Ogden Christmas Village 2026: Dates and Free Santa Visits

There are no stalls at the Ogden Christmas Village. Instead you walk a loop of little cottages, each decorated by a local business or family, with windows set low enough for small children to press their noses to the glass. Every one hides an ornament somewhere in its display, so kids turn the whole walk into a hunt. Give it about an hour, longer if you’re queuing to see Santa. Opening night at the Ogden Christmas Village is the big one, with a light parade, fireworks and tens of thousands of people out on the street.

Ogden Christmas Village 2026

Dates

Status: Confirmed
Ogden dates: 28th November 2026 to 1st January 2027
Last checked: October 2026

Update: Dates were announced in January. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of changes.

Source: Verified by Ultimate Christmas Markets via Visit Ogden.

Plan Your Visit

Location and Times

Location: Municipal Gardens
Opening times: 10am to 9pm

Travel and Accommodation

Parking: Please take public transport to help limit congestion. Free street parking and a free lot on 26th Street between Washington Blvd and Grant Avenue.
Where to stay: Home2 Suites is located nearby.

Amenities and Attractions

Admission: Free
Santa Run: Opening day at 4:30pm at Washington Boulevard.
Holiday Electric Light Parade: Opening day at 5:30pm. Starts at 22nd Street and ends at 27th Street on Washington Boulevard.
Lights: Daily at 5pm.
Santa: Monday to Friday, 6pm to 9pm. Saturday, 5pm to 9pm.
Mrs Claus: Guided tours for preschool age children.
Ice skating: No.
Reason to visit: Free Santa visits, train rides, firework shows.

Accessibility

Accessible: Yes.
Pet-friendly: Yes, dogs are allowed on a leash.

Convenient Hotels

Staying downtown puts you within a few minutes’ walk of the village, with the restaurants and bars of Historic 25th Street right on the doorstep. Home2 Suites gets excellent reviews and is well located.

Village Location

What to Expect

More than 60 cottages line the paths through the gardens, each built and dressed by a local business or family to a theme that changes every year. Owners redecorate from one winter to the next, so locals come back to see what’s new, and you can vote for a favourite on the city’s virtual tour.

Close to half a million lights fill the trees across four city blocks. A miniature train gives free rides through two tunnels, and the queue moves quickly because the loop is short. Santa holds court in his castle most evenings until just before Christmas, also free, and you’re welcome to take your own photos. On weekdays, Mrs Claus leads guided tours for preschool groups.

It all began in 1962 with six cottages, after a disappointing holiday parade convinced local merchant Jerry Green the town could do better. Opening night still starts with a parade, the Holiday Electric Light Parade down Washington Boulevard, followed by the switch-on and fireworks. Tens of thousands turn out for it, so if you’d rather have the cottages to yourself, come back on a weeknight just as the lights come on.

Local Specialties

The village has no food stalls of its own, so most families eat before or after on Historic 25th Street, just across Washington Boulevard.

• Hot chocolate: The treat locals mention most, and welcome on a cold Utah night. Vendors aren’t allowed in the park itself, so look along the streets around it.
• Italian on 25th Street: La Ferrovia is a short walk away for pizza and pasta before the lights come on.
• Craft beer: Roosters, also on 25th Street, brews its own and serves hearty pub food.

Gifts and Stocking Fillers

There are no craft stalls inside the village, so for gifts head over to Historic 25th Street.

• Independent shops: The old brick storefronts along the street are mostly locally owned boutiques rather than chains.
• Art and antiques: Ogden’s galleries and antique shops are the place for something you won’t find back home.

Sustainability Tips

• Take FrontRunner: The commuter train from Salt Lake City ends at Ogden Central, under 20 minutes’ walk from the village, but it doesn’t run on Sundays.
• Hop on the free OGX bus: From Ogden Central, the OGX rapid bus stops at Washington Boulevard, beside the Municipal Building, and it’s currently fare-free.