m not relaxed my guests aren’t relaxed,” she says. The day of the party she makes sure she has at least an hour before guests arrive to put her feet up. “I don’t do rushing to the finish line anymore.” sometimes things won’t be perfect, she says, it’s more important that the occasion is joyful and full of “love and light.”
Joshua Tree (JT) National Park is best enjoyed in winter when oppressive heat won’t threaten to ruin your good time. While the park offers natural adventure and escape, even isolation, JT and its surrounding environs—Joshua Tree City, Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley—are dusted with a sandblasted dayglow-hued whimsy and weird-in-a-good-way vibe. Why not explore the best of both?
No. 1: Hike, scramble and climb
Inside the National Park, the main draw is the unique geology and fantastical terrain of white-faced monzogranite boulders that date back millions of years. Many visitors enjoy the views while hiking through the park on scenic trails like Ryan Mountain (3 miles, out-and-back). If you want to step it up, bring a pair of gloves and scramble over the grippy granite formations like Spider-Man on Split Rock (2.5 miles, loop) or at Jumbo Rocks and White Tank camp areas. For class-5 terrain, JT is legendary for climbing, with highly sought hotspots like Hidden Valley Campground.
No. 2: Enjoy Eclectic Desert Eateries
Favorite local establishments around JT become an oasis for art, music and community, as well as good food. There’s Kitchen in the Desert, a Caribbean-inspired restaurant that started as a culinary experiment in the back of an old gas station. Also in an old gas station, The Jelly Donut (Yucca Valley) indeed serves up fresh doughnuts, but the main attraction is the not-so-secret menu of Vietnamese comfort food. Whether it’s coffee time or mezcal-o’clock, Más O Menos(Joshua Tree) is your next stop. Linger in the adobe-decorated paradise for the chill vibes under the mesquite tree.
No. 3: See the Milky Way
On clear nights, the glittering spiral of our Milky Way Galaxy is visible from campgrounds inside Joshua Tree National Park, where stargazing can begin as early as 5 p.m. in winter. Look for the constellation of Orion, chasing Taurus across the southern sky, and the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, part of the constellation Canis Major. But a more intense stargazing adventure awaits just outside the park’s boundaries. Sky’s The Limit Observatoryhouses a 14-foot Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and an Orrery representing a true-to-scale-and-position solar system model. The observatory offers regular night sky programs, typically on Saturdays near the new moon. Reservations are required.
No. 4: Capture the perfect photo
With sweet new duds adorned, leave the Mojave Desert with the best souvenir: a photograph of a moment that encapsulates the entire journey. My favorite strange but artsy backdrop near Joshua Tree is The End of The World(Wonder Valley). Giant chrome-painted letters rise above the dunes, declaring the visitors’ arrival at the end of the world. Artist Jack Pierson made this as a monument to “those who drop off the edge of civilization.”
It’s hard for me to be even the slightest bit objective about a band like Blind Pilot. Maybe that comes from seeing them a lot over the years and being too familiar with their staggeringly great output. Maybe it’s because hearing them blend vocals and play banjo so well live makes it feel like being wrapped up in my warmest blanket. As far as experiences go, let’s face it: the vibe they create could hardly get any cozier. Anyone there last night could attest to that truth.
And maybe we all expected them to sound as incredible as they did Sunday night at The Commonwealth Room anyway. It’s as if they never suffered a single misstep or played one wrong note from start to finish. But after being absent from these parts for so long (and probably many others) and now in the thick of promoting their first new album in nearly a decade, Sunday night’s sold-out performance felt like a welcome-back celebration.
When the five-piece played “The Story I Heard” (and you know that one even if you think you don’t; it’s the song with the line about Jojo jumping a Utah train), it’s tough to imagine it getting a better reaction anywhere else thus far on their tour. A state mention goes far in these parts. Include us in a song, and we will remember it. We’ll even prove that by singing along with you so loud that we won’t need to borrow any of your microphones.
On a night that felt right in many ways, the band still managed to surprise, too. When Dave Jorgenson magically appeared in the back of the venue during “Things I Cannot Recall,” blowing dutifully on his trumpet at all the times he should have, it felt like a bit of magic got shuffled in along with the price of admission. Besides, horns need not be confined to the stage. That alone was an added reason for joy on a night allowing for plenty of that stuff.
Not to sound sappy, but Thanksgiving is the one time of year when we can connect, without expectations of gifts and best decorations, but through shared food, drinks and conversations (good and bad). As a kid, seeing distant relatives my age was like meeting new friends, or seeing an old friend and reconnecting. As an adult, it can be much harder to reconnect, make new friends or even schedule Thanksgiving dinner to meet everyone’s busy schedules. If you’re looking for ways to connect and get out of the house by yourself, with your immediate family, in-laws or long-lost relatives, here are some ideas to get out and enjoy Thanksgiving weekend in Utah.
Take a Scroll Through The Grand America Hotel
Stay warm strolling through the Grand America during their annual window stroll; this year’s theme is Chuck the Snowball and his Yeti friends. Follow the window stroll map and be entered to win a stay at the Grand America Hotel after correctly answering 14 questions to prove you’ve found Chuck at each display. During your stroll you will come across the hotel’s annual gingerbread house and many more fun holiday activities, food and performances.
Hit The Ice at the Gallivan Center Outdoor Ice Rink
Ready to work off all that turkey and pie? Bundle up, lace up and hit the ice at the Gallivan’s outdoor ice rink. You’ll feel like you’ve entered a holiday movie while skating outdoors in the middle of the city and maybe even with some Thanksgiving drama included. Stay warm with hot chocolate and snacks for purchase; and if you plan on bringing your entire Thanksgiving party, consider reserving a party area, or even rent the entire rink outside of their regular hours. Find more information here.
Enjoy an Untraditional Light Show at the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
The Loveland Living Planet Aquarium is starting new traditions with its all-new outdoor holiday Aquarium Lantern Festival, open daily from 5:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. You will be enchanted with larger-than-life lanterns, enjoy holiday activities and head inside to see the many animals of the aquarium.
Get Crafty with help from Gale Museum
This month’s free family activity at the Gale Museum is Museum Mashup: Pumpkin Pie Plates. While craft kits are available, pick up and create your own fun pumpkin pie craft plate. Check out more information here.
Learn to Make Pie with a Harmons Chef
Feel like showing off your baking skills to your family this year? Join Harmons’ Chef Tyler, on November 27 and learn to bake both a cheddar crumble apple pie and a mango cream pie. And get a third pumpkin pie to take home from Harmons; we won’t tell if you claim it as your baked masterpiece. Register here.
Feast with a Beast at Utah’s Hogle Zoo
Need to send your family out of the house while you cook? Send them off to Utah’s Hogle Zoo where the animals are participating in a special feast of their own. The zoo’s lions, polar bears and more stomp, roll and chomp pumpkins and other themed items for themed enrichment. The Zoo will be open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. that day, get tickets here.
Kick Off the Holidays at City Creek
Take the family to City Creek to kick off the holidays with fountain shows, balloon artists, an elf hunt and welcoming in Santa, happening on Monday, November 25 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. While you’re there get started, or finish, your holiday shopping. Find more details and register for the free event here.
Be Dazzled at the Christmas in Color Light Show
Beat the December crowds and enjoy the light shows early, at the Christmas in Color drive-thru light show. Enjoy sparkling lights that are synchronized to fun Christmas music all while in the warmth and privacy of your car. Pack a snack, a warm beverage and get ready to sing and dance in your seat and be amazed by the beautiful glowing holiday lights.
Go to the Ballet
The Utah Festival Ballet presents a classic, The Nutcracker, performing on November 29 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. and November 30 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., at the Mid Valley Performing Arts Center, Main Stage Theater, in Taylorsville. Get your tickets here.
If a Thanksgiving run is your thing, do it at the largest one in Utah. Thanksgiving Point hosts a half marathon, 10K, 5K, or a kid’s ½ mile run along the scenic Jordan River Trail. Runners will receive a shirt, a finishers medal, a finishers shirt, stickers, swag from local sponsors and free event photos. After the race, stop by for some pie and other treats and drinks. Plus, complimentary recovery sessions from Athlecare offering hyperbaric chamber, dry needling, sports massage, stretching and coaching; and Performance Recovery, offering TheraGuns or an upgraded Normatec Compressions Boots sessions or a race special IV hydration therapy. Sign up and find out more here.
When there are so many ways in Utah to experience holiday cheer, winter wonder and goodwill toward all, why should we settle for just 12 days of Christmas? Salt Lake Magazine has curated a calendar of our favorite ways to take in the sights and sounds of the holidays, embrace the generosity and spirit of the season, as well as enjoy the best Utah winters have to offer.
November
25, Monday
Take a cooking class before Thanksgiving Day
At Station Park, Harmons Chef Jake Driffill is offering a “three-Day Thanksgiving Workshop Throw Down” to help you plan and meal-prep. At City Creek, Chef Tara Walker will help you get a head start on Thanksgiving baking. At Traverse Mountain, Chef Freyka Nunez Del Prado will help you learn how to artfully design grazing boards.
This is the last day before Thanksgiving to participate in the Thanksgiving Drives and Food Box Giveaway. this is a several-week activity, in which the Salt Lake City Mission asks the public to volunteer and gather the much-needed food and supplies to host our holiday events that provide thousands of meals to the hungry and homeless. The mission also hosts an event to provide needy families with holiday boxes.
Recognize Native American Heritage day by donating to a good cause
Donations help support community programs and services of the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake, which supports tribal members in the Greater Salt Lake and Wasatch-front area.
The Ogden Santa Run 5K is the first and largest of the Utah Santa Runs. This race runs just before the Ogden Holiday Light Parade and down Washington Blvd. All participants get a Sant Suit to run in and use the Milk and Cookie Aid stations supported by elves who dress as volunteers. Music is played over the entire course of the race.
Let the holiday music begin with this cherished tradition. Composed by Handel in 1741, the oratorio Messiah draws inspiration from both the Old and New testaments. Sing along with this famous composition.
Float the Provo River beneath twinkling Christmas lights
Enjoy festive decorations and lights that twinkle above the river with Christmas music playing softly in the background. Santa may make a surprise visit.
You can help food-insecure Utah families by volunteering with or donating to the Utah Food Bank, which distributes millions of free meals. Donating on Giving Tuesday often means that your gift will be matched in kind Utah Food Bank partners.
Part food festival and part unique holiday shopping experience, ChristKindlmarkt SLC is inspired by traditional German Christmas markets. Enjoy traditional German food and holiday entertainment.
Christmas with the Celts combines ancient Irish Christmas Carols and Irish dance with contemporary songs but with with Irish instrumentation…kind of like Irish ‘bardcore.
Explore the Holiday Tree Show’s dozens of beautifully decorated trees, menorahs and other symbols of the holidays. Each tree is donated, designed and decorated by local businesses, designers, community groups. Hosted by Habitat for Humanity of Summit and Wasatch Counties, the event benefits housing affordability efforts.
7, Saturday
Turn on the lights with Salt Lake City
The city will illuminate the Pioneer Park with thousands of holiday lights. When the night gets chilly, step inside a heated event tent to enjoy live music, a treats form food trucks and seasonal drinks from local cider house. Those 21 and older can enjoy a selection of ciders and beers.
The Holiday Open House and Art Fair features 19 local artists vending their hand-made art including jewelry, pottery fiber art and more, in beautiful Red Butte Gardens.
Pause your daytime marathons of A Christmas Story movie to catch the musical based on the classic holiday film. Set in the 1940’s, the musical follows 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his quest for the Holy Grail of Christmas Gifts – an Official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot Range Model air rifle.
Dec. 6-12 Scera Center for the Arts , Orem scera.org
10, Tuesday
Revisit a black and white holiday gem
Peery’s Egyptian Theater is screening favorite black and white films.Before holiday movies centered around slapstick adventures, leading men learned lessons from visiting ghosts and angels. (1946), George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) finds out what his town would have looked like if it hadn’t been for all his good deeds. We, the audience, remember the true antagonist to the spirit of the holidays:greed and capitalism.
Zoolights returns for its 18th year in December 2024! While the animals slumber, immerse yourself in a wonderland of brilliant light displays featuring animal and holiday scenes throughout the zoo. Explore a holiday walk-through event filled with your favorite animals in a nature-focused lighting experience. ZooLights runs through December.
In God is a Scottish Drag Queen Christmas Special, Comedian Mike Delamont imagines God, dressed in a floral power suit, coming down to skewer everything from fruit cake and Boxing Day to Tiny Tim and EggNog, in a heartwarming and hilarious holiday special.
Dec. 13, 7 p.m. Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, SLC mikedelamont.com
14, Saturday
Shop local markets
Visit the Winter Market at The Gateway Market to find local goodies. Nearby, find a thoughtful gift at Under the Umbrella Bookstore, like the perfect book or colorful crafts for unique centerpieces.
Celebrate Christmas at the Cathedral of Madeleine with a spectacular holiday performance, which combines the powerful sound of the brass section of the Utah Symphony accompanied by the Eccles Memorial Organ and the wonderful architecture of the Cathedral.
The Ogden Christmas Village illuminates historic downtown with NorthPole-inspired cottages, lights, entertainers and fireworks at the Ogden Amphitheatre. The Christmas Village is free to attend.
At Candlelight Christmas, you’ll feel like you’ve taken a step back in time. Visit with Father Christmas, enjoy the live Nativity in the quiet of the Village, and feel the glow of a warm fire Heritage Village Carolers sing.
Help the Road Home provide lifesaving shelter and services by donating or serving a meal. Individuals and small community groups are invited to help with meal prep and service. volunteers are needed 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Pamela Atkinson Resource Center & Gail Miller Resource Center, SLC theroadhome.org
20, Friday
Learn why we all love Muppets
Bring lawn chairs, and pillows, and get cozy for The Muppets Christmas Carol. The community center will provide treats for all.Dec. 20, 7 p.m. Lindon Community Center lindon.gov
21, Saturday
Find out about the Winter Solstice
Before Christmas, there were festivals like Yule, which marked the shortest days of year: the winter solstice. Celebrate Solstice with the Natural History Museum by creating sun catchers and intricate paper snowflakes and exploring the magic of polymers by making “InstaSnow.”
Dec. 21 Natural History Museum of Utah, SLC nhmu.utah.edu
22, Sunday
See downtown on display
Strap on skates and sip hot cocoa at the at Gallivan Center Ice Rink. Before you leave downtown, visit the Grand America to view the holiday window gingerbread displays.
Ice Rink – Gallivan Center, Holiday Window Stroll,, The Grand America, SLC grandamerica.com
23, Monday
Make the pilgrimage
A Kurt Bestor Christmas has, for 28 years, become a holiday tradition for thousands of Utahns. For many it is the “must-see”show of the Christmas season. You can’t escape it. Might as well lean in.
Snowbasin Resort’s annual Christmas Eve celebration includes a skiing Santa, a torchlight parade and a fireworks show.Head inside Earl’s Lodge for Christmas Eve dinner and photos with Santa.
This 90-minute round trip journey includes hot cocoa and cookies. Sing along to Christmas favorites the along the way. At the ‘North Pole,’ Santa comes aboard.
Last year more than 42,000 attended the hottest ticket in town. The first and longest-running in America, Ballet West’s annual production is a legacy that brings families and friends back year after year.
Sometimes the best gifts come in small packages. This day is your last chance to check out Urban Arts Gallery’s tiniest show yet. With size restrictions of 12 inches and under, “Bite-Sized” showcases the miniature side of creation just in time for the holiday season. Come explore the vast universe of artistic expression that can exist in limited space.
Soldier Hollow Nordic Center is home to a 1,200-foot-long snow-tubing hill. On the same day, you can explore the nearby Ice Castles- an architectural marvel and the work of dozens of artists, featuring ice caverns, slides tunnels. and sculptures, weighing more than 25 million pounds.
Say “good riddance” to 2024. The ball drop at the Mountain American Expo Center is the largest midnight celebration in Utah with a balloon drop and a laser show.
A24’s new horror film Heretic was bound to spark big reactions in Utah. The film follows two missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who get caught in both the rhetorical and literal traps set by Mr. Reed, played by Hugh Grant. Having never gone on a Mormon mission myself, I jumped at the chance to attend a screening with a group of people who had.
The premise of the A24 film is straightforward, even if the way out of Mr. Reed’s clutches is not. Mr. Reed lures Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton, played by Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East, respectively, into his home under false pretenses. He gives them the impression that he’s interested in learning more about The Book of Mormon and tells them his wife is in the other room. He does the latter to satisfy a real-life LDS mission rule that forbids missionaries from being alone in the home with someone of a different gender.
Hugh Grant, Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher in A24’s “Heretic” (2024). (Photo credit: Kimberley French; courtesy: A24 Films)
Once the missionaries begin their first discussion with Reed, it becomes obvious that he has done his research on the Mormon faith and the church’s history. He asks increasingly more challenging questions and confronts the Barnes and Paxton about polygamy and church founder Joseph Smith’s seducing his teenaged, live-in servant Fanny Alger. But, these missionaries are prepared and quick-witted enough to mount a defense of their beliefs and confront Reed’s thin philosophies. The stakes and rhetoric only heighten from there as Barnes and Paxton realize the extent of Reed’s trap. They become, in a very literal sense, a “captive audience” for Reed’s anti-religion tirades and board game-related object lessons.
The film challenges the ideas of both believers and nonbelievers and delivers on this tension, ramping up to a bloody climax and thrilling conclusion (that I will not spoil here).
The moment the lights rose in the theater after our screening, the group of former missionaries exploded with stories from their own missions, brought to mind by the events of the film or lines delivered by Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton.
Heretic converts critics and audiences
Chloe East, Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher in A24’s “Heretic” (2024). (Photo credit: Kimberley French; courtesy: A24 Films)
The reactions from Utahns, members of the LDS Church, former missionaries, and Ex-mormons alike all seem to be divided on the representation of Mormon missionaries and religious belief in the film, but the overall critical response is positive across the board. Heretic has an almost perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, which aggregates critical reviews of films and gives them a score based on the percentage of favorable reviews.
Heretic also surpassed a box office milestone this week. The horror/thriller film hit $20 million domestically and $25 million worldwide in its second weekend, and it’s on track to become the 10th highest grossing horror film of the year, even out-earning some more commercial, big-budget movies. A24’s Heretic made back its reported budget of $10 million in its first weekend.
Suffice to say, nationally, Heretic is converting both audiences and critics. On the local level, we can’t seem to stop talking about it—or talking around it—whether you loved it or hated it or even saw it at all.
Responses to Heretic
Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher, Hugh Grant in A24’s “Heretic” (2024). (Photo credit: Kimberley French; courtesy: A24 Films)
Commenting on the film, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints released a statement well before Heretic even opened in theaters (regardless, the Brethren probably would not see the R-rated Heretic anyway).
The statement reads in part, “A number of recent productions depict lifestyles and practices blatantly inconsistent with the teachings of the Church. Others irresponsibly mischaracterize the safety and conduct of our volunteer missionaries. We understand the fascination some in the media have with the Church, but regret that portrayals often rely on sensationalism and inaccuracies that do not fairly and fully reflect the lives of our Church members or the sacred beliefs that they hold dear.”
From the reactions of people who have been Mormon missionaries (at least in my screening), and the missionary handbook, there are indeed rules to help keep missionaries safe, and they did not appear to be egregiously misrepresented in Heretic. Missionaries, some as young as 18 years old, are instructed to rely on their faith, intuition, and promptings from the holy spirit to know when a situation is dangerous. Their handbook tells them to pray to god daily for protection. Both Barnes and Paxton demonstrate reliance on their faith and prayer in the film.
“Heretic” (2024) co-writer-director Scott Beck, actor Chloe East, co-writer-director Bryan Woods. (Photo credit: Kimberley French; courtesy A24 Films)
Thatcher and East, both actors who were raised in Mormonism, have stood by their work in the film. East describes her character, Sister Paxton, as “more than what you see on surface level with her bubbly outward personality…but as the movie progresses, you see she is much smarter than meets the eye. She thinks deeply about religion and trusts her own faith.”
The film’s creators Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (A Quiet Place) said they wanted to create characters in the mold of the missionaries they met when they were researching the script. “Sometimes you could perceive this almost surface-level naiveté in the missionaries we spent time with,” says Woods. “But we found them to be super smart and cool and even badass in their views on religion, society and culture. We wove that into our characters, because what we wanted most from Paxton and Barnes was for Reed to underestimate them.”
For a more comprehensive breakdown on how well Thatcher and East and the film’s writers portray missionaries, author and former missionary Alyssa Grenfell provides one perspective. For another perspective, horror author, church member, and return missionary Michaelbrent Collings writes about what the film gets wrong based on his experience. The LDS Church also released a summary of what it does to keep safe its thousands of young, volunteer missionaries, whose church still instructs them to go door-to-door and enter the homes of prospective converts.
Hugh Grant in A24’s “Heretic” (2024). (Photo credit: Kimberley French; courtesy A24 Films)
Another line of criticism directed at Heretic is its choice to show religious characters as victims of violence at all. (A bit ironic, considering evangelical Americans cast themselves frequently as the victims of a secular, godless, and heretical society.)
A follow-up statement from an LDS Church representative, reported by the St. George News, reads in part, “Any narrative that promotes violence against women because of their faith…runs counter to the safety and wellbeing of our communities.”
It feels a bit unfair to accuse Heretic of promoting violence given that, in Heretic, the missionaries are the heroes of the film and Reed is the villain. Should not the agnostic folks be offended for being portrayed as a tedious, arrogant, and violent maniac? (And by that logic, would not all artwork of Christ at the crucifixion be seen as promotion for crucifying religious leaders? Would not the stories and illustrations depicting the harm done against early Mormon migrants be considered an endorsement of violence against Mormons?)
If I may posit another theory as to why Heretic has made some members of the faith feel upset? I believe it is difficult to not have control over how you are perceived by others and it is hard to be confronted with that perception, even if there is truth in it.
I also believe it is terrifying to be confronted with the possibility that, no matter how strictly you follow doctrine, how earnestly you pray, or how generously you volunteer—you could still get hurt.
Or, as Heretic co-writer-director Bryan Woods put it, “All horror movies in one way or another are about death—it’s the thing we fear most in life, and we use religion to try and make sense of what happens when we die so we can feel safe. But when we delve too deep into the subject, sometimes we’re left feeling less safe.”
