HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN UTAH VALLEY 2019
THE DAILY HERALD’S 2019
ULTIMATE HOLIDAY BUCKET LIST
Make the magic happen this holiday season in Utah County displays or projects that are iconic to Utah County this time of year, ones that everyone or some, the Christmas season should try at least once. starts as soon as the costumes come off and the pumpkins are put ‘Luminaria’ away, and others wait to give the “Luminaria” is entering its fourth year at Thanksgiving Point, and has grown since its holiday of thankfulness its due. Whichever camp you land in, inception in 2016. To call Luminaria a light display wouldn’t Thanksgiving is here and while that may mean turkey time and family fun, it also means that do it justice. The event includes a mile-long walk decorated with lighted luminaries, and the holiday season is officially upon us. The Christmas season can be a time for the includes The Grand Allee’s 6,500 programhustle and bustle of decorating, putting up the mable luminaries along a hill that together lights, picking the perfect presents and wrap- depict a movie picture of the symbols of the ping each gift precisely. While those elements season. of the season are important, there are many Along with the luminary displays, the ways right here in Utah County that you can event has a 120-foot Christmas tree, a nafeel the true meaning of the season with family tivity scene with glowing lanterns, peaceful and friends. music and 35 monument-sized bronze sculpThis Ultimate Utah County Holiday Bucket tures depicting the life of Jesus Christ. List offers about 120 ways that you can truly Each year that “Luminaria” has been held, enjoy the holiday season right here at home — additions have been made to the event, and from attending events, to seeing displays and this year is no exception. New to “Luminaria” even helping out our fellow neighbors. is the Aqueous display by the Jen Lewin StuWhile we list a wide variety of ways to dio, which is described as an “interactive celebrate the season, there are some events, landscape of meandering pathways of light.” BY STACY JOHNSON
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Daily Herald
Spanish Fork ‘Festival of Lights’
One of the longer-standing Christmas traditions in Utah County is in Spanish Fork where you can visit the “Festival of Lights.” The event is in its 27th year and features a drive-through display of Christmas lights. The decorations change year-to-year so that annual visitors can see something new each season, but the displays every year include large-scale figures made from Christmas lights. The display is also set to coincide with music on the radio station 99.7 FM. Spanish Fork Mayor Steve Leifson said last Christmas that, “It is one of the most popular Christmas light drive-thrus in Utah County due to its consistency and always affordable admission. With more than a million lights, the ‘Festival of Lights’ is sure to become one of your favorite holiday traditions.”
‘Pond Town Christmas’
In Salem, you can see an almost magical sight with the city’s annual “Pond Town Christmas” lights. The display features Christmas trees floating on the pond at Knoll Park, and runs each year from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. Daily Herald records show that the tradition started in 2000 with the first lighted pond display.
Live Nativity
For 16 years, locals have flocked to Alpine to see the Alpine Living Nativity, which has grown tremendously in popularity since its inception. The first year, the event had about 300 visitors and grew to more than 20,000 each Christmas season. This year, though, the iconic event will not be held. According to the group’s website, they were in need of a new location to host the nativity scene — and they found that location. “But with the move we still have a lot of work ahead of us and will be unable to finish by December,” the website said. The group plans to be back up and running for Christmas in 2020. But not to worry, there are other living nativities that you can check out in Utah County in its absence, and one — “A Babe is Born,” located in Lehi — is helping by donating funds to charitable organizations sponsored by The Alpine Living Nativity this year while it is closed. So, whether you participate in one of these events, or one of the others on our Ultimate Holiday Bucket List, may you be able to enjoy the spirit and feel the magic of the season.
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