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Christmas with kids in Saint George
In St. George, Christmas starts the Monday after Thanksgiving, when Historic Town Square counts down to its lights. The red rock city also has an 80-foot digital tree and a carousel that stays open late for Santa.
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The story of Christmas in Saint George
How St. George celebrates
St. George kicks off the season with the Kickoff to Christmas at Historic Town Square, a free evening hosted by the City of St. George and Cat Country radio. It is held every year on the Monday after Thanksgiving and is described as a holiday tradition. The night includes a countdown to the lights, choir performances, photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and hot chocolate and cookies. The city uses Town Square Park, at 50 South Main Street, for holiday gatherings with carols, kids' crafts and carousel rides.
Christmas last year in St. George
In 2025, the Kickoff to Christmas took place on December 1 at 6 pm, with a lights countdown, local youth choirs and extended hours at the St. George Carousel and Children's Museum until 8 pm. Santa and Mrs. Claus posed for photos. The St. George Christmas Village ran November 28 to December 20, Thursdays through Saturdays from 5 to 10 pm, with train rides, crafts and cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus. Christmas in the Canyon at Tuacahn ran from November 21 to December 20 with over 250,000 lights.
Fun facts about Christmas in St. George
St. George has the tallest digital Christmas tree in Utah. The 80-foot tree outside the Dixie Power building in Bloomington has about 7,500 LED lights in 48 strands and can be seen from Interstate 15. Dixie Power linemen raise the curtain of lights around an 85-foot pole over two to three days. At past Town Square events, the St. George Carousel offered rides for $1. Santa has also posed for photos in front of the carousel.
Trains and Christmas in St. George
Trains show up at Christmas in St. George even without a railroad museum nearby. The St. George Christmas Village, an annual event running Thursdays through Saturdays in late November and December, offers train rides alongside local vendors, crafts and Santa's workshop activities. Christmas in the Canyon at Tuacahn also has train rides, a live nativity and a free visit with Santa among its 250,000 twinkling lights. Check each listing for current ticket details.
Traditions today
- Kickoff to Christmas: The Monday after Thanksgiving, Historic Town Square counts down to its lights with choirs, Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot chocolate and cookies.
- St. George Carousel at Town Square: The carousel stays open late during holiday events, and Santa has appeared in front of it for photos.
- St. George Christmas Village: An annual event with vendors, train rides, crafts, cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus and a gingerbread house competition.
- Christmas in the Canyon: Tuacahn is lit with over 250,000 lights, plus a live nativity, train rides and a free visit with Santa.
- The 80-foot digital tree: Dixie Power's tree of about 7,500 LED lights is the tallest digital tree in Utah and shows animations visible from the freeway.
- Dickens Christmas Festival: A four-day festival at the Dixie Convention Center with vendors in period costume, choirs, bands and Father Christmas.
A fact for kids
St. George has the tallest digital Christmas tree in Utah. It is 80 feet tall, with about 7,500 lights that dance in animations you can spot from the freeway.
Questions about Christmas in Saint George
What is the Kickoff to Christmas in St. George?
The Kickoff to Christmas is a free holiday event at Historic Town Square hosted by the City of St. George and Cat Country radio. It features a countdown and lighting of the square, choirs, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and free hot chocolate and cookies while supplies last. The city describes it as a holiday tradition.
When is the Kickoff to Christmas each year?
It is held every year on the Monday after Thanksgiving, at about 6 pm. In 2025 that fell on December 1 at Historic Town Square. It opens the Christmas season in the city. Check our St. George Christmas events guide on this page for this year's date.
Where is the Christmas tree lighting in St. George?
The city lights Historic Town Square, at Town Square Park, 50 South Main Street, during Kickoff to Christmas. Past events have included a tree lighting with Santa, choir performances, free hot chocolate, kids' crafts and free admission to the Children's Museum. Parking in 2025 was in the new City Hall garage at 61 S. Main Street.
Does St. George have a carousel at Christmas?
Yes, the St. George Carousel at Town Square stays open late during holiday events. In 2025 its hours were extended until 8 pm for Kickoff to Christmas, and past events have offered $1 rides. Santa has also posed for photos in front of it. Check for current ride fees.
Is the St. George Children's Museum open for Christmas events?
Yes, the St. George Children's Museum has opened with extended hours during Kickoff to Christmas, until 8 pm in 2025, with crafts and activities for families. Regular fees apply. In 2025 it also hosted a Sensory-Friendly Quiet Santa evening on December 6 with Walk with Autism.
What is the tallest Christmas tree in St. George?
The tallest is the Dixie Power digital tree in Bloomington, at 80 feet, which makes it the tallest digital Christmas tree in Utah. It has about 7,500 LED lights in 48 strands, and it surpassed a 70-foot display at the Outlets in Lehi. You can see it from Interstate 15.
Who builds the digital Christmas tree in St. George?
Dixie Power linemen build it. Over two to three days they raise a curtain of LED strands around an 85-foot pole, and a team led by communications specialist Steven Young programs the animations. The tree shows moving light patterns that can be seen from Interstate 15.
What is the St. George Christmas Village?
It is an annual event that in 2025 ran November 28 to December 20, Thursdays through Saturdays from 5 to 10 pm. It includes local vendors, train rides, crafts, Santa's workshop activities with cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus and a gingerbread house competition. See our St. George Christmas events guide on this page for this year.
What is Christmas in the Canyon at Tuacahn?
Christmas in the Canyon is a lights display at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre with over 250,000 twinkling lights. In 2025 it ran November 21 to December 20. It includes a live nativity, train rides, an open fire and a free visit with Santa. Admission was free, while train rides and nativity tickets were sold online.
What is the Dickens Christmas Festival in St. George?
It is a festival at the Dixie Convention Center that in 2025 ran December 3 to 6. Vendors in period costumes run vintage, old English-style booths, with local choirs and bands and Father Christmas on site. Tickets are sold online, so families should look up details before they go.
Does it snow in St. George at Christmas?
St. George sits in the warm desert of southern Utah, so snow is not a regular feature of a December day. Families come for the lights instead, from Town Square to Tuacahn. The Christmas Village and Kickoff to Christmas are mostly outdoor evenings, so bring warm layers for after sunset.
What is Town Square Park in St. George?
Town Square Park, at 50 South Main Street, is where the city holds its holiday gatherings, with carols, kids' crafts and carousel rides. It is also where Santa and Mrs. Claus have posed for photos in front of the St. George Carousel during Kickoff to Christmas.
Is there a sensory-friendly Santa in St. George?
Yes, in 2025 the St. George Children's Museum hosted a Sensory-Friendly Quiet Santa on December 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Families could meet and take photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, hosted with Walk with Autism. Check our St. George Christmas events guide on this page for future dates.
What local companies help with St. George's Christmas events?
Hedgehog Electric & Solar has sponsored the free cookies and hot chocolate at Kickoff to Christmas, and Cat Country radio co-hosts it with the city. Dixie Power builds the 80-foot digital tree. These local partners help bring the holiday season to St. George.
How do I explain Christmas lights to a young child?
Tell your child that St. George starts its Christmas season with a countdown at Historic Town Square, when the crowd counts together and the lights come on. Afterward, you can talk about the 80-foot digital tree, which shows animations of moving lights.
Where can kids see Santa in St. George?
Kids can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Kickoff to Christmas at Historic Town Square, at the Christmas Village and at Christmas in the Canyon, which offers a free visit with Santa. The Children's Museum also hosts a quiet, sensory-friendly Santa. See our St. George Christmas events guide on this page for current dates.
Who leads the countdown at Kickoff to Christmas?
In 2023, St. George Mayor Michele Randall and City Council members led a caroling countdown to the light unveiling at Town Square, with Cat Country radio personalities as emcees. Local elementary school choirs performed too. Each year's lineup changes, so see our St. George Christmas events guide on this page for current details.
Is there a Christmas market in St. George?
Yes, the St. George Christmas Village has local vendors alongside crafts and Santa activities, and the Dickens Christmas Festival has vendors in period costumes. Both ran in 2025. Look at our St. George Christmas events guide on this page for this season.
Are there train rides at Christmas in St. George?
Yes, both the St. George Christmas Village and Christmas in the Canyon at Tuacahn offered train rides in 2025. At Tuacahn, train ride tickets were sold online, while admission to the lights was free. Check each listing for ticket details and ages before you go.
Is there a train museum in St. George?
We do not have a railroad museum listed in Utah, so the train fun in St. George comes from seasonal events. The Christmas Village and Christmas in the Canyon both offer train rides at Christmas. For history and museum visits, our train museum guide has options farther afield.
Sources
- Kickoff to Christmas returns Dec. 1 to Historic Town Square, St. George Area Chamber of Commerce
- Annual Christmas Light Reveal at Town Square Park November 27th at 6 PM, Southern Utah Independent
- Christmas in Town Square lights up St. George city Christmas tree, St. George News
- Kickoff To Christmas, St. George Area Chamber of Commerce
- Your guide to Christmas events in St. George, Utah, St George Utah Vacation Rentals
- Utah's tallest digital Christmas tree lights up St. George with 7,500 LED lights, Fox 13
- Sensory-Friendly Quiet Santa, ABS Kids