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Dinner and a movie gets old by January. These are winter dates that only work here, from skating downtown to night skiing at Brighton. For restaurants, see our date night spots guide.
The outdoor rink downtown opens each November and runs into early March. Skate a few laps under the city lights, then walk to dinner on Main Street.
Glowing animal displays and light tunnels fill the zoo on select nights from late November into early January. It is ticketed and family-heavy early in the evening, so go later.
Lantern-lit village streets, carolers, open historic homes and warm firesides, December 8 to 23 in 2026, Monday through Saturday evenings.
Ballet West's Nutcracker runs at the Capitol Theatre from December 4 to 26 in 2026. Willam Christensen staged the first full-length American Nutcracker in San Francisco in 1944, and Ballet West, which he founded, still dances his choreography.
The symphony plays through the winter, and December adds holiday concerts. UMOCA, a free contemporary art museum, is right next door if you get there early.
Brighton runs night skiing, so you can drive up after work, take a few runs under the lights and be home late.
The Utah Jazz and the NHL's Utah Mammoth both play home games downtown at the Delta Center through the winter. It is a good date for anyone who would rather yell than whisper.
The free exhibit floor is a fun warm-up, and a dome show makes it a date. It sits at The Gateway, with restaurants a short walk away.
Most of these pair well with dinner nearby. Skating at the Gallivan Center and a show at the Eccles or Abravanel Hall put you on Main Street, a short walk from a dozen restaurants. ZooLights and Candlelight Christmas are December only, so book them early in the month. Night skiing at Brighton and a game at the Delta Center work all winter.
If one of you is new to a thing, pick the low-stakes version. A first skate is easier on a weeknight. A first ski night is easier on Brighton's lower runs. And on an inversion day, stay inside: a concert, a museum or a show is a better date than a walk in the haze.
Keep exploring Salt Lake Valley: The Best Winter Activities in the Salt Lake Valley · The Best Fall Activities in the Salt Lake Valley. Need a local pro? Browse Valley Approved businesses. Planning the weekend? See the Events Hub.
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