Save the Date
Mon, Dec 10: Candy Cane Hunt 2018 at Draper City Park, Utah
Wed, Dec 19: Christmas with the Celts at Egyptian Theatre Historic Park City, Utah
Sat, Dec 22: Darci Lynne & Friends Live! at Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City
Sat, Dec 29: A Magical Cirque Christmas at Eccles Theater, Salt Lake City
Sat, Jan 12: Doktor Kaboom at Kingsbury Hall
*Some events may have additional dates. Click through to see more information.
Dear KidsOutAndAbout.com readers:
My daughter Madison has a Christmas tree in her bedroom. You're thinking, "So what? Sure, it's still November, but it's the holiday season."
But see, it's not that she has a Christmas tree in there already. No, she has it there always. This is no little tabletop cutesy snip of greenery, either: it's a big old honkin' tree that takes up a good chunk of the room. She got it at a garage sale for $5, complete with ornaments. Ask her why it's there in March or June or October, and she'll stage an isn't-it-obvious teenagerish shrug and say, "Well, I love Christmas."
My friend Patrick is a journalist in Cleveland. Patrick loves the written word. Books drip from the walls, counters, coffee tables, and nightstands: fiction, nonfiction, books about travel, books about knitting, books about the Watergate era, even books about people who are members of the Society for Creative Anachronism (he wrote one of those). "Who needs a decorator when you can have books covering every blessed surface" is Patrick's motto.
Life is short, sometimes heartbreakingly so. But we often race through life at such breakneck speed that we forget to live what we love. Parents (particularly moms) tend to downplay their own fulfillment in favor of their family's day-to-day needs. But you want your kids to learn to revel in their passions, don't you? Our quirks make us who we are, and should be celebrated. Remember, your kids learn by watching you.
What do you love? Are you living it? Go be you.
--Debra Ross, Publisher
Come kick off the holiday season at Natalie's Performing Arts amazing family-friendly dance production of The Grinch!!
You won't want to miss this bright, happy, Christmas production that features over 150 dancers and is guaranteed to leave a smile on your face. This show is fast becoming a beloved holiday community tradition and is a favorite among young children. The Grinch will be showing at Farmington High School December 7th at 7 pm and December 8th at 2 pm and 7 pm. Get your tickets now at www.dancethegrinch.com and get ready for an amazing night! And that's not all!
Before the evening performances and after the matinee we are throwing a HUGE family festival to raise money for our chosen charity this year, The Sharing Place. Our festival will include live music entertainment, inflatables, face painting, photo booth where you can meet Grinch and his dog Max, free cotton candy, balloon twisting, Christmas shopping from local art and craft vendors, yummy food trucks and MORE!
The festival has FREE ADMISSION and will be a fun night out for the whole family. The festival runs December 6th and 7th from 5-7 pm and Saturday December 8th from 4-7 pm. Whether you have tickets to the show or not, come join us at the festival for some family fun and to raise money for charity. Like the Grinch teaches us, "maybe Christmas means a little bit more...".
WINTER ZOO CAMPS at Utah's Hogle Zoo
Escape the cold Utah winter weather - and explore regions throughout the world that stay warm during the winter. Discover tropical rainforests, dry savannas, and hot deserts. Campers will learn how the adaptations of animals differ in warm and cold climates, and how some animals travel long distances to escape the cold. The day will consist of hands-on activities, fun games, crafts, and animal encounters!
For more information or to sign-up, visit http://www.hoglezoo.org/.
Tickets to Utah Children’s Theatre make great holiday gifts! Purchase individual tickets for $16 each or the 3-show package for only $39. The 3-show package includes Charlotte’s Web, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and James and the Giant Peach. If you want to add The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, season tickets start at just $50. Gift cards in the amount of $16-$100 may be purchased online or in person. Online gift cards are digital. For physical gift cards, please come to the box office. Go to https://uctheatre.org/ or call 801-532-6000 for more information.
Christkindlmarkt - This Is the Place Heritage Park
Christmas Festival with Parades, shopping, food and much more. Inspired by the world famous German Christmas markets, Christkindlmarkt SLC offers a unique holiday shopping and cultural experience this season. Tantalizing food and festive holiday entertainment await you as you stroll through wooden vendor booths nestled amid the magical backdrop of This Is The Place Heritage Park. The St. Martin's Lantern Parade will take place the evening of November 29th, to celebrate acts of service throughout the community. Christkindlmarkt SLC … experience the old world charm of Christmas. Hands down the best faire to attend in Utah at Christmastime.
Click here for more information.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ in Concert
Relive the magic of your favorite wizard in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban™ — in Concert with the Utah Symphony. Based on the third installment of J.K. Rowling’s classic saga, fans of all ages can now experience the thrilling tale accompanied by the music of a live symphony orchestra as Harry soars across the big screen.
Click here for more information.
Christmas Village - Ogden City, Utah
Christmas Village Illuminates Ogden's downtown area with magnificent displays and holiday lights every year from the Saturday after Thanksgiving through January 1. Spectators find themselves in a dazzling winter wonderland set aglow with Christmas lights and a unique setting of cottages modeled after Santa's village at the North Pole. The lights are on at Christmas Village from 5pm to midnight every night and admission is free. Take a virtual walk through Christmas Village. Learn more about each cottage and vote for your favorite!
Click here for more information.
Molly Mouse’s Sugar Plum Debut - The Children's Ballet Theatre
The Children’s Ballet Theatre, in conjunction with the Wasatch Youth Ballet Company, will delight Salt Lake audiences again this year with their 17th annual, charming holiday production, Molly Mouse’s Sugar Plum Debut.
Click here for more information.
A FAIRLY POTTER CHRISTMAS CAROL - The Ziegfeld Theater
THE MAGIC RETURNS! For the fourth year (and rewrite) in a row, our heartwarming musical parody, and audience favorite, returns to the stage. Spend a night with your favorite witches and wizards as they learn about the magic of Christmas. Written by our very own Rick Rea, it’s a perfect show for the whole family!
Click here for more information.
10 Tips to Help Special Needs Families Survive and Thrive During the Holiday Season
It’s that time of year again: holiday time with parties, overeating, and staying up late. The holidays can be overwhelming for anyone. When you have a child with special needs who is more sensitive to changes in routine, this stimulation is amplified. Writer, blogger, and mother to a son with autism, Joanne Giacomini, offers her top 10 tips for surviving and thriving during the holidays when you have a child with special needs. Read the full article here.
Chances are, many of you are thinking about your holiday gift list about now. Phew, it can be overwhelming. But you know what else is overwhelming? The amount of stuff that our kids accumulate for a big holiday.
For a change of pace, consider a gift of an annual membership to your favorite local museum or attraction. Memberships are often a great deal all year round. If there's a museum, park, or play place that you like to visit two or three times a year, chances are that a membership will be a better deal for your family than purchasing admission with each visit. Often these memberships include great perks and reciprocal programs that make it an even better deal. Gifting a membership to someone (instead of "stuff") fights clutter, provides fun for the recipient, and helps support local non-profits and businesses. It's a win-win-win.
Check out our list of Annual Memberships and Season Passes at Salt Lake City Attractions. Do it, don't dust it!
Have you seen our fabulous list jam-packed with 101 local holiday activities? Santa sightings, theater, tree lightings, Chanukah events, New Year's Eve events, and much more await you! Get out there and get merry!
101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the Salt Lake City Area
