If Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes were to have suddenly started his own cult in the midst of showing off how well he can still sing and gyrate at the Eccles in Salt Lake City last night, chances are good we’d have followed whatever path he’d led us down.
If there’s one thing those touring as the self-proclaimed Happiness Bastards (after their 2024 album of the same name) wanted us to believe in, it was the joy accompanying good music.
But instead of being invited into their new religion, we were willingly baptized in a lot of the familiar and a sprinkling of the new. Far from being labeled a nostalgia act, The Black Crowes, who initially formed in 1984, appears to be experiencing a career second wind. It’s a good spot to be in.
In a set that lasted 18 songs strong, Chris, brother Rich Robinson, and the rest of their eight-member band set their own proverbial fire Tuesday, helping prove that age needn’t much exist in the land of straight-up rock and roll. While naysayers say the genre is fast fading, it’d be hard to prove that to anyone who took in last night’s performance.
Owning up to a voice that sounds every bit as whiskey-soaked and decades aged as it ever did, Chris sounded as comfortably at home and extra incredible on favorites like “Twice as Hard,” “Sometimes Salvation,” and “Sting Me” as he and the rest of his band ever have. (Side note: Those background singers really helped tie it all together.) The newer songs match the ones that have come before, too. This bodes well.
By the time the one-song encore was presented in all its glory—a speedy run-through of Ellmore James’ “Shake Your Moneymaker” that had everyone on their feet and dancing on both balconies and throughout aisles—a final truth seemed more than obvious: the band better already be planning their return. A mostly filled Eccles theater of believers is probably already demanding it.
Grab your camera and dust off those holiday threads, Santa is coming to town. Whether you’re looking to capture that cheesy holiday card or just need to convince Sally to be good for a few more weeks, snapping photos with Santa is a must-do seasonal activity. Find the big man himself at the following events, festivals and pop-ups around Utah.
Date-Specific Santa Appearances
Santa Comes Down Park City’s Townlift Ahead of his busiest night of the year, Santa will be making a stop at Park City’s Town Lift on December 21st at 5 p.m. Kids can wish him well on his forthcoming journey, enjoy complimentary cookies, holiday tunes and photo opps with Santa. Afterward, make sure to meander Main Street which has been decorated by seven life-size snow globes designed by local artists. And, for those 21+ Santa seekers, the annual Park City Santa Pub Crawl is happening on December 7th at 6 p.m., starting at Butchers Chop House. There will be plenty of boozed-up Santa’s to ask for a photo.
Lights On! At the Gallivan Join The Blocks Arts District and In Theory Art Collective unveil the fifth installment of GLOW at the Gallivan center on November 22nd at 4-6 p.m. This year’s edition features dozens of unique sculptures and interactive light displays designed by local artists. Opening day includes free ice-skating, a live DJ, Disney princes sightings and Santa Claus himself.
Tree Lighting Ceremony at Pendry Experience the magic of the season at the second annual Tree Lighting ceremony, where guests and locals alike can admire the beautiful thirty-foot tree and holiday decorations in Pendry Plaza on November 30th at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The holiday kickoff will also feature a special visit from Santa and his reindeer who will be available for complimentary photos.
Christkindlemarket at This is The Place Heritage Park.
Meet St. Nikolaus at the ChristkindlMarkt Utah’s annual German Christmas Market returns to This is the Place Heritage Park with vendor booths, seasonal threats and plenty of activities for the whole family. Kids can meet and take photos with St. Nick throughout the festival, taking place Dec. 4th through the 7th. Find the entire schedule on the ChristkindlMarkt website.
2024 Festival of Trees The 54th annual Festival of Trees will take place at the Mountain America Expo Center on December 4th through the 7th. The event supports Primary Children’s Hospital with a silent auction, holiday vendors and plenty of opportunities to snap a pic with Father Christmas in Santa Land.
Craft Lake City Holiday Market Taking over Ogden Union Station on Dec. 6th and 7th, the Holiday Market features over 140 local artisans, crafters, performers and more. Be sure to say hello to Santa for a quick chat and free photo as you tackle holiday shopping.
All-Season Long Santa Sightings
Hyatt Santa’s Village The sleek downtown hotel has transformed their 6th floor terrace into a charming holiday village, complete with a massive 18-foot tree, custom-built Santa cabin and of course, Santa himself. The rooftop is open to guests every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. through December 21st. Tickets are $20 per photo for non-dining guests, but for those who’d like to dine after at Basque-style restaurant Mar | Muntanya or the Salt Republic on the first floor, tickets are $10.
Meet Santa at Hyatt’s Santa’s Village. Photo courtesy of Hyatt.
Photos with Santa at City Creek Center From November 25th through December 24th City Creek’s resident Santa will be onsite to take holiday photos. Choose from a variety of packages that include digital downloads, holiday postcards and 4×6 prints. The shopping destination is also hosting a series of fun festive events throughout the holiday season, like the Paw Palooza event on December 5th that invites your fur baby to meet Santa himself. How else will you know what Fido wants for Christmas?
Ogden Christmas Village Downtown Ogden lights up for the holiday season from November 25th all the way through the New Year with adorable cottage installations, magnificent holiday displays and all the twinkling lights. Celebrate the opening day with a Santa Run, followed by the iconic Holiday Electric Light Parade that starts on 22nd Street and ends on 27th. Of course, no Christmas village is complete without the Big Man himself. Santa visits the village Monday through Friday from 6-9 p.m., and Saturday 5-9 p.m. starting on November 30th. Meet-and-greets are free as well as photos, but prepare to stand in a line as you wait to find out if you are naughty or nice!
Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary. Photo courtesy of Tracy Aviary.
Tracy Aviary Light Walk Immerse yourself in holiday spirit at Tracy Aviary’s annual Light Walk. The eight acres of dazzling light displays also include life-size gingerbread houses, holiday beverages, interactive light shows and a chance to meet Santa. Lightwalk is available on select weekends, and also hosts special events throughout the season, check their website for more details.
Sugar House Santa Shack Santa makes his grand appearance this season in a motorcycle parade on November 30th at 11 a.m. Afterwards, he’ll be at the Sugar House location every Monday-Friday 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on Saturdays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Join the holiday tradition with your little ones, fur babies, or friends!
Santa’s Cottage at Traverse Mountain Outlets Lehi’s shopping center is all dressed up for the holidays with a gingerbread village, Utah’s tallest Christmas tree, and visits with Santa. The holiday hero will be available for photo opportunities on select dates and times through December 24th, see the full schedule here.
Santa’s Wonderland at Cabela’s. Photo courtesy of Cabela.
Santa’s Wonderland at Cabela’s Outdoor retailer Cabela’s is offering free studio-quality photos with Santa everyday through Tuesday, December 24th. Every Cabela’s, and Bass Pro Shops, have been decked in their holiday best with cozy cabins, snowy backdrops, elves and festive decorations. Along with daily photos with Santa, Cabela’s hosts a weekly story hour with Santa or Mrs. Claus every Tuesday at 5 p.m. until December 17th. Reservations are free but required to confirm your family’s spot.
Festive Fridays at Wheeler Farm Starting on November 29th, Wheeler Farm will host a family-friendly weekly event. Bring the kids for a wagon ride and holiday light displays, and make sure to stop by the Farmhouse Porch to greet Santa. Visiting with St. Nick is free and there will be plenty of onsite elves to help with photos.
Zoolights at Hogle Zoo The zoo’s beloved holiday walk-through event runs on select nights through the holiday season, featuring brilliant animal-themed light displays, yummy smores, and a chance to meet Santa at the High Desert Oasis lodge
In the ever-evolving landscape of pop music, the announcement that a band is going “on hiatus” often doesn’t bode well for their future. So for Blind Pilot fans who had watched seven years go by without the release of a new album, the likelihood of the group reuniting appeared slim at best. Blind Pilot will play The Commonwealth Room on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024.
All that changed earlier this year with the release of Blind Pilot’s fifth album, “In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain.” The Portland-based indie-folk band, known for their intimate storytelling and lush instrumentation, emerged from their extended break with a renewed spirit and a transformative approach to making music. And no one was more surprised by that than the band members themselves.
“It feels miraculous that this all came about the way it did after so many years of trying,” said bandleader Israel Nebeker, who’d reached the point where he didn’t know if there’d ever be a fifth album. For the first time in the band’s history, he’d found himself at a total loss when it came to writing new Blind Pilot songs.
“I read a lot of books on writer’s block and did some therapy around it for quite a bit,” he explained in this early November interview. “But I don’t think writer’s block really felt like what I was going through. It wasn’t like I was sitting there at my writing desk and banging my head against it. I could write; it’s just that the songs didn’t want to come through the way that they typically do.”
After years of trying, Nebeker came to a realization. The type of songs he’d been trying to write wouldn’t work for Blind Pilot. But they could for a solo project. So he set about making a deal with his muse and the songs that were just out of reach.
“I said, ‘Okay, how about if this is a solo album, I won’t censor you,’” the singer-songwriter recalled. “Whatever you come through as, I’ll bring you through, and I will take care of you. I won’t expose you to the scrutiny of anyone. You’ll just be mine. And that’s when the songs started coming again.”
Nebeker soon found himself writing enough material to record his own album, which he aims to release next spring. But the solution to one dilemma had led to the creation of another.
“At that point, I had a very tricky problem on my hands,” he said. “I had to go to my band and say, ‘Hey, thanks for waiting, like, five years for me to write another album. I have one. But it’s a solo album, not Blind Pilot.’ And I didn’t want to deliver that message to them.”
As it turned out, he didn’t have to, thanks to a lucid dream that made perfect sense, at least for a moment. “The thought was, just write a Blind Pilot album in a month, and whatever comes through, you can just give that over to the band and it’ll be easy,” Nebeker said. “And I thought, ‘Yeah! That’s the solution!’ And then I woke up and thought, ‘What am I crazy? How am I going to do that?’”
But he did, and the band found itself back in the studio with an album’s worth of songs and a reputation to live up to. Inspired by artists ranging from Joanna Newsom and Gillian Welch to Bright Eyes and Neutral Milk Hotel, they’d progressed from the stripped-down charm of 2008’s “3 Rounds and a Sound” to the more expansive arrangements of 2016’s “And Then Like Lions.” Then “In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain” became their most significant leap yet, and in more ways than one.
The most significant shift for Nebeker was learning to let go of his need to “protect the songs” and be involved in every aspect of the record. This change in mindset led to a more collaborative and adventurous atmosphere in the studio.
“I wanted to focus on the band as its own living entity, and less about the songwriting part of it” Nebeker said. “I said this time I’m just the songwriter and the singer, and that’s my only role. And that sense of respect and trust started to create a real camaraderie, this feeling of adventure where everyone was kind of magically invested in everything we were doing.”
The adventurous approach was complemented by producer Josh Kaufman’s exploratory methods in the studio, which captured the essence of live performances while pushing the boundaries of the band’s sound. That expertise allowed for spontaneous creativity, resulting in unexpected transformations of songs like “Just a Bird,” which gained its uptempo drum beat in the chorus during the recording process.
The group, which is now on tour promoting the new album, also took advantage of the fact that they were recording in a century-old church that had been converted into a studio, adding a unique ambiance to the sessions. That was particularly the case on the song “Coming Back,” which was recorded in darkness.
“The reason I asked to turn the lights off,” Nebeker said, “was because there was something about that song in that space where I only wanted to hear it. I didn’t want to be reminded of anything visual. I just wanted to be with the piano and my voice in that large, grand space.
“It’s not that I’m into the religion thing,” he added, “but I do love intentionally meaningful spaces, whether it’s a dojo or a yoga studio or a church or a temple.”
Or, for that matter, a mountain, like the holy one that gave the album its name. Nebeker saw it in a vision during a shamanic drum journey to northern Scandinavia, where he sought to reconnect with his ancestral lineage.
“I think that traveling, especially when it’s off the beaten path, is definitely something close to a spiritual practice,” Nebeker said. “Right now, it’s very easy to be afraid of what’s foreign and unknown. But when you put yourself out there vulnerably, I have found that people show up and repeatedly prove that everyone wants the best for each other.”
Blind Pilot played The Commonwealth Room in Salt Lake City on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. Read Salt Lake magazine’s review of their performance here.
A major perk of living on the Wasatch Front is public parks everywhere. Hours of free fun await your kids on our local swings, zip-lines, climbing walls and things that spin. Then cold weather comes for Utah. While your neighborhood park is likely open all seasons, you may only be willing to brave the bitter cold sometimes as your kid checks to see if covering the slide with ice will make it faster. That’s where indoor playgrounds come in. For a small fee, kids can expel their energy away from the cold.
Here are nine playgrounds in Utah to check out this winter (or anytime you read this).
We didn’t include locations that are primarily trampoline parks, arcades, museums, climbing gyms or big complexes like Classic Fun Center and The Rush Funplex. Every location below requires socks, some grip socks, which may be purchased on-site if you forget.
Coconut Cove
1040 N. 950 South, Suite 600, Centerville 496 E. 1750 North, Suite C, Vineyard 2297 Main Street, North Logan
These indoor playgrounds offer slides, ball cannons and fountains, trampolines and toddler areas. Adults can relax in a massage chair or catch up on work while enjoying a beverage from the cafe.
Ages 0–2: $6 or free with an older paying sibling Ages 3+: $10.50 Adults: Free to watch or assist a toddler, $10.50 to play A pass worth 10 admissions is $80.
The Empire includes a toddler area, padded climbing structures, slides, mazes and things to spin on. Kids can also play in the soccer arena or bust a move on the dance floor. Lunch with PB&J plus chips, another side and a drink is $6.75
Ages 0–11 months: free Ages 1–17: $19.90 Adults: Two free entries per child, $5 per additional adult A pass worth 10 admissions is $159.
395 N. Redwood Road, Salt Lake City 513 W. 700 South, Pleasant Grove
As the name would suggest, they specialize in inflatable structures for kids to jump in and on. Some of the inflatables are reserved just for younger kids. They also have arcade games and a snack bar.
Ages 0–3: $8 Ages 4+: $13 Adults: Free for supervising A pass worth 10 admissions is $120 or $65 for ages 3 and under.
Kid Zone is a little smaller than others but maximizes its space with plenty to climb on and through, big slides, a kid-size basketball court and more. Have a drink from the soda bar while the kids play.
Ages 0–2: $7.99 (two hours), $11.99 (all day) Ages 3+: $11.99 (two hours), $16.99 (all day) Parents can play for free. A pass worth 10 admissions ranges from $71.91 to $107.91, depending on age and duration of play.
14725 S. Porter Rockwell Blvd, Suite K, Bluffdale 5651 S. 1900 West, Roy
Calling itself “Utah’s biggest kids’ indoor playground,” KidsTopia has slides, tunnels, foam pits, a toddler area and more. Both locations have a snack bar with fare like chips and cookies.
Ages 0–2: $7.99 (two hours, Bluffdale), $11.99 (all day, Bluffdale), $8.99 (two hours, Roy), $12.99 (all day, Roy) Ages 3+: $11.99 (two hours, Bluffdale), $16.99 (all day, Bluffdale), $12.99 (two hours, Roy), $18.99 (all day, Roy) A pass worth 10 admissions ranges from $55.99 to $132.99, depending on age, location and duration of play.
Every year, the Grand America Hotel transforms its shop windows into a winter wonderland, a walkable storybook of holiday spirit. And every year, Chef Xavier Baudinet, the Executive Pastry Chef, figuratively swaps his chef hat for a hard hat in his role of gingerbread house architect. Chef, along with his team, starts imagining, designing, baking, assembling and decorating a massive gingerbread house that is the magical centerpiece of the holiday displays at the hotel. People come from all over the state and all over the world to see it.
Every year, Chef, who is also a painter and artist, comes up with a theme and visual inspiration for the gingerbread house. Sometimes, he starts daydreaming about it as he assembles the previous house. This year, the gingerbread house is very personal. “I decided to name ‘Chateau Louis 1er.’ It’s not Louis XV. It’s Louis for my grandson. He’s three years old.”
Chef Xavier Baudinet is the Executive Pastry Chef at the Grand America and gingerbread architect. Photo by Adam FinkleA gingerbread house is the magical centerpiece of the holiday displays at the Grand America. Photo Courtesy of Grand America
This year marks Chef Xavier’s 11th gingerbread house build. The entire process takes months, with the baking starting in late summer. “I do some sketches around April or May,” explains Chef Xavier. “In July, I do the final measurements and a blueprint.” By August, the non-perishable ingredients are ordered, and the rush to bake everything begins because the entire structure is made of edible gingerbread and confections. The finished structure will be 15 feet long and 12 feet tall. This year it is swathed in pinks, blues and greens.
Baking Brick by Brick
Chef Xavier’s team makes 20 batches of gingerbread cookies on average for each house.
Photo by Adam Finkle
“We’ve already ordered a ton of flour, molasses, flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger, spices and cinnamon to make the gingerbread cookies,” he says, before going on to explain that they make around 20 batches of gingerbread cookies on average to assemble the gingerbread house. And by batches, Chef Xavier means 200 pounds of gingerbread per batch. “It’s a big volume. We mix the dough, laminate the dough, put it on big sheet pans and bake.
The next day, we cut bricks.” From there, the “bricks” go into dry storage to maintain until it is time to start building. Sometimes, the ginger cookie dough will have color added, depending on the year’s design. “Last year, I did some red for the house tiles,” he finishes.
The gingerbread house isn’t made of gingerbread alone. It usually includes house-made marshmallows, macarons, pretzels, rice crispy treats, and colorful sugar icing. The cement to bind it all together? “We use dark and white chocolate couverture. It acts as a natural glue to hold the gingerbread.”
A gingerbread house can also be made of housemade marshmallows, macarons, pretzels, rice crispy treats and sugar icing.
Raising the Roof: A Team Effort
After months of baking, the team assembles the gingerbread house, a process spanning two to three weeks. And when Chef Xavier says it is a team effort, he does mean the entire team. Staff from various departments chip in to help outside of the pastry team. “I have a schedule,” he says. “People from other departments sign up. Even dishwashers, servers, and cooks help. It’s a true team effort.” It is something of a holiday tradition for the staff at The Grand America before the holiday season hits for the rest of us. “People will say, ‘Chef, when you start the gingerbread house, I want to be in.’ I say,’ No problem.’
After months of baking, the team begins assembling—a process that can takes weeks.
Chef Xavier is particularly proud of the diversity of his team. “We have people working in the kitchen, and servers, and employees from different departments all from different countries,” he says. “I have people from Ukraine, Peru, Chile, South America, Europe. I have people from everywhere, and everybody gives me a lot of help for this big confection.” This diversity not only enriches the team but also brings a global influence to the creation of the gingerbread house.
A Strong Foundation
At the beginning of the build, carpenters provide a solid frame to hold the weight of the gingerbread house. “We need a foundation of wood to maintain the whole building. The carpenters are a big help to achieve a giant house,” Chef adds. But the real goal is to use as many edible elements as possible.
Couverture chocolate (/ˈkuː.vər.tʃʊər/) is chocolate set apart by its higher cocoa butter content, ranging from 32% to 39%, compared to regular baking or eating chocolate. When tempered, this elevated cocoa butter level results in a glossy finish, a satisfying “snap” when broken, and a rich, smooth flavor. It also happens to be the perfect mortar for gingerbread bricks.
After framing out, the house is assembled under Chef Xavier’s supervision, brick by brick, shingle by shingle. For the windows, they use Isomalt, a sugar substitute that isn’t impacted by humidity and won’t discolor like regular sugar.
This meticulous process of assembly, overseen by Chef Xavier, ensures that every detail of the gingerbread house is perfect, from the bricks to the windows.
Breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus is a holiday tradition at the Grand America— a magical morning with a breakfast buffet, photos, singing and story time. Reservations at grandamerica.com. Photo Courtesy of The Grand AmericaThe hotel decorations, including the gingerbread houses, can be seen during the Holiday Window Stroll. Photo Courtesy of The Grand America
Sweet Joy In Seeing the Reactions
As guests wander through The Grand America Hotel during the holidays, they round a corner and are met with the breathtaking sight of the giant gingerbread house tucked along the east side of the building. Its sheer size is a surprise, and the guests’ reactions are a testament to its impact. They pause, taking in the intricate details, their joy and wonderment making it all worthwhile for Chef Xavier.
The hotel decorations, including the gingerbread houses, can be seen during
the Holiday Window Stroll.
Photos Courtesy of Chef Xavier Baudinet
“For them, it’s a wow. It’s inexplicable. You can see joy and happiness, a lot of guests taking pictures with the kids and grandkids by the house.” It’s a concocted miracle, a testament to the power of creativity and tradition. This year, the joy will be particularly sweet. Chef’s grandson, Chateau Louis’ inspiration, is visiting. “He’s going to come for Christmas to see the house. They live in Connecticut. It’s a big thing for me. For my firstborn grandson.”
After months of planning and baking, at the end of the season, what took two weeks to assemble comes down to two hours. It is always a little heartbreaking. But soon, Chef Xavier will start dreaming of sugary castles to come.
Bulking Up on Ingredients
A massive gingerbread house requires a massive amount of ingredients for assembly. The entire build this year will contain approximately:
Winter is settling in and those pre-holiday jitters are in full throttle! Stave off your cold weather nesting for one more week and instead enjoy Christmas concerts, elevated paired dinners and master cooking courses just in time for hosting season. There’s plenty of fun to go around our salty city, find even more events November events in Salt Lake on our community calendar!
Monday 11/18
What: Hollywood in Utah Pre-Screening Events Where: Browning Building, Utah Tech Campus When: 11/18 at 7 p.m. Enjoy a private screening of PBS’s Hollywood in Utah, a documentary celebrating 100 years of filmmaking in Utah. Producer Nancy Green and historian James D’Arc will host a Q&A session prior to the screening.
What: Christmas Carol Pt. 2 Where: The Off Broadway Theatre When: 11/1-11/30, various showtimes The Off Broadway Theatre presents a Christmas Carol Pt. 2, a family-friendly show storying the tale of Scrooge and the spirit of Christmas. Get tickets here.
What: Holiday Window Stroll Where: The Grand America When: Now through Jan. 1st This year’s holiday window stroll theme is ‘Yeti for the Holidays.’ Scan the QR code at the first window to follow Chuck the Snowball and his Yeti friends through their magical forest home. Keep an eye out for Chuck in each display, and answer the quiz questions at the end to be entered into a drawing for a one-night stay at The Grand America Hotel.
Tuesday 11/19
What: World of Illumination Where: Utah State Fairpark When: 11/19-12/29, select dates A magical drive-through light show fun for the whole family. This year’s show, “Reindeer Road”, featured over a million lights synced to music, and over 500 uniquely themed displays. Tickets available here.
Wednesday 11/20
What: Wild Wednesday at Hogle Zoo Where: Hogle Zoo When: 11/20 As part of the ZAP program, Hogle Zoo offers special wednesday pricing for $6 online, and $8 in person admission. Don’t forget to visit the zoo’s newest residents, snow leopard cubs Bhutan and Pavlova!
What: Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Lost Christmas Eve Tour Where: The Delta Center When: 11/20, show at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Witness the magic of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Delta Center. The production is touring their brand new version of The Lost Christmas Eve, featuring all the heavy metal Christmas songs, lasers, and pyrotechnics you know and love.
Thursday 11/21
What: Leo Libations—Thanksgiving Day Wines Where: The Leonardo When: 11/21 at 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Celebrate the abundance of the season with a delightful tasting menu featuring beat taurine and goat cheese, Turkey Roulade and more. Wine Academy of Utah Sommelier Jim Santagelo will be onsite to discuss the lush whites and traditional Beaujolai Village Crus pours you’ll be sipping on. Tickets are $70, get yours here.
Friday 11/22
What: Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary Where: Tracy Aviary When: Select dates in November and December Tracy Aviary’s beloved Lightwalk returns on November 22nd! The holiday display features eight acres of dazzling light displays, life-size gingerbread houses, holiday beverages and a Santa meet-and-greet. Save $2 on admission when you bring non-perishable food items to donate.
What: Thanksgiving Master Cooking Class Where: Park City Culinary Institute When: 11/22 at 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dive into a hand-on class where Chefs guide you through essential techniques and twists on Thanksgiving classics. Dinner will be paired with wine for those 21+ Reserve your spot here.
What: Annual Crazy Daisy Holiday Show Where: Mountain America Expo Center When: 11/22 at 2 p.m to 8 p.m. and 11/23 at 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Get ahead of your holiday shopping at this two-day Christmas extravaganza featuring 200 small businesses, unique treats, local entertainment and a Santa appearance.
What: Lights On! Where: The Gallivan Center When: 11/22 at 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Blocks Arts District is unveiling the fifth season of GLOW at the Gallivan center with a very special family-friendly event. The annual free event features ice skating, a live DJ, Disney princess sightings and a Santa meet-and-greet. After the unveiling, the immersive holiday display is open to the public through March 1st, 2025.
What: Utah Valley Ski Swap Where: 2975 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi When: 11/22 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Shop and sell your favorite brands of ski and snowboard gear at a discount.
Saturday 11/23
What: Creator’s Collective SLC Holiday Market Where: Publik Roasting Company When: 11/23 at 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shop 35 local small businesses, artists, makers and curators at this one-day only holiday market. Enjoy unique activities as you shop like permanent jewelry, treats from Publik Cafe, custom charm bar, photo opps and more.
What: KRCL’s 45-Anniversary Party: A Birthday Benefit Where: The Commonwealth Room When: 11/23 at 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Celebrate KRCL’s 45th Birthday with live performances from The Mellons, The Pranksters, Talia Keys & The Love. Attendees can also enjoy special drinks from Dented Brick, a photo booth, birthday cupcakes and a “History of KRCL” panel discussion. Get tickets here.
Sunday 11/24
What: Friends of Friends Flea Market Where: Coterie SLC When: 11/24 at 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy a day of good vibes and unique finds from Coterie’s community of vendors. Hosted every last Sunday of the month, this is a 21+ event with free entry.
According to Feeding America, over 414,000 people face hunger in Utah, including one in six children. It’s a heartbreaking reality for more Utahns than ever, as inflation has sky-rocketed in recent years and resulted in alarming food insecurity. This holiday season, we can show our gratitude by getting involved with community efforts to alleviate hunger. Here are a few ideas of where you can volunteer in Utah:
The Utah Food Bank is doing their annual food and fund drive through the holiday season. To participate, drop off food donations at any Harmons in the state, the Riverton Chevrolet Car Dealership, Karl Malone Auto, or Utah Food Bank’s locations in SLC or St. George. Their most needed food items are peanut butter, mac & cheese, canned meats, chili, spaghetti-Os or ravioli, canned fruits or any other boxed meal. You can also volunteer in person by working in the warehouse or by decorating and delivering food boxes. If you don’t have time to go in person, you can donate money to the food bank. Every dollar donated turns into $7.80 worth of goods and services. Learn more about volunteering opportunities.
Get Involved with The Road Home
The Road Home invites volunteers to help with meal prep and service seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You also get involved by donating items, reading books on their literacy night, and leading craft activities.
Volunteer at the International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee’s programs are designed to help refugees thrive in the United States. There are a variety of ways you can get involved: donate, volunteer, gather supplies, advocate, partner, raise awareness, and stay informed. Find out how to get involved.
Serve a Thanksgiving Meal with Salt Lake City Mission
Take some time this Thanksgiving to serve dinner to those who are currently going without food or shelter. The Salt Lake City Mission needs volunteers of all ages to help distribute the meals. If you can’t make it for Thanksgiving, the Mission also does a Christmas food box giveaway and another dinner on New Year’s Day. They could also use some help with their day-to-day operations including attendants in the food pantry and clothing room as well as drivers to pick up and deliver donations.
Be a Driver for Meals on Wheels
Every day, Meals on Wheels delivers food to homebound seniors. Volunteers are needed to help deliver these meals, but perhaps the most important part of this job is being the friendly connection for these isolated elders as you deliver their meals. Volunteers will be asked to deliver meals during a 1-2 hour route at least twice a month with a delivery time between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This service opportunity is available year-round, so help is needed even after the holiday season.
Prepare and Serve a Meal at the Women’s Resource Center
The WRC serves up to 200 women experiencing homelessness a day. Volunteer your time to help prep weekly meals, or spend your time providing positive community engagement as you serve a meal. Other volunteer opportunities include sorting donations, refilling hygiene bins, mentoring youth and more. Apply for a shift here.
Can Food at Welfare Square
Volunteers are essential to the success of the Welfare Square cannery, which supplies food banks and other community resources with food for those in need. Get a couple friends or your family and come help process and can goods like applesauce, jams, salsa, and spaghetti sauce. Schedule a shift with the program coordinator.
These organizations rely on volunteers and donations from the community, so give the gift of your time and generosity this holiday season.
Donate your Food When You Move
Move for Hunger is an organization committed to reducing food waste during moves. Instead of throwing out your non-perishable pantry items when relocating, connect with their large network of volunteers to donate items. Simple set aside unopened, non-perishable food items and their crew will pack it up and deliver it to a local food pantry. Find a mover near you here.
“Rescue” Edible Food for Waste Less Solutions
Help Waste Less Solutions divert food from landfills to feed those in need. The organization teams up with food purveyors and companies with excess high quality food to transform their would-be needless waste into nutritious meals. Get involved in food rescue using your own car to transport edible food to nonprofit partners. Create an account with Food Rescue US to get started.
Scrambling to prep Thanksgiving dinner? Check out these restaurants serving Thanksgiving feasts for dine-in or take-out.
Chris and Rich Robinson have plenty of reasons to celebrate. They’ve stopped all their fighting and got the band back together. They put out a new album this year—their 10th!—something they’d not done in 15 years. And when their plans to open for Aerosmith got quashed when Steven Tyler hurt his vocal cords and the band abruptly hung it up, The Black Crowes simply extended their own tour and added more dates, moving forward as the Happiness Bastards they are.
There are lessons in resilience and growth mixed in with all that, and fans reap the rewards of the Brothers Robinson getting along and moving on.
If recent setlists indicate what’s in store, Salt Lake City’s in for a real treat next Tuesday, November 19, when their tour lands at Eccles Theatre. The Crowes seem all too eager to please their adoring fans, blending old and new favorites into recent shows, one eye looking back as the other looks forward. In an era where pop appears poised to dominate all other forms of music combined, Chris and Rich and the rest of the band will have a long chance to remind us that, when done right, rock ’n’ roll isn’t going anywhere.
I’ve never seen the full band perform, but I’ve always wanted to. I have seen the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, and it was incredible for many reasons, but more of a resounding echo of earlier greatness. A lot of years ago, when the Crowes’ debut came out — Shake Your Money Maker (1990) — it quickly became one of the most well-loved cassettes in my collection. My best friend and I drove around in his old brown 1978 Pontiac Parisienne and turned his stereo volume up as loud as it’d go, screaming our way through songs like “Hard to Handle,” “Twice as Hard” and “Jealous Again.” It was the soundtrack of unabashed joy.
Years ago, the Crowes felt poised to be as big and important to music history as The Rolling Stones. Or perhaps those high hopes were entirely my own, I don’t know. It never quite worked out that way, and that’s entirely OK. The band found its voice, made its mark, and survived the hiccups that nearly ended them for good.
From the awe-inspiring mountain ranges to the vast deserts, Utah’s versatile landscape has drawn filmmakers for 100 years, shooting classic movies from The Searchers to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In recent years, one of the biggest productions to hit Southern Utah was Kevin Costner’s hotly-anticipated Horizon: An American Saga.
Kevin Costner as Hayes Ellison in Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter One.
Photo courtesy of the Everett Collection
The iconic Hollywood star, best known for his classics Dances With Wolves, Field of Dreams and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, has made Utah the setting for his hugely ambitious four-part Western saga.
The first part of the saga, which premiered at Cannes and hit cinemas earlier this summer, is a multi-faceted chronicle that covers the Civil War expansion and settlement of the American West.
Kevin Costner believed that Utah was the perfect destination to film his movie. “There’s a lot of heaven in Utah,” he said in an interview with the Deseret News.
“I knew the story wanted to be set there. I thought that it would be the best possible thing for the movie,” he added. “There are these wide, open spaces that almost defy imagination. That kind of look is fabulous for a Western.”
Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter One covers the westward expansion and manifest destiny—the concept that white Americans were divinely ordained to settle North America.
Therefore, the movie is set across various states as the settlers make their way West through Arizona, Wyoming and New Mexico. However, it is predominantly filmed in Utah.
The Utah landscape gave Costner what he needed to bring his vision to life. For the rest, he got crews to build sets from scratch.The crew built a fort along the Colorado River outside of Moab and even designed an entire village in the La Sal mountains.
Horizon: An American Saga Utah spending: an estimated $54 million for part one and $75 million for part two.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
The second installment of the saga was slated to hit cinemas on Aug. 16, but Costner delayed the release and instead premiered the movie on Sept. 7 at the prestigious Venice Film Festival. This will be eventually followed by Chapter Three, which entered production in last May.
The Utah Film Commission estimates that Horizon has pumped more than $120 million into the state’s economy, with the most spending in the St. George area and rural Utah. The production also made good on its commitment of hiring local cast and crew and purchasing materials and services locally, says Joyce Kelly of Greater Zion Convention and Tourism.
The legacy and impact of the movie in Utah stretches far beyond the boost to the local economy, as Kevin Costner is in the process of building a state-of-the-art film studio near Zion National Park.
“I was out on a location scout with Kevin years ago,” says Kelly, when they unwittingly scouted the location of the future studio. “And he said, ‘Joyce, I’m going to film on this spot one day.’”
Costner got his wish when filming on the spot for Horizon’s next chapter. At the end of the shoot, he announced it would also be the future home of Territory Film Studios.
The studio itself will be home to 70,000 square feet of sound stages and 51,000 square feet of production warehouses. It’s exciting news for the next generation of filmmakers in Utah, as there are currently an estimated 4,000 students enrolled in film school and higher education and colleges throughout Utah.
A career in film and TV will now be a realistic prospect for these aspiring students, and they can achieve this without moving to L.A. or New York but instead staying in Utah and continuing to contribute to the booming industry.
Kevin Costner in Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter One, the first of the four-part Western epic.
Photo courtesy of The Everett Collection
Utah and The Western
Despite the variety of movies shot in Utah, it is most closely associated with the Western genre. The vast landscapes place the audience in the heart of the American frontier as they feel everything from the beauty of the locations to the potential dangers of the terrain.
The deep association between Utah and the Western genre started 100 years ago with two silent movies in 1924, including The Deadwood Coach. The movie was made during a period when Southern Utah was experiencing agricultural depression and there weren’t many avenues to make money for the local economy.
The Parry Brothers wanted to change the fortunes of Southern Utah and decided to entice Hollywood productions to film here as they took photographs of the landscape and pitched around to big-wig producers. Hollywood was drawn by the beauty of the state and has been ever since with classics such as Back To the Future, Stagecoach and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid being filmed in Utah.
The magnitude of movies being filmed in Utah is undoubtedly a great advertisement for tourists, but it also has great benefit to the economy by creating jobs and using local services throughout production. A 2019 report by the Utah Film Commission found that Utah’s film incentive generated $669.1 million in economic impact over a five-year period. An incentive that would not have seen the state legislature raising its cap were it not for the intervention by Kevin Costner.
Meanwhile, Utah’s allure shows no sign of fading as filmmakers continue to choose the state as their preferred filming destination for Westerns and beyond.
