Provo, UT

Christmas lights on Temple Square. Isn’t that something everybody does this time of year? You know, like one night your family walks out to the garage and gets in the car, your favorite holiday music just starts playing on the radio, the car backs out of the driveway (without you spilling a drop of hot chocolate!) and suddenly, you’re walking through a wonderful, other-worldly wonderland of lights and music.

For the three of you that have never experienced this absolutely essential holiday tradition, here’s what you’ll want to know before the car starts backing out of the driveway. Every year, the day after Thanksgiving, there is a magic moment (especially for children) when the holiday season officially kicks off, at least in Salt Lake City. That’s when the amazing and ever-growing light display is turned on at Temple Square. Every night thereafter through New Year’s Eve, tens of thousands turn out to enjoy the variety of free displays, concerts, and other seasonal wonders. In recent years, with the construction of the Conference Center and the Main Street Plaza, there are now even more things to look at and enjoy.

Perhaps the biggest challenge to taking in all of the Christmas-y treasures at Temple Square isn’t actually at Temple Square. It’s getting there. But thanks to the Trax line now running from the South Salt Lake Valley right up to downtown as well as the lines also coming in from up north, there are true low-cost alternatives to driving and parking, two things that are rarely much fun. That being said, if you still want to drive, the best way to avoid the heavy traffic is to come on a weeknight instead of on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday night. Another nice thing about this tradition is that it can be so different for everyone. Some folks like to take in as many of the concerts that are offered as they can, whether in the Tabernacle, the Assembly Hall, or in one of the two Visitor’s Centers. On the first Sunday night of the season, for example, there was a choir concert in the Tabernacle, an orchestral performance in the Assembly Hall, and a group of Christmas bell ringers in the South Visitor’s center, all at the same time. Talk about having lots to choose from!

For those with little children, the lights are probably going to be the extent of your Temple Square experience, and that is just great. We’re not talking Uncle Bob’s string of icicle lights wrapped around the lamppost here, but literally hundreds of thousands of lights. They’ve actually lost count of how many are hung up, but believe me, it’s lots! One of my personal favorites are the floating candles in the fountain on the Main Street Plaza. They’re a definite can’t-miss. There is also a wonderful Nativity found between the North Visitor’s center and the Tabernacle should you need a reminder of the reason for the season. These are but two of the many wonderful wonders awaiting you at Temple Square. Just get in the car. It’ll know where to go.

As for that, the best way to get to Temple Square depends of course on which way you’re coming from. If from the North, I’d suggest the 600 North exit into downtown Salt Lake, and look for the Temple. If you’re coming from the south, the 600 South exit into downtown and then taking West Temple north until you run into traffic is my preferred way of arriving. As for parking, most of it is free after 6pm downtown. My experience has been that there are generally more spots to be found north of Temple Square and the Conference Center than there are in the downtown area, but that could just be me.