The Independent

12/19/2025

The St. George Christmas Village invites families to kick off the holiday weekend with a festive morning tradition, Breakfast With Santa, happening Saturday, December 20. Designed as a cheerful, family-friendly celebration, the event combines a warm breakfast, seasonal activities, and a special visit from Santa Claus, all set in the heart of downtown St. George.
From holiday crafts and Christmas games to story time and music, the morning offers plenty to keep kids engaged while parents soak up the seasonal atmosphere. The highlight, of course, is the opportunity to meet Santa, share Christmas wishes, and capture those classic holiday moments that become keepsakes year after year.
Adding extra value for families, admission to Breakfast With Santa includes a wristband valid for the evening of December 13 at the St. George Christmas Village, extending the holiday fun beyond the morning festivities.
Breakfast With Santa takes place from 9 AM to noon at 76 W. Tabernacle St.

12/19/2025

The joy of the holiday season continues through the week between Christmas and New Year’s with community gatherings, lights, local markets, and festive traditions throughout Southern Utah.

St. George Christmas Village — Ongoing Celebration
Dec. 19 & Dec. 20 • 5–10 PMShops at Greengate Village, 76 W. Tabernacle St., St. George
The annual St. George Christmas Village returns with festive lights, local vendors, live entertainment, and holiday cheer for families and friends. Special activities and performances help close out the season with community spirit. Greater Zion Events

Holiday Light Displays — Ongoing Through Dec. 30
Red Hills Desert Garden Holiday LightsThe botanical gardens in St. George are decked with thousands of lights each evening through Dec. 31, offering a free, scenic walk through illuminated landscapes that capture the magic of the season. wcwcd.gov
Local Neighborhood & Garden Light DisplaysFrom drive-through light displays to decorated streets, the St.

12/19/2025

Cedar Breaks National Monument is experiencing lower-than-average snowpack for this time of year, according to a winter conditions update released this week by the National Park Service.
State Route 148 remains open through the monument at this time, allowing visitors to travel through the area. However, several seasonal facilities are closed for the winter, including the Cedar Breaks Visitor Center, the Zion Forever Project Store, the Human History Museum, and all flush restrooms located at the visitor center.
Due to insufficient snowpack, snowmobiling within Cedar Breaks National Monument is currently prohibited. Park officials say the restriction is necessary to help protect park resources, particularly fragile high-elevation meadow ecosystems that are typically insulated by deeper snow cover during winter months.
Despite current snow conditions, Cedar Breaks has opened registration for its ranger-guided snowshoe tours. Registration is available through the park’s website.

12/19/2025

A nationwide celebration marking America’s 250th birthday will officially kick off in Mesquite this January, as CasaBlanca Resort & Casino hosts the Opening Weekend Celebration of the U.S. 250 Tour from Friday, Jan. 9, through Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026.
The free, three-day festival launches a 50-state tour leading into the United States Semiquincentennial in 2026 and invites families and community members to take part in a large-scale patriotic experience centered on history, education, and live entertainment.
CasaBlanca’s outdoor event grounds will be transformed into Freedom Village, an immersive festival environment designed to bring American history to life. Throughout the weekend, guests can explore colonial-era demonstrations, artisan workshops, historical reenactors, and Kids America educational activities. Additional features include classic cars displayed along Main Street U.S.A. and a rare opportunity to view a first-edition written copy of the Declaration of Independence.

CasaBlanca Resort & Casino in Mesquite hosts the official kickoff of the U.S. 250 Tour, a free, family-friendly festival celebrating America’s 250th birthday with live music, Freedom Village, historical experiences, and more, Jan. 9–11, 2026.

12/19/2025

Southern Utah Events Guide – December 18, 2025. This week’s Southern Utah Events Guide features the Spirit of Christmas, A Christmas Carol, many Christmas events, theater productions, art, comedy, markets, local live music, and more.

If you would like to add an upcoming event, you can add one here, or if you need to cancel or edit a previously submitted event, you can do so here. We would like to ask those who have had an ongoing event or one that had had to be postponed, is no longer happening, or has had changes that you update those changes on the calendar.

The Independent is known as St. George and southern Utah’s events source. It produces the events calendar for southern Utah as the definitive calendar for the surrounding area. No need to wonder what is happening in southern Utah anymore; just check out our events calendar for St. George and southern Utah daily.
&FoodFrenzy ’sdinner

This week’s Southern Utah Events Guide features the Spirit of Christmas, A Christmas Carol, many Christmas events, theater productions, art, comedy, markets, local live music, and more.

12/18/2025

A nationwide celebration marking America’s 250th birthday will officially kick off in Mesquite this January, as CasaBlanca Resort & Casino hosts the Opening Weekend Celebration of the U.S. 250 Tour from Friday, Jan. 9, through Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026.
The free, three-day festival launches a 50-state tour leading into the United States Semiquincentennial in 2026 and invites families and community members to take part in a large-scale patriotic experience centered on history, education, and live entertainment.
CasaBlanca’s outdoor event grounds will be transformed into Freedom Village, an immersive festival environment designed to bring American history to life. Throughout the weekend, guests can explore colonial-era demonstrations, artisan workshops, historical reenactors, and Kids America educational activities. Additional features include classic cars displayed along Main Street U.S.A. and a rare opportunity to view a first-edition written copy of the Declaration of Independence.

12/17/2025

Best Friends Animal Society offers tips to help gift pets wisely this holiday season.

While many may find a puppy or kitten with a bow under the Christmas tree an adorable sight, there are important factors to take into consideration before gifting a pet this holiday season. Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to take the country no-kill*, which means saving every healthy and treatable pet in shelters, encourages those wanting to gift a furry companion this holiday season to choose the adoption option.

Considering adding a pet to your family? Choosing adoption helps animals in need while giving your new companion a second chance at a loving home.
’tshop

If a pet is on your wishlist, adoption is a meaningful option. Learn why choosing adoption supports local shelters, helps animals in need, and creates lasting bonds.

12/17/2025

The Southern Utah Art Guild is celebrating the season with a full lineup of exhibitions, open houses, and special events across its member galleries.

At Red Cliff Gallery, the “Gift of Art” show continues through December 18, featuring more than 100 works by 55 local artists. The exhibit includes photographs by featured artist Terrance Walters, along with selected watercolors from the St. George Children’s Museum and pieces from the Utah Tech University senior art shows of Mykenzy Ford, Ashlynn Vick, and Scout Cartmill. The “Gift of Art” show highlights small-sized, affordable works — perfect for holiday giving. Visitors can purchase one-of-a-kind pieces created by local artists for friends, family, or themselves.

Southern Utah Art Guild: December Exhibits and Events Across St. George

Red Cliff Gallery will also open its next exhibition, “America on the Road,” from January 9 through February 5.

Explore December art events with the Southern Utah Art Guild, including the “Gift of Art” show, Arrowhead Gallery’s Open House, and upcoming exhibitions in St. George.

12/17/2025

American Crossroads Theatre is bringing high suspense to St. George this January as the company remounts its razor-sharp production of Dial “M” for Murder. Performances run January 15, 16, and 17 at 7:30 PM, with a special 2 PM matinee on Saturday, January 17 at the Performing Arts Center (PAC), 905 S Main St, St. George.

A MASTERCLASS IN SUSPENSE
A signature thriller by playwright Frederick Knott, made world-famous through Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic film, Dial “M” for Murder remains a masterwork of tension. The story follows Tony Wendice, a retired tennis player who discovers his wealthy wife, Margot, has fallen for another man. His cold-blooded solution is murder. But as any great thriller proves, even the most meticulous plan can unravel, and every phone call, key, and alibi could be the undoing of a perfect crime.

Long hailed as one of the finest stage mysteries ever written, this production promises suspense, elegance, and tightly wound intrigue right up to the final twist.

Dial “M” for Murder returns to the St. George Performing Arts Center January 15–17 with American Crossroads Theatre’s acclaimed cast and direction.

12/14/2025

January 16–17, 2025 – Kanab, UT

The annual Kanab Train Show is set to roll back into town January 16–17, bringing together kids, adults, fans, hobbyists, buyers, and sellers for its eleventh year. Held inside the Kanab Center convention hall, right across from the historic Perry Lodge, the show offers two days of model railroad displays and hands-on fun for all ages.

Visitors can wander between the large ballroom and adjacent expo hall to enjoy at least a dozen operating model railroad layouts. “Each year, we have clubs and individuals showing virtually every size of model and toy train out there, from tiny N scale to the classic Lionel trains that many people grew up with under their Christmas trees. We’ll also have the larger Garden scale trains that are popular for outdoor railways and even Lionel Standard Gauge that was popular before World War II,” says Robert Lacey, the show’s organizer.

12/14/2025

Southern Utah’s red rock country is more than a landscape—it’s a stage where history, art, and community come alive. The Arts to Zion Cultural Tour in St. George invites you to step into a vibrant tapestry of creativity and heritage, where every street corner and gallery becomes part of the story.

This immersive tour opens doors to local home artist studios, galleries, and museums, where painters, sculptors, and artisans share their inspirations and techniques. You’ll connect directly with the makers, discovering how the desert’s light and color shape their work. Each stop reveals a new facet of Washington County’s artistic soul, from contemporary expressions to traditional crafts rooted in pioneer resilience.

Adding to the magic are actors dressed in authentic pioneer clothing who greet visitors along the streets. Speaking in first person, they embody the voices of St. George’s early settlers, recounting tales of faith, endurance, and community.

The Arts to Zion Cultural Tour returns January 16–17, offering two days of artist studio visits, galleries, living-history storytelling, and guided cultural experiences across St. George.

12/13/2025

Zion Vineyards is ready for the holidays with curated gift baskets featuring a selection of locally crafted wines and artisanal treats. Each basket includes your choice of a Zion Vineyards wine, a set of two wine glasses, a wine key (corkscrew), dark chocolate, and a handcrafted wine-based soap made by Olio Skin Care Co. in Salt Lake City.

Zion Vineyards has been producing wine for more than eleven years, with its Tasting Room opening to the public in May 2023. Since then, visitors from across the country and around the world have stopped in to sample the wines. Many leave with bottles to share with friends and family, helping spread the word that Utah can produce distinctive, high-quality varietals.

The 2025 harvest is now complete. Winemaker Robert Cec has processed the young wines and is preparing to transfer them into oak barrels for aging.

Discover locally made, award-winning wines at Zion Vineyards in Leeds. Gift baskets, a full tasting menu, and Utah-crafted Petit Sirah highlight this season’s offerings.