Article ·
How to Plan Thanksgiving Break in Salt Lake City with Kids (2026)
Salt Lake City and Granite schools are off Nov 25–27, 2026. Holiday lights, skating, museums and the aquarium for Thanksgiving week, with dates, prices and official links.
By Zippy Guide · Published Nov 11, 2026 · Last checked Nov 11, 2026
Salt Lake City School District and Granite School District have no school Wed–Fri, Nov 25–27, 2026 (School breaks; other districts may differ). Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary opens Nov 20 and is already open by Thanksgiving break; Hogle Holidays opens Wed, Nov 25. Temple Square’s lights usually come on the Friday after Thanksgiving (Nov 27), but the 2026 dates had not been announced as of Nov 11. Lightwalk and Hogle Holidays are closed on Thanksgiving Day.
Hogle Holidays: A ZooLights Experience
Hogle Holidays: A ZooLights Experience · Utah's Hogle Zoo, 2600 E Sunnyside Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84108.
The zoo's after-hours holiday lights: glowing displays, the Oasis Dance Party, interactive games, photo spots and hot cocoa. Most animal habitats are closed or dark at night.
Dates: 2026-11-25 to 2027-01-02.
Hours: 5:30–9 PM on Wed, Nov 25; Fri–Sun, Nov 27–29; nightly Dec 3–31; and Sat, Jan 2, 2027. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Price: Adults 13+ $24.95; children 3–12 $19.95; 2 and under free (online store; member tickets $2 less). Carousel $3.50 per ride.
Tips: Plan at least 90 minutes; the zoo says displays glow brighter as the night goes on. Runs snow or shine and tickets aren't refundable for weather, so dress warm. The Eccles Express Train is closed for the season; the Conservation Carousel runs 5:30–8:45 PM.
Official source: Utah's Hogle Zoo.
Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary
Lightwalk at Tracy Aviary · Tracy Aviary, 589 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84105.
An evening walk through Tracy Aviary in Liberty Park lit up with holiday light displays.
Dates: 2026-11-20 to 2027-01-03.
Hours: Nightly Nov 20, 2026–Jan 3, 2027, 5:30–9 PM. Closed Thanksgiving Day (Nov 26) and Christmas Day (Dec 25).
Price: General 13+ $17.95; children 3–12 $13.95.
Tips: Tickets are sold online through the Lightwalk site.
Official source: Tracy Aviary.
Christmas Lights at Temple Square
Christmas Lights at Temple Square · Temple Square, Salt Lake City, UT 84150.
Downtown's long-running Christmas lights in the open areas of Temple Square, which is still partly under renovation ahead of the Salt Lake Temple's 2027 reopening.
Dates: 2026-11-27 to 2027-01-01.
Hours: 2026 dates and hours had not been announced as of Nov 11, 2026. In 2025 the lights ran Fri, Nov 28–Jan 1, daily 6–8 AM and 4:30–10 PM, in all open areas; the usual pattern points to Fri, Nov 27, 2026–Jan 1, 2027. Check the Church Newsroom before you go.
Price: Free (2025 announcement).
Tips: There is no formal lighting ceremony; the lights simply come on. Because of the renovation, only open areas are lit.
Official source: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Gallivan Center Ice Rink
Gallivan Center Ice Rink · 239 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.
An outdoor ice rink with colorful lights in the downtown Gallivan Center plaza; skate rental is included and no reservation is needed.
Hours: Opens Tue, Nov 17, 2026 (5 PM opening the first week). Regular hours: Sunday 12–10 PM, Monday–Thursday 4–10 PM, Friday–Saturday 12 PM–midnight. Dec 15–30: Sunday–Thursday 12–10 PM. Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve 12–10 PM; Christmas Day 5–10 PM; New Year's Eve 12 PM–12:15 AM. Last public skate Sun, Mar 8, 2027.
Price: Adults $15; children 4–12 $11; children 3 and under $5; seniors and military $14; bring your own skates $10. Skates included.
Tips: No helmets are provided; bring your own. Skates run from toddler size 6 to men's 15, with no half sizes.
Official source: Gallivan Center (Salt Lake City).
Natural History Museum of Utah
Natural History Museum of Utah · 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108.
Utah's state museum of natural history, in the Rio Tinto Center in the foothills above the city, with dinosaur fossils, native cultures, gems and minerals, and views across the valley.
Hours: Open 10 AM–5 PM every day and until 9 PM on Wednesdays. Last admission 30 minutes before closing.
Price: Adults $24.95; seniors 65+ $22.95; young adults 13–24 $22.95; children 3–12 $20.95; children 2 and under free.
Tips: The museum recommends buying tickets online; any discount has to be applied at the admission desk. Wednesday late hours (until 9 PM) are handy on short winter days.
Official source: Natural History Museum of Utah.
Discovery Gateway Children's Museum
Discovery Gateway Children's Museum · 444 W 100 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101.
A hands-on children's museum at The Gateway downtown, with interactive exhibits, imaginative play spaces and daily STEAM and art lab programs.
Hours: Open Monday and Wednesday–Sunday 10 AM–6 PM. Closed Tuesdays. Quieter sensory-friendly hours Mondays 3–6 PM and Sundays 10 AM–12 PM.
Price: Children 1–17: $13.50 weekdays / $14.50 weekends. Adults 18–64: $16.50 weekdays / $18 weekends. Seniors 65+: $13.50 / $14.50.
Tips: SNAP, EBT or WIC cardholders get discounted admission ($2 per child, $10 per adult) at the desk. No food, gum or drinks inside the museum. Children under 16 must be with an adult 18 or older.
Official source: Discovery Gateway Children's Museum.
Clark Planetarium
Clark Planetarium · 110 S 400 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101.
Salt Lake County's planetarium next to The Gateway, with free space-science exhibits plus the 360-degree Hansen Dome Theatre and a Northrop Grumman IMAX theatre.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 9:30 AM–8 PM; Friday–Saturday 9:30 AM–11 PM. Check the site for temporary changes (the main elevator is out of service for about four days from Nov 16).
Price: Exhibits: free (per the planetarium). Dome and IMAX show tickets: Not posted on the main page.
Tips:
Official source: Clark Planetarium (Salt Lake County).
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium · 12033 Lone Peak Pkwy, Draper, UT 84020.
A large indoor aquarium in Draper with ocean, rainforest and Utah habitats, touch pools and included EECO Voyager rides.
Hours: Monday 10 AM–8 PM; Tuesday–Sunday 10 AM–6 PM. Hours can change for special events, including the Aquarium Lantern Festival evenings.
Price: Tickets start at $17.95 and prices vary by demand; children 3–12 save $5 and teens, students, seniors and military save $3; children 2 and under free.
Tips: About 20 miles south of downtown Salt Lake City, in Draper. Buy ahead: the aquarium says prices only go up closer to the date.
Official source: Loveland Living Planet Aquarium.
See the Thanksgiving break guide.
Watch
Videos
Videos from local creators and organizations, shared for reference. Zippy Guide isn't affiliated with them.
Gallivan Center ice skating & Christmas lights — Salt Lake City, Utah — video by WalkSLC on YouTube.
Video: WalkSLC
ZooLights at Hogle Zoo (2024 season, before the Hogle Holidays name) — post by Utah's Hogle Zoo on Instagram.
Video: Utah's Hogle Zoo
Questions
FAQ
When is Thanksgiving break in Salt Lake City in 2026?
Salt Lake City School District and Granite School District have no school Wed–Fri, Nov 25–27, 2026. Other districts may differ; see School breaks.
What is open on Thanksgiving Day?
The Gallivan Center Ice Rink is open 12–10 PM. Lightwalk and Hogle Holidays are closed. Check each official page before you go.
When do the Temple Square lights turn on?
The 2026 dates had not been announced as of Nov 11, 2026. In 2025 they came on the Friday after Thanksgiving; check Church Newsroom for the announcement.
