Utah has 5 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. Nikolaus in Salt Lake City on December 2 to Candlelight Christmas in Salt Lake City, which runs through December 23. 1 of them is free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in every state.
The short version
- 5 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Utah for 2026, in Salt Lake City
- First: Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. Nikolaus, Salt Lake City, December 2. Runs latest: Candlelight Christmas, Salt Lake City, through December 23
- Free: Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. Nikolaus
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by city, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Utah Christmas train rides page.
Utah Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 5 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Salt Lake City
- Season
- December 2 to December 23, 2026
- Free events
- 1
- Kinds of events
- story time with Santa, story time with Mrs. Claus and Santa visit
- Last checked
Plan your December
When each Utah Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. Nikolaus in Salt Lake City on December 2; the last runs to December 23. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. NikolausSalt Lake City · Dec 2 to Dec 5
- A Visit with Santa & Mrs. ClausSouth Jordan · Dec 7
- Candlelight ChristmasSalt Lake City · Dec 11 to Dec 23
- Storytelling with Mrs. ClausMillcreek · Dec 15
- A Visit with SantaSandy · Dec 21
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Utah? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Christmas events for kids in Salt Lake City
5 confirmed events for kids in Salt Lake City, including nearby Millcreek, Sandy and South Jordan, soonest first.
Salt Lake City: Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. Nikolaus
Story time with SantaFreeChristkindlmarkt SLC · Salt Lake City
- Host
- Christkindlmarkt SLC (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- This Is The Place Heritage Park (Pioneer Center), 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave., Salt Lake City, UT 84108
- When
- Wed December 2, Thu December 3, Fri December 4 and Sat December 5, 2026, 11 am to 8 pm
- Cost
- Free entry
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Christkindlmarkt SLC is a free German-style Christmas market at This Is The Place Heritage Park, open 11 am to 8 pm from Wednesday, December 2 through Saturday, December 5. For kids, the highlight is the Gnomie Storytelling Show in the Pioneer Center, with shows at 2, 3 and 4 pm each day, where children sing, dance and laugh as the gnomies tell a gnomie Christmas story and act out silly tales.
St. Nikolaus visits the Pioneer Center each day for photo ops, and the Lantern Parade steps off at 6 pm on Thursday, December 3. The market also has a petting zoo, pony rides for a small fee, a live nativity, stage performances and vendors. Entry tickets are not required. Crowds are large, so organizers ask families to leave strollers at home if possible.
Parent tip: Onsite parking must be prepaid and reserved in advance; free offsite lots have a shuttle every 15 minutes, and TRAX Red Line riders can catch it at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Leave strollers at home if you can.
See dates and details from Christkindlmarkt SLC (opens in a new tab)South Jordan: A Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus
Story time with Mrs. ClausSalt Lake County Library · South Jordan
- Host
- Salt Lake County Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Daybreak Library, Meeting Room, 11131 S Kestrel Rise Rd, South Jordan, UT 84009 (near Salt Lake City)
- When
- Monday, December 7, 2026, 7 to 8 pm
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- General audience, fun for all ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Salt Lake County Library's Daybreak branch in South Jordan hosts A Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus on Monday, December 7, 2026, from 7 to 8 pm in the branch meeting room. The library lists it as a general audience program and describes it as fun for all ages.
The hour combines three things young children love at this time of year: a storytime led by Mrs. Claus, a chance to visit with Santa, and a wintry craft to make and take home. The program is also described in Spanish as Una Visita con Papa y Mama Noel, so it is a welcoming choice for bilingual families. Because it is an evening event, the timing works well for working parents who cannot make a daytime storytime, and older siblings can come along after school. The meeting room holds about 66 people, so arriving a little early is wise.
Parent tip: The room holds about 66 people, so plan to arrive a few minutes early.
See dates and details from Salt Lake County Library (opens in a new tab)Salt Lake City: Candlelight Christmas
Story time with SantaThis Is The Place Heritage Park · Salt Lake City
- Host
- This Is The Place Heritage Park (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- This Is The Place Heritage Park, Heritage Village, 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave., Salt Lake City, UT 84108
- When
- Fri December 11, Sat December 12, Mon December 14, Tue December 15, Wed December 16, Thu December 17, Fri December 18, Sat December 19, Mon December 21, Tue December 22 and Wed December 23, 2026, 5 to 9 pm
- Cost
- Tickets through This Is The Place Heritage Park; price not listed on event page
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Candlelight Christmas turns the Heritage Village at This Is The Place Heritage Park into a glowing 1800s Christmas scene, Monday through Saturday from December 11 to 23, 5 to 9 pm. Families stroll lantern-lit streets while the Heritage Carolers sing, visit Father Christmas to share wish lists, and pause at a live nativity reenactment.
Inside the historic pioneer homes, kids can try hands-on holiday crafts, warm up by the fire, watch demonstrations of traditional Christmas practices and hear storytelling. Brigham's Donuts, the ZCMI Candy and Toy Shop and the Gift Shop are open for treats and gifts. Much of the evening is outdoors, with indoor stops along the way. Walkways are a mix of paved and packed earth; most activities work for strollers and wheelchairs, though some cabins have steps or narrow doors.
Parent tip: Dress warmly since much of the event is outdoors. Free onsite parking is available, and arriving early makes parking easier; some cabins have steps, so strollers may not fit everywhere.
See dates and details from This Is The Place Heritage Park (opens in a new tab)Millcreek: Storytelling with Mrs. Claus
Story time with Mrs. ClausSalt Lake County Library · Millcreek
- Host
- Salt Lake County Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Millcreek Library, Meeting Room, 2266 E Evergreen Ave, Millcreek, UT 84109 (near Salt Lake City)
- When
- Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 10:30 to 11 am
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- Pre-K (ages 0 to 5) and general audience
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Mrs. Claus stops by the Millcreek branch of the Salt Lake County Library on Tuesday, December 15, 2026, for a half hour of holiday storytelling from 10:30 to 11 am in the meeting room. The library lists it as a drop-in activity aimed at preschoolers and a general audience.
Using her wit and charm, Mrs. Claus answers the kinds of questions curious children ask about Santa, such as why Santa depends on Jack Frost, where Santa found his elves, and what the elves did when Santa was feeling a bit blue. The short format suits toddlers and preschoolers who are not ready to sit through a long program, and the morning time works well for families with little ones at home during the week. The meeting room holds about 80 people, and because it is drop-in, there is nothing to sign up for ahead of time.
Parent tip: This is a drop-in program; arrive a few minutes early to settle little ones before the 10:30 am start.
See dates and details from Salt Lake County Library (opens in a new tab)Sandy: A Visit with Santa
Santa visitSalt Lake County Library · Sandy
- Host
- Salt Lake County Library (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Sandy Library, Large Meeting Room, 10100 S Petunia Way, Sandy, UT 84092 (near Salt Lake City)
- When
- Monday, December 21, 2026, 3:30 to 4:30 pm
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- School age (6 to 9) and general audience
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
The Sandy branch of the Salt Lake County Library hosts A Visit with Santa on Monday, December 21, 2026, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in its large meeting room. The library invites families to enjoy a fun-filled special visit with Santa and notes that there is no place like the County Library for the holidays.
The program is listed as a drop-in activity for school-age children and a general audience, so there is no need to sign up in advance. Coming just a few days before Christmas, it is a good last chance for children to share their wish lists with Santa in a calm, indoor setting rather than a crowded mall line. The afternoon timing lands during winter break for many families, and the meeting room holds about 80 people, so a visit early in the hour may mean a shorter wait.
Parent tip: Drop in any time during the hour; coming early may mean a shorter wait to see Santa.
See dates and details from Salt Lake County Library (opens in a new tab)Near a state line? Our guides to Christmas events for kids in Montana, Christmas events for kids in Nevada and Christmas events for kids in Idaho list more confirmed events, and the national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonUtah Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are in Utah in 2026?
We confirmed 5 Christmas events for kids in Utah for 2026 on each host’s own page: Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. Nikolaus in Salt Lake City (December 2), A Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus in South Jordan (December 7), Candlelight Christmas in Salt Lake City (December 11), Storytelling with Mrs. Claus in Millcreek (December 15) and A Visit with Santa in Sandy (December 21). Every one is listed below with times, cost and a link to the host.
What Christmas events for kids are in Salt Lake City, Utah?
For families in and around Salt Lake City, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. Nikolaus (Wed to Sat, Dec 2 to 5; shows at 2, 3 and 4 pm, free entry); A Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus (in South Jordan, Mon, Dec 7, 7 to 8 pm, no fee listed); Candlelight Christmas (Mondays to Saturdays, Dec 11 to 23, 5 to 9 pm, tickets through this is the place heritage park; price not listed on event page); Storytelling with Mrs. Claus (in Millcreek, Tue, Dec 15, 10:30 to 11 am, no fee listed); A Visit with Santa (in Sandy, Mon, Dec 21, 3:30 to 4:30 pm, no fee listed). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Salt Lake City section of this page.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Utah?
Yes. 1 of the 5 events here are free: Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. Nikolaus in Salt Lake City. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.
Where can kids see Santa in Utah this December?
Santa appears at Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. Nikolaus in Salt Lake City (December 2), A Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus in South Jordan (December 7), Candlelight Christmas in Salt Lake City (December 11) and A Visit with Santa in Sandy (December 21). Times and booking rules are in each event’s listing above.
Where are there Christmas story times for kids in Utah?
Holiday story times on this page: Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. Nikolaus in Salt Lake City, A Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus in South Jordan, Candlelight Christmas in Salt Lake City and Storytelling with Mrs. Claus in Millcreek. Library story times are usually free; story times with a meal or show are ticketed.
Which Utah Christmas events are best for toddlers?
These are aimed at babies, toddlers and preschoolers: Storytelling with Mrs. Claus in Millcreek (Pre-K (ages 0 to 5) and general audience).
How much is Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. Nikolaus in Salt Lake City?
Free entry. Christkindlmarkt SLC: The Gnomie Storytelling Show and Meet St. Nikolaus is on Wed December 2, Thu December 3, Fri December 4 and Sat December 5, 2026, 11 am to 8 pm at This Is The Place Heritage Park (Pioneer Center). Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is A Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus in South Jordan?
No fee listed. A Visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus is on Monday, December 7, 2026, 7 to 8 pm at Daybreak Library, Meeting Room. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Candlelight Christmas in Salt Lake City?
Tickets through This Is The Place Heritage Park; price not listed on event page. Candlelight Christmas is on Fri December 11, Sat December 12, Mon December 14, Tue December 15, Wed December 16, Thu December 17, Fri December 18, Sat December 19, Mon December 21, Tue December 22 and Wed December 23, 2026, 5 to 9 pm at This Is The Place Heritage Park, Heritage Village. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is Storytelling with Mrs. Claus in Millcreek?
No fee listed. Storytelling with Mrs. Claus is on Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 10:30 to 11 am at Millcreek Library, Meeting Room. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is A Visit with Santa in Sandy?
No fee listed. A Visit with Santa is on Monday, December 21, 2026, 3:30 to 4:30 pm at Sandy Library, Large Meeting Room. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Utah?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Utah Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 2, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
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