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Lori Prichard reportingGrab your hot cocoa, bundle up, and get ready to join thousands in celebrating the kick-off of the Christmas season with the lighting of Temple Square, as well a host of other festivities going on downtown this Friday.
Oh, the sights and sounds of the holidays. Trolley Square decided to kick off its Holiday Season before Thanksgiving this year. On Friday, others will follow.
Thousands will head downtown to Gallivan Center for skating, to Temple Square to be dazzled, and to Gateway to sit with Old Saint Nick.
Andrew Wallace, with the Downtown Alliance, said, "There are parking areas downtown. It just gets congested down here."
Instead of driving from place to place or walking, because it's going to be chilly outside, hop on TRAX. It will take you from event to event, and it's free!
Gallivan Center
Ice Skating: noon-11 p.m.
Meet Santa: 5-6:30 p.m. Temple Square
Lighting of the Temple Square: 5-6 p.m.
Gateway
Jon Schmidt in Concert
Lighting of the Holiday Tree: 7 p.m.
Even Salt Lake's Mayor-elect plans on hitting the holiday circuit. "I actually have a full workday on Friday, but I'm sure I'll be out there joining in everyone running around. This sort of insanity that happens after Thanksgiving," Ralph Becker said.
If you want to head downtown on Friday, heads up, there's also a Jazz game that night, so it will be crowded. Metered parking is free, but is limited to two hours. TRAX also is offering a round-trip fare for two adults and up to six kids for $10, certainly not a bad alternative to sitting in traffic.
