What Is There to Do in St. George in December 2026? Quick Answer
December in St. George is light-show season: Tuacahn's Christmas in the Canyon, Red Hills Desert Garden and Christmas on The Farm run all month, the Dickens Christmas Festival is Dec. 2–5, Staheli Family Farm's light show opens Dec. 10, schools break Dec. 21, and the year ends with Washington City's New Year's Eve fireworks.
| Date | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| All month | Tuacahn Christmas in the Canyon (through Dec. 23), Red Hills Desert Garden lights (free, through Dec. 31), Christmas on The Farm | Ivins, St. George, Hurricane |
| Wed, Dec. 2 | Utah Tech tree lighting (free) | St. George |
| Dec. 2–5 | Dickens Christmas Festival | Dixie Convention Center |
| Fri–Sat, Dec. 4–5 | LaVerkin Winterfest; George Streetfest and First Friday at Kayenta (Dec. 4); Hanukkah begins at sundown Dec. 4 | LaVerkin, St. George, Ivins |
| Sat, Dec. 5 | Light the Night at the Museum of Art; Hungry Hustle ugly sweater 5K | St. George, Washington |
| Sun, Dec. 6 | Samichlaus Abend tree lighting (time to be announced) | Santa Clara |
| Mon, Dec. 7 | Pearl Harbor and USS Utah remembrance; Live Nativity at Staheli Family Farm (Dec. 7–9) | Washington |
| Dec. 10–12 | Hurricane Valley Christmas Tree Festival | Hurricane |
| Dec. 10–23 | Staheli Family Farm Christmas light show | Washington |
| Sat, Dec. 12 | Dimon Legacy Theatre grand opening, ribbon cutting 12:30 p.m. | St. George |
| Sat, Dec. 12 | Baker's Dozen Half Marathon; Santa on the Farm (Dec. 12–14) | Hurricane, Washington |
| Dec. 13–14 | 86th annual Handel's Messiah | Cedar City |
| Fri, Dec. 18 | Last day of school before winter break (Washington County School District) | Washington County |
| Sat, Dec. 19 | Run Run Reindeer 5K; Southern Utah Market Christmas pop-up; Wreaths Across America in Ivins | Ivins, Hurricane |
| Wed, Dec. 23 | Holiday drone show at Staheli Family Farm | Washington |
| Fri, Dec. 25 | Christmas Day. Zion's holiday shuttle runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 2 | Zion National Park |
| Thu, Dec. 31 | Noon Day Balloon Drop for kids; Washington City New Year's Eve fireworks | St. George, Washington |
Where Can I See Christmas Lights in St. George?
Four big displays cover most of the month. The free Holiday Lights at Red Hills Desert Garden run nightly through Dec. 31. Christmas in the Canyon at Tuacahn in Ivins runs through Dec. 23. In Hurricane, Christmas on The Farm runs through Dec. 31, and Staheli Family Farm in Washington opens its Christmas light show on Dec. 10, with a holiday drone show on Dec. 23. The North Pole Express runs at Thunder Junction All-Abilities Park from Dec. 4 through Dec. 21.
Prices, hours and parking for each display are in our Christmas events in Southern Utah guide, which also covers Santa visits and the Nov. 30 tree lightings.
In Santa Clara, the city lights its tree for Samichlaus Abend, a Swiss St. Nicholas night held every year on Dec. 6, across from Town Hall. The city has not posted the 2026 start time.
Christmas Concerts and Shows
Utah Tech's America First Performing Arts Center (St. George)
- The Forgotten Carols, Thursday, Dec. 3
- Making Spirits Bright with Ann Hampton Callaway, Saturday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.
- Southwest Symphony: Sounds of the Season, Dec. 11–12, 7:30 p.m.
- A Kurt Bestor Christmas, Monday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m.
- Southern Utah Heritage Choir: Heaven and Nature Sing, Friday, Dec. 18, 7:30 p.m.
- Utah Tech Choral Concert, Thursday, Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m., Eccles Fine Arts Center
- Johnson Files: Improvised Christmas, Monday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m., Eccles Fine Arts Center
Tuacahn, the Electric Theater and Downtown
- Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn in Tuacahn's indoor Hafen Theatre, through Dec. 22.
- A Christmas Carol: A New Musical at The Electric Theater, through Dec. 18.
- Concerts at the Electric: Color Country Choir, Monday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m. (free).
- Movies at the Electric: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m. ($5).
- Dimon Legacy Theatre grand opening, Saturday, Dec. 12: St. George Musical Theater opens its new theater-in-the-round with a ribbon cutting at 12:30 p.m. Read our Dimon Legacy Theatre story.
- A Christmas with Nathan Pacheco, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m., Dixie High School Auditorium.
- Light the Night at the St. George Museum of Art, Saturday, Dec. 5, from 5 p.m.
- Ramona's Home School of Rock!, dinner theater at Rattlin' D Playhouse in Hurricane, through Dec. 21.
Kayenta (Ivins) and Springdale
- Utah Poet Laureate Lisa Bickmore, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m.
- DOCUTAH Presents: Better Up There, Friday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m.
- Cassia Streb and Sandstone Quartet: Music as Architecture, Saturday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.
- Jazzin' Around the Christmas Tree, Friday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.
- A Joshua Creek Christmas, Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., Bumbleberry Theater in Springdale.
Markets, Festivals and Holiday Shopping
- Dickens Christmas Festival, Dec. 2–5 at the Dixie Convention Center.
- LaVerkin Winterfest, Dec. 4–5 downtown, with the Winterfest 5K and 10K on the morning of Dec. 5.
- Hurricane Valley Christmas Tree Festival, Dec. 10–12 at the Hurricane Community Center.
- Southern Utah Market Christmas Pop-Up, Saturday, Dec. 19, at Washington County Legacy Park.
- Weekly markets: the Tuacahn Saturday Market runs through Dec. 26, and the Downtown Farmers Market at Vernon Worthen Park runs through Dec. 19.
- First Friday, Dec. 4: George Streetfest on Main Street and First Fridays at Kayenta.
- Mall shopping: regular and holiday hours are on our Red Cliffs Mall listing.
Races and Sports
- Saturday, Dec. 5: the Hungry Hustle 5K and Ugly Sweater Fun Run at Sullivan Virgin River Soccer Park in Washington, and the LaVerkin Winterfest 5K and 10K.
- Dec. 11–12: the Last One Standing backyard ultra at Crosby Family Confluence Park.
- Saturday, Dec. 12: the Baker's Dozen Half Marathon, Relay and 5K from Three Falls Park in Hurricane.
- Saturday, Dec. 19: the Run Run Reindeer 5K at Ivins City Park.
- College basketball: Big Sky play opens at home in December. SUU hosts Idaho State on Dec. 3 in Cedar City. Utah Tech opens Big Sky play at Burns Arena against Weber State on Dec. 3, then hosts Idaho State on Dec. 5 and Denver on Dec. 14. SUU hosts Weber State on Dec. 5, and SUU's women play Cal State Fullerton on Dec. 18. More Trailblazers dates are in our Utah Tech Trailblazers guide.
When Is Winter Break for Washington County Schools?
Under the Washington County School District's 2026-27 calendar, Christmas vacation runs Monday, Dec. 21, through Friday, Jan. 1. Friday, Dec. 18, is the last day of the second quarter. Monday, Jan. 4, is a teacher prep day with no school, so students return on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
Outdoors in December
- Zion: with the shuttle off, you can drive Zion Canyon Scenic Drive in your own car through Dec. 25. Holiday shuttle service runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 2. Details are in our Zion winter shuttle guide.
- Skiing: Brian Head Resort is the closest ski resort to St. George. See our Brian Head opening day story for the season start.
- Winter visitors: our St. George winter visitor guide covers hiking, golf and what stays open.
- Remembrance: the Pearl Harbor and USS Utah remembrance is Monday, Dec. 7, at Heritage Hall in Washington. On Saturday, Dec. 19, Ivins holds its Wreaths Across America ceremony at 10 a.m.
Cedar City in December
- SUU Holiday Concert, Dec. 4–5
- Sawyer Brown Holiday Hits, Thursday, Dec. 10
- SUU Faculty Dance Concert, Dec. 10–12
- 86th annual Handel's Messiah, Dec. 13–14 at the Heritage Center Theater
- A Very SUMA Holiday sale at the Southern Utah Museum of Art, through Dec. 5
- SUMA First Friday, Dec. 4, 6–8 p.m. (free)
- SUU Signature Series: Kenny Washington, Friday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.
More dates are on our Cedar City events calendar.
Where Can I Spend New Year's Eve in St. George?
Families with young kids can count down early at the Noon Day Balloon Drop at the St. George Children's Museum. At night, Washington City hosts New Year's Eve fireworks from the Washington City Community Center, with the show listed for 10 p.m. Holiday lights at Red Hills Desert Garden and Christmas on The Farm also stay on through Dec. 31. Sports fans can catch Utah Tech women's basketball against Idaho at 2 p.m. that afternoon at Burns Arena, and SUU's women host Eastern Washington at 6:30 p.m. in Cedar City.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the weather like in St. George in December?
December is the coolest stretch of the year in St. George, with mild afternoons and cold nights that can drop near freezing. Outdoor light shows and Tuacahn's canyon get cold after dark, so bring a coat and gloves.
What are the free things to do in St. George in December 2026?
Free options include the Red Hills Desert Garden lights (through Dec. 31), the Utah Tech tree lighting (Dec. 2), George Streetfest and First Friday at Kayenta (Dec. 4), Concerts at the Electric with the Color Country Choir (Dec. 14), the Downtown Farmers Market and Washington City's New Year's Eve fireworks.
When is Christmas break for Washington County schools in 2026?
The Washington County School District's Christmas vacation runs Monday, Dec. 21, 2026, through Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. Jan. 4 is a teacher prep day with no school, so students go back on Tuesday, Jan. 5.
Is the Zion shuttle running in December 2026?
Not for most of the month. You can drive the Scenic Drive in your own car through Dec. 25, then Zion runs a holiday shuttle Dec. 26 through Jan. 2. The road can close to cars when parking fills.
Are there New Year's Eve fireworks in St. George?
Washington City hosts New Year's Eve fireworks from the Washington City Community Center on Dec. 31, 2026, listed for 10 p.m. Earlier that day, the St. George Children's Museum holds a Noon Day Balloon Drop for kids.
Sources
- Washington County School District: 2026-27 calendar (PDF)
- National Park Service: Zion Canyon shuttle system
- Tuacahn Center for the Arts
- Utah Tech Live: event listings
- Cedar City: community calendar
- St. George Musical Theater: Dimon Legacy Theatre
- Santa Clara City: Samichlaus Abend
- Utah Tech Athletics: men's basketball schedule
- Southern Utah University: events calendar
Published November 2, 2026. Dates, times and prices come from each organizer, so confirm before you go. Each event page links to its organizer.
