Christmas lights and holiday events in south Utah County, 2026

Spanish Fork's drive-through light show opens on Thanksgiving night, and you can't buy a ticket at the gate. Here's what's confirmed for the 2026 season in Spanish Fork, Payson and Salem, what's still waiting on official dates, and where to eat before you go.

Spanish Fork Festival of Lights: buy tickets before you drive

Spanish Fork City runs the Festival of Lights as a drive-through display at Canyon View Park. The city says it's open from Thanksgiving Day through New Year's Day, which this year means Nov. 26, 2026, to Jan. 1, 2027.

Tickets are sold online only. The city sells them in advance at sfcitytix.com, starting Nov. 12, and says no tickets are sold at the gate. The city hasn't posted nightly hours or ticket prices on its festival page yet, so check the ticket site when you book.

Payson's Santa Dash at the Peteetneet Museum

Payson City's calendar lists the Santa Dash on Friday, Nov. 27, 2026. The race starts at the Peteetneet Museum, 10 N. 600 East, the old 1901 schoolhouse on the east end of Utah Avenue. Check the race's registration page for the start time and entry fee before you sign the kids up.

The Utah Santa Run in Salem on Dec. 5

The Utah Santa Run comes to Salem on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026. Runners pick a 5K or a 1.55-mile run, both scheduled from 4:15 to 5:15 p.m., starting at 60 N. 100 East. There's also a virtual 5K. The organizer says prices for the in-person runs go up after Nov. 19.

Still waiting on 2026 dates

These south county traditions haven't posted their 2026 schedules yet. We'll list a date only once the organizer does, so check their pages before you plan around them:

• Pond Town Christmas at Salem Pond. Last December the pond was lit up for the holidays, with a Christmas market nearby. Watch Salem City's website for this year's dates.
• Payson Christmas Festival on Main Street. In 2025, the Payson-Santaquin Area Chamber of Commerce held it on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Check Payson City's calendar.
• Payson Community Crèche. Local volunteers set out Nativity scenes, with live music, in early December. Watch Payson City's website and local event listings for this year's dates.
• Springville Holiday Festival and Santa Village. Last year it filled Civic Center Park, on Main Street, the first weekend of December. Watch Springville City's website.

Where to eat before the lights

A drive-through light show goes better on a full stomach, and Spanish Fork has two local favorites with more than 900 Google reviews each. Ratings below are from Google, as shown on each business's TrailBlaze listing.

• Glade's Drive Inn: burgers, fish and chips and ice cream, rated 4.2 from 1,782 Google reviews.
• The Italian Place: a sandwich shop and restaurant, rated 4.4 from 947 reviews.

Running the Santa Dash in Payson? Refuel afterward at Sandwich Queen, rated 4.9 from 386 reviews, or split a pie at Fat Jack's Pizza, rated 4.5 from 674 reviews.