Christmas and New Year's in Park City: Holiday Events and Planning Guide
Christmas and New Year's in Park City follow a clear rhythm. Main Street lights go up around Thanksgiving, Santa and the Christmas Eve torchlight parade arrive in December, and New Year's Eve closes the season with fireworks and Main Street parties. We know this town well, and this guide shows you what happens when, so you can choose the right home and plan your week with confidence.
From Thanksgiving to New Year's: What Happens When
The season begins around Thanksgiving, when the Main Street holiday lights go up and Old Town takes on its winter glow. In late November, Historic Park City Alliance holds its Holiday Lights Ceremony at the Main Street tree, a tree donated by Deer Valley. In 2025 the ceremony took place on November 29 at 5 pm. From there the weeks build toward Christmas Eve, with Santa appearing on the mountain, torchlight parades on the slopes, and a run of New Year's celebrations to close the year. We suggest walking Main Street at dusk at least once, with the lights on and the cold air sharp.
Christmas Eve on the Mountain
Christmas Eve is the evening many families plan the whole trip around. Park City Mountain holds its annual torchlight parade, a long-running tradition with more than 50 editions behind it. Earlier in the day, Santa has made the rounds at Deer Valley, visiting Snow Park Lodge in the morning and Silver Lake Lodge around midday. In past seasons he has also arrived on the Town Lift aboard a lit-up chairlift decorated as a sleigh. Bundle up, keep the day unhurried, and head home afterward to a kitchen and a dining table, where Christmas Eve dinner can start when you are ready.
New Year's Eve, on the Slopes and on Main Street
New Year's Eve in Park City has two moods, and many guests enjoy both. At Park City Mountain's Canyons Village, past celebrations have included live music, family activities, fire pits, hot cocoa and a fireworks show. Down on Main Street, restaurants and bars host New Year's Eve parties and special menus, and the energy builds through the evening. A Main Street gallery stroll has run around December 30, a gentler way to spend the day before. Deer Valley also holds a torchlight parade with fireworks in late December, so the week offers more than one chance to watch the night sky light up.
Planning, Dining and Booking Early
Holiday weeks reward those who plan ahead. Reservations are advised for New Year's Eve, and top Main Street restaurants fill early around Christmas week, so we suggest booking your tables before you settle the rest of your itinerary. Park City sits at about 7,000 feet, so pack layers, sun and lip protection, and drink more water than you think you need. Once you are in town, free in-town transit buses make it easy to leave the car parked after a late dinner. Plan the big evenings first, then let the remaining days stay open.
Where to Stay for the Holidays
A KBM vacation rental gives a holiday group room to gather: a kitchen for the big meal, a living room for the morning gifts, and in several homes a fireplace or hot tub for the evening after the parade. Choose by the celebration you care most about. Old Town and Main Street put the lights, the restaurants and the gallery stroll within reach. Deer Valley places you near Snow Park Lodge and Silver Lake Lodge for Santa and the torchlight parade. Park City Mountain keeps the Christmas Eve parade and Canyons Village close. Book holiday weeks early to have the widest choice.
Events, dates, times and details change from year to year, so please confirm current-year information with Historic Park City Alliance, Park City Mountain and Deer Valley Resort before finalizing your plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the Park City torchlight parades?
Park City Mountain holds its annual torchlight parade on Christmas Eve, a tradition with more than 50 editions. Deer Valley holds its torchlight parade at Snow Park Lodge in late December, with fireworks, starting around dusk. Dates and times change from year to year, so confirm the current schedule before you plan.
Does Santa visit Park City?
Yes. Santa has arrived on a lit-up chairlift decorated as a sleigh on the Town Lift, and on Christmas Eve he has visited Deer Valley's Snow Park Lodge in the morning and Silver Lake Lodge around midday. Appearances can vary by year, so check current times with the resorts.
Is Park City busy at Christmas?
Holiday weeks are among the most in-demand of the year in Park City. Restaurants fill early around Christmas week, and New Year's Eve reservations are advised. We recommend booking your home and your dining as early as you can, so you can choose the neighborhood and tables you want.
Where do New Year's Eve fireworks happen?
Park City Mountain's Canyons Village has hosted a New Year's Eve fireworks show alongside live music, fire pits and hot cocoa. Deer Valley also holds fireworks with its late-December torchlight parade at Snow Park Lodge. Confirm current-year details before you go.
Explore Park City
- Snow Park, Deer Valley (PGE-2413)
- Lift Lodge (LLC-103), Main Street Downtown
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- Park City Ski Season Guide
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