On Wednesday, November 18, the Dixie Convention Center at 1835 S. Convention Center Drive fills with decorated trees, wreaths and auction packages. It will be eight days before Thanksgiving. This is the 43rd year of Intermountain Health Foundation's Jubilee of Trees, and the money it raises goes to Intermountain Health St. George Regional Hospital.
On the calendar, that four-day event is where the holiday season starts in St. George. The events that follow are run by groups you might not expect, from a hospital foundation at the opening to the county water district that turns on the lights and the city, which holds its Christmas kickoff downtown on a Monday night. Your November plans depend on knowing who runs each event, because that decides whether it's free, ticketed or a fundraiser.
The Week of November 9 Belongs to the Usual Community Calendar
Before the trees go up, the first half of November runs on the usual community calendar.
On Monday, November 9, the city's free Electric Series brings The Bombshell Flowers to The Electric Theater at 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 14, is the busiest day of the month before Thanksgiving week. Three events overlap:
- Snow Canyon Half, 10K, 5K and Fun Run. The city lists routes through Snow Canyon State Park, and the 5K loops around Snow Canyon High School. Packet pickup is Friday, November 13, at the Dixie Convention Center. Details are on the city's race page.
- St. George CROP Hunger Walk. The St. George Interfaith Council sponsors it. Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. at Larkspur Park in Bloomington Hills, a program follows at 9:45 a.m., and the six-mile walk is optional, according to St George News.
- Open Studio at the St. George Museum of Art. The museum's free monthly drop-in art session runs from noon to 2 p.m.
None of these has a holiday theme. After the weekend of November 14, the calendar changes.
Jubilee of Trees Opens the Season, and It Pays the Hospital
According to the Jubilee of Trees page, the 2026 Jubilee Village is a four-day family event with decorated trees and wreaths, auction packages, local live entertainment and activities for all ages. Everything on display is donated and up for auction, including designer trees, smaller "Enchanted Forest" and mini trees, and wreaths.
The hours are uneven, so check them before you go. This schedule comes from the Greater Zion event listing:
| Day | Date | Village hours |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | Nov. 18 | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Thursday | Nov. 19 | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Friday | Nov. 20 | 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. |
| Saturday | Nov. 21 | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
The Village closes early on Friday for the Gala Dinner & Auction that evening. The Gala includes dinner, a program, a live auction and a Fund-a-Need appeal. Tickets are $250 per person or $2,000 for a table of eight. The Jubilee page gives November 1 as the date Village admission tickets go on sale.
The size of the event explains its place at the start of the season. Intermountain's 2026 sponsor flyer says the 2025 Jubilee raised $1.5 million for St. George Regional Hospital. The Southern Utah Tribune's October roundup reports that the same hospital has a new surgical tower and 34 more beds in the works. Admission and auction bids at the convention center go to a hospital that is still growing.
The Lights Are Run by the Water District
Four days after Jubilee closes, the free event of the season begins. Holiday Lights at Red Hills Desert Garden, 375 E. Red Hills Parkway, runs nightly from 5 to 10 p.m., November 25 through December 31, according to the 2026 event listing. The listing describes thousands of lights and displays and says the event is free and open to the public.
The Washington County Water Conservancy District manages, funds and maintains the garden. That makes the county's water agency the host of one of the most-visited holiday displays in town.
The opening date is earlier this year. The district's 2025 listing started the lights on November 27, which was Thanksgiving night. This year they come on Wednesday, November 25, the night before Thanksgiving. If family is arriving midweek, you can now go on arrival night instead of fitting it in after the turkey.
Thanksgiving Morning, Then Two Downtown Events on the Same Monday
On Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, November 26, the St. George Gobbler Fun Runs start at TECHRIDGE Pavilion, 475 Donlee Drive. The grounds open at 7 a.m. and races begin at 8 a.m., per the Greater Zion event listing.
The following Monday, November 30, brings two downtown events on the same evening.
- Kickoff to Christmas, 6 to 8 p.m., Historic Town Square. The City of St. George and 94.9 Cat Country host this free event. The city's event page lists Santa photos, extended St. George Children's Museum hours with family activities and crafts, local entertainment and school choirs, and hot chocolate and cookies while supplies last. The carousel charges its usual fee, and children 12 months and under ride free with a paying adult.
- "A Christmas Carol: A New Musical," 7 p.m., The Electric Theater. Encore Performing Arts opens its run at 68 E. Tabernacle St. that night and continues on select dates through December 18, according to its event listing.
The Kickoff starts at 6 p.m. and the curtain goes up at 7 p.m., so a family can't do both in full on opening night. Since the musical runs into mid-December, skip it on the 30th and see it on a later date.
The Sunbowl Is Back
Not every public investment this fall comes with a holiday event. The Dixie Sunbowl reopened on September 10 after a renovation that brought it to 7,430 seats, more than 1,500 more than before. The arena floor was made smaller so the stands sit closer to the action, and the venue got new bleachers, a new announcer booth, upgraded lighting and sound, and updated entrances. Most of the funding came from the voter-approved Trails, Parks and Recreation General Obligation Bond, with contributions from Washington County and the RAP tax, according to the city's press release.
"Talk to longtime residents and they will reminisce about rodeos, concerts, high school and college football games, and many other fun times at the Sunbowl."
That's St. George Mayor Jimmie Hughes in the same release. He added that the venue is now better equipped for concerts, graduations and festivals, and it is still the home of the Lions Dixie Roundup.
Also New Since October
The Tribune's October roundup listed several local openings in October:
- Brooker's Ice Cream: scheduled to open October 17 at 2654 E. Red Cliffs Drive, behind Texas Roadhouse.
- Pickle Pad: scheduled to open October 15 at 245 Red Cliffs Drive, in the Promenade at Red Cliffs.
- Little Luxe Children's Studio: scheduled to open October 7 at 158 N. Main St.
The same roundup expected Sanchez Mexican Food at 1726 W. Sunset Blvd. to open by the end of the year and Panda Express in Desert Color, in front of Crush It Golf, to open soon.
What Comes After November
The next big date falls just outside the city limits. Tuacahn's Christmas in the Canyon, in neighboring Ivins, runs 14 nights between December 8 and 23. Its page lists a live Nativity at 7 and 8 p.m., snow on the plaza every 15 minutes, Santa from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and a $3 train ride.
So the order runs like this. A fundraiser for the hospital opens the season on November 18. The water district's garden lights come on the night before Thanksgiving. The city's Town Square event follows on November 30. Pick dates with that order in mind, especially if guests are only in town for Thanksgiving week.
If Thanksgiving guests start asking what living in St. George is like, I'm glad to talk it through with them, no pressure. You can reach me at Nicholaus Realty, LLC. Let's Connect.
