Happy Holidays, Salt Lake City! The holidays are going to be a bigger challenge this year, so why not make even more time to connect with friends and family? Here are some of our staff picks to enjoy the holiday season responsibly.

Think about your happiest holiday memories. It most probably involves the senses — the smell of cookies baking, lights at temple square, the City Creek windows and Grand America, holiday markets — and the time spent decorating, plotting and anticipating with family and friends. We can enjoy these things again, with a little creative planning. Here are some ideas to connect with each other and love on our beautiful city:

THINGS TO DO FROM HOME

• First of all, GOOD NEWS, Zoom has dropped the time limit for calls during Thanksgiving.

• Virtual holiday parties are a type of virtual team celebration. This list from teambuilding. com has some really awesome virtual holiday party ideas including party help, games, activities and more.

• The world-renowned Tabernacle Choir will present this year’s Christmas event online, with plenty of ways to stream and watch online.

• Visit Salt Lake is our favorite go to for any events including virtual events you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home.

• More local arts and culture virtual events from Now Playing Utah.

• Excellence in the Community at the Gallivan Center continues to offer Free online concerts, live Wed. and Sat. night

• The 2020 Festival of Trees will be going VIRTUAL, connect Dec 1-5.

• Host a watch party with your family “SLC Nights In” rewind – pick a recipe for food and a cocktail from local SLC restaurants, originally aired Spring 2020 – find recordings here.
  • Valter’s Osteria’s famous pasta!
  • A gingersnap ice cream sandwich from Normal Ice Cream
  • A whiskey sour from Boltcutter
  • … and more!

• The Salt Lake City Jewish Community Center is holding their annual Hanukkah Market online this year. From November 16 – December 17 you can support local vendors to find all your holiday needs.

This year the Utah Symphony will be hosting their very popular Messiah Sing-In ONLINE, virtual performances will be held NOV 26 – DEC 9. Get more information on the USUO: On Demand – Messiah Sing-in Online Event 2 here.

• This year’s Small Business Saturday has gone virtual! Join Local First Utah for the Shop Small Digital Crawl with over 100 participating local businesses, and a chance to win prizes!

GET OUTSIDE

• Support our local restaurants. Our hardworking small business owners need your help now more than ever. Order takeout or try dining outside! So many owners are taking special care to provide a safe, cozy outdoor dining experience. Get some fresh air and avoid cooking dinner tonight, WIN-WIN!

• Here’s a great list of socially-distanced ideas to get outside from Kids Out and About.
• While Temple Square is out for construction this year, there are still many other ways to walk around and enjoy the lights, including Gateway Lights On 2020 Nov. 20^th continuing through the season, Hogle Zoo Lights, Gallivan Center, City Creek and Red Butte.

• Cross country skiing and snowshoeing are expected to be in high demand this winter. Good thing we have plenty of spots to choose from. Explore Cross Country trails near SLC, and rent equipment from our local shops – a relatively inexpensive way to get out for some fresh air and explore the beauty of Utah in wintertime.

From all of us at Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development, Happy Holidays!