Things to do with kids in Salt Lake City, UT
Checked · All times are local Mountain Time (Salt Lake City time)
Coming up in Salt Lake City: Cold Turkey Run 6K & Kids 1K (Nov 26), Lights On! Holiday Tree Lighting at The Gateway (Nov 14) and Candlelight Christmas at This Is The Place Heritage Park (from Dec 11). 8 always-open places, led by Utah's Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park and Discovery Gateway Children's Museum. Prices and hours come from each official site.
Thanksgiving events in Salt Lake City
Cold Turkey Run 6K & Kids 1K
- When
- Thu, Nov 26 · Kids 1K 8:30am; 6K 9am
- Cost
- $15 Kids 1K; $35 6K ($38 from Nov 10)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Thanksgiving morning 6K up City Creek Canyon for runners, walkers and strollers, plus a Kids 1K out-and-back on Bonneville Blvd. Park at the State Capitol.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Christmas & holiday events: Santa, lights and tree lightings
Lights On! Holiday Tree Lighting at The Gateway
- When
- Sat, Nov 14 · 6:30–8:30pm; tree lighting 8:15pm
- Cost
- Not stated. See the official page.
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Downtown holiday tree lighting with live music, stilt walkers, balloon twisters and prizes. The holiday lights stay up through Dec 31.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Candlelight Christmas at This Is The Place Heritage Park
- When
- Fri, Dec 11 – Mon, Dec 21 (Dec 11–21, Monday–Saturday) · 5–9pm
- Cost
- Ticketed (see site); free onsite parking
- Ages
- All ages · Indoor + outdoor
Lantern-lit pioneer village with carolers, Father Christmas, a live nativity, 1800s holiday demonstrations and storytelling in historic homes.
✓ Checked Oct 25, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Always-open family places
Most popular first: zoos, aquariums and museums, then nature spots, parks and libraries. Prices come from each official site; "Not stated" means the site doesn't list one.
Utah's Hogle Zoo
- Price
- Adult (13+) $22.95–$26.95, child (3–12) $18.95–$21.95 depending on season; 2 and under free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Free daily programs and shows with admission
✓ Price verified Oct 25, 2026 · source
Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park
- Price
- Not stated. See the official site.
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Birds from around the world in botanical gardens inside Liberty Park
✓ Details checked Oct 25, 2026 on the official website
Discovery Gateway Children's Museum
- Price
- Child (1–17) $13.50 weekdays, $14.50 weekends; adult $16.50 weekdays, $18 weekends
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Open 10am–6pm at The Gateway
✓ Price verified Oct 25, 2026 · source
Clark Planetarium
- Price
- Not stated. See the official site.
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Free exhibits; dome and IMAX shows are ticketed. Sun–Thu 9:30am–8pm, Fri–Sat 9:30am–11pm
✓ Details checked Oct 25, 2026 on the official website
Natural History Museum of Utah
- Price
- Not stated. See the official site.
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Open daily 10am–5pm (Wednesdays until 9pm); reserve tickets in advance on the museum's site
Red Butte Garden
- Price
- Not stated. See the official site.
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Botanical garden and trails in the foothills above the University of Utah
✓ Details checked Oct 25, 2026 on the official website
Utah State Capitol
- Price
- Free self-guided and guided tours
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Free guided tours Mon–Fri on the hour 10am–3pm (reservations recommended); building open Mon–Thu 7am–8pm, Fri–Sun and holidays 7am–6pm
✓ Price verified Oct 25, 2026 · source
Liberty Park
- Price
- Not stated. See the official site.
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Big city park with the Rice Pavilion playground and the rebuilt Rotary Play Park; Tracy Aviary is inside the park; open 5am–11pm
✓ Details checked Oct 25, 2026 on the official website
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do with kids in Salt Lake City this weekend?
Utah's Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park and Discovery Gateway Children's Museum are open most days, but we don't have a Salt Lake City event listed for this weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1). Next up: Cold Turkey Run 6K & Kids 1K (Nov 26) and Lights On! Holiday Tree Lighting at The Gateway (Nov 14).
What time is trick-or-treating in Salt Lake City?
Sunset on Halloween in Salt Lake City is at 6:24 p.m. Salt Lake City doesn't list official trick-or-treat hours, so plan around dusk.
What are free things to do with kids in Salt Lake City?
These are free according to their official sites: 1 place in Salt Lake City, including Utah State Capitol.
Where can kids play indoors in Salt Lake City when it's cold or snowy?
We list 4 indoor places in Salt Lake City: Discovery Gateway Children's Museum (Child, 1–17 $13.50 weekdays, $14.50 weekends), Clark Planetarium, Natural History Museum of Utah and Utah State Capitol (Free self-guided and guided tours).
What Thanksgiving events can I take my kids to in Salt Lake City?
We list 1 Thanksgiving event in Salt Lake City: Cold Turkey Run 6K & Kids 1K (Thu, Nov 26). Our Thanksgiving weekend guide for the Salt Lake City area has more nearby.
When and where can kids see Santa in Salt Lake City?
We list 1 event with Santa in Salt Lake City: Candlelight Christmas at This Is The Place Heritage Park (Dec 11 – Dec 21).
Where can I take my kids to see Christmas lights in Salt Lake City?
We list 2 holiday light events in Salt Lake City: Lights On! Holiday Tree Lighting at The Gateway (Nov 14) and Candlelight Christmas at This Is The Place Heritage Park (Dec 11 – Dec 21). Our holiday lights guide for the Salt Lake City area has more nearby.
What is there to do with toddlers in Salt Lake City?
We list 4 places in Salt Lake City that welcome kids under 2, including Utah's Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park and Red Butte Garden. See all 4 above. Age ranges for places are our own guidance.
What are the big family attractions in Salt Lake City?
The best-known family attractions we list in Salt Lake City are Utah's Hogle Zoo (Adult, 13+ $22.95–$26.95, child, 3–12 $18.95–$21.95 depending on season) and Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park. See all 5 above. They're listed first under always-open places.
How much do Salt Lake City family attractions cost?
Prices from the official sites for 2 places in Salt Lake City: Utah's Hogle Zoo (Adult, 13+ $22.95–$26.95, child, 3–12 $18.95–$21.95 depending on season) and Discovery Gateway Children's Museum (Child, 1–17 $13.50 weekdays, $14.50 weekends). Confirm before you go; prices change.
Our weekend search covers Phoenix Metro & Arizona for now, and more areas are coming soon. This guide is hand-checked the same way.
How we build this page: each event comes from the organizer's official website and shows the date we checked it. Prices marked verified were copied from the venue's official site; others show an estimated price level or "Not stated". A place is called free only when its official site says so. Read how we verify listings · Arizona weekend search.
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