December in St. George
A desert Christmas like nowhere else
52°F / 30°F
Cool and pleasant for outdoor activities. Occasional frost at dawn, but sunny afternoons reach the 50s. Layer up for mornings, strip down by noon.
December in St. George is Christmas without the shiver. While the rest of the country bundles up, you're hiking in a light jacket under blue skies. The Dickens' Festival transforms downtown into a Victorian wonderland, holiday lights glow against red rock, and Tuacahn's Christmas shows fill the canyon with music. It's a desert holiday unlike anywhere else.
Holiday Events
December is St. George's most festive month, with events that combine small-town charm with genuine production quality.
Dickens' Christmas Festival
The Dickens' Christmas Festival at the Dixie Convention Center is the marquee holiday event in Southern Utah. The multi-day festival transforms the venue into a Victorian Christmas village with costumed characters, carolers, craftspeople demonstrating period skills, and over 100 vendor booths selling handmade gifts, foods, and holiday items.
The production quality is impressive — the sets, costumes, and performances create an immersive experience that transports you to 19th-century London. Characters interact with guests in character, children's activities abound, and the food court features traditional holiday fare. It runs multiple days in early December.
Go on the first evening (Thursday) for the smallest crowds. Saturday afternoons are packed. The craftspeople in the back section — the blacksmith, the weaver, the woodcarver — are the most interesting and least visited attractions.
Holiday Lights Displays
Several neighborhoods and public spaces in St. George go all-out with holiday light displays in December. The most reliable are the display at Vernon Worthen Park, the decorated downtown corridor, and various neighborhood displays that locals map and share each year.
The warm December evenings (compared to the rest of Utah) make light viewing comfortable without heavy coats. Drive the circuit with hot cocoa, or park and walk through the pedestrian-friendly displays. Local social media groups post updated light maps each year.
The neighborhood displays change each year — follow the St. George Living Facebook group for the annual crowdsourced map of the best decorated streets. Some houses do synchronized music shows that rival professional displays.
Tuacahn Christmas Shows
Tuacahn's indoor theater hosts special Christmas concerts and shows throughout December. These intimate productions feature holiday music, theatrical performances, and community celebrations in the same venue known for Broadway summer productions.
The holiday shows are family-friendly and tend toward the traditional — expect carols, seasonal stories, and a warm community atmosphere. Tickets go quickly for weekend performances, especially the candlelight concerts which are genuinely moving.
The candlelight concert series is the standout — the acoustics in the indoor theater are excellent, and the program balances sacred and secular holiday music beautifully. Book early; these sell out.
Winter Hiking
December hiking in St. George is the reason snowbirds come here. While Park City measures snow in feet, St. George basks in mild sunshine perfect for trail time.
Snow Canyon — Johnson Arch
The Johnson Arch trail is a December favorite because it combines moderate exercise with a spectacular payoff. The 4-mile out-and-back climbs gradually to a massive natural arch framing views of the Pine Valley Mountains — often snow-capped in December, creating a stunning contrast with the red desert foreground.
December's cool temperatures make the climb comfortable, and the low winter sun creates dramatic shadows on the arch throughout the afternoon. The trail is well-maintained and manageable for most fitness levels. Start by 1 PM to catch the best light on the arch.
Bring binoculars — the arch area is one of the best spots in Snow Canyon for raptor watching. Red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, and peregrine falcons all winter in the park.
Whiterocks Amphitheater Loop
The Whiterocks area of Snow Canyon features dramatic white Navajo sandstone formations that glow in December's low winter light. The loop trail is about 2 miles and winds through a natural amphitheater of towering white rock — a stark and beautiful contrast to the red formations elsewhere in the park.
December mornings often bring frost to the white sandstone, creating a sparkling effect that vanishes by mid-morning. The trail is easy and family-friendly, making it a good option for holiday visitors of all ages.
The white sandstone reflects and amplifies winter sun — you can get a surprising sunburn in December here. Sunscreen and sunglasses are just as important in winter as summer on this trail.
Food & Drink
December dining in St. George is festive and cozy, with restaurants pulling out special holiday menus.
Holiday Dining at Ancestor Square
The restaurants in the Ancestor Square complex — Painted Pony, George's Corner, and others — embrace the holiday season with special menus, decorations, and events. December is a great time for a special dinner out, whether it's a pre-Dickens' Festival meal or a holiday celebration with friends.
Most restaurants offer holiday prix fixe menus alongside their regular menus. The courtyard at Ancestor Square is often decorated with lights and holiday greenery, creating a warm atmosphere for an evening stroll between dinner and dessert at a neighboring shop.
Painted Pony's annual New Year's Eve dinner is the premier dining event of the holiday season. Five courses, champagne toast, and a special dessert. Reserve by early December or you won't get a table.
Hot Chocolate & Coffee Crawl
December mornings in St. George call for warm drinks, and the local coffee scene has blossomed. Start at Perks Espresso for a house-roasted pour-over, move to Jazzy Java for their legendary hot chocolate, and finish at the newest specialty shops that keep opening downtown.
Several shops offer holiday-specific drinks — peppermint mochas, gingerbread lattes, and spiced cider — that add to the festive atmosphere. Walking between shops gives you a chance to enjoy the mild December air and the holiday decorations downtown.