Holiday Events Announced at University Place
OREM, Utah (October 3, 2023) – University Place announced today its 2023 line-up of holiday celebrations through the end of the year. All events are hosted in The Orchard, the shopping centers outdoor gathering space, or inside the shopping centers, and are free to the public unless specifically noted. This season events include:
OCTOBER
Pumpkins in The Orchard
Monday October 2 – Tuesday 31
10:00 am – 9:00 pm
The pumpkins are back at The Orchard for a 4th consecutive year. Nearly 750 carved pumpkins will light up every evening and hidden among them are six special Utah-themed pumpkins. See if you can spot them all!
Straw Bale Slide
Friday October 13 – Saturday October 28
10:00 am – 9:00 pm
During shopping hours, bring the little kids to the straw bale slide that will be set up in the Orchard through the month of October.
Nordic Harvest Market
Friday October 6
4 – 8 pm
A new festival this year, come enjoy the culture from the Nordic countries through food, fresh produce, home goods and traditional dances. There will also be performances from BYU Folk Dance and American Rhythm Folk Ensemble.
Scary Movie Night
Saturday October 7
6:30 pm
Cozy up, and don’t forget to bring your blankets and chairs for a night showing of “Hotel Transylvania” outside at The Orchard. Enjoy some free popcorn (while supplies last) and warm apple cider will be for sale. The movie will begin around 7:15 pm.
Halloween Spooktacular
Friday October 13
6 – 8 pm
Bring the entire family for an evening of live, spooky entertainment at The Orchard. Learn about slithering, scaley creatures at the Scales and Tails show, enjoy live music, and be dazzled by dancers using real fire. There will also be free face painting, yard games, a mechanical bull and more! Warm apple cider will be available for sale.
Wolverine Mascot Mashup
Saturday October 14
6 pm
Willy from Utah Valley University is back for a second year to host the ultimate friendly high school competition! The winning Utah County high school will receive a Grand prize of $2,000 for student activities. Watch the mascots and fellow students face off in friendly school spirit competition.
Orem City Truck-Or-Treat
Saturday October 21
10:30 – 11:30 am Quiet Hour
11:30 – 3:00 pm Main Event
Young and old alike look forward to this event hosted by Orem City. Get up close to a variety of city owned trucks and vehicles, including police cars, an ambulance, a firetrucks, a garbage truck and more. Once you’ve visited every truck, you can trick-or-treat at the Orem City booth where they will be handing out candy.
Night of Fright
Friday October 27
6 – 8 pm
Come to The Orchard, if you dare, to meet the villains everyone loves to hate! Wear your costumes and bring your cameras to snap a photo with each of the characters -there will be 11 of them! Yard games will also be set out, and warm apple cider will be available for sale.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Orchard Lighting Event
Monday November 13
6 pm
One of our most festive, and most popular events of the year, joins us outside as we turn on the Christmas Lights to welcome in the holiday season! There will be live music, treats and giveaways (while supplies last), color changing shapes, and a life-sized Lite Brite to play with. This tradition has been going strong for the past seven years, and this year expect an extra special show that will light up the night sky!
The lights will be on nightly from November 13 through January 1.
6th Annual University Place Gingerbread Competition
Monday November 20 – 27
10 am – 9 pm
Every year the University Place Gingerbread Competition gets bigger and more amazing! Registration opens October 1 at www.universityplaceorem.com/events, and the gingerbread houses will be on display the week of November 20. This year our judges include Mary Crafts from Culinary Crafts, Pete Tidwell aka Pete the Mighty Baker, and Brenda Nibley from GingerGiddy. The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of $1,500.
Light The World Giving Machines
November 22-January 1
10 am – 9 pm
The Light the World Giving Machines are returning for the 4th year. Choose to support both local and national charities by purchasing a needed item such as toiletries, school supplies, even farm animals through a vending machine.
The Light the World Giving Machines will be located in City Court in the shopping center by Dillard’s entrance, and open during regular shopping center hours.
Santa’s Grand Arrival
Friday November 24
9:30 – 10:30 am
Be the first to welcome Santa as he arrives at University Place in style on a *helicopter! There will be live entertainment and treats (while supplies last) as we wait for Saint Nick to arrive. Santa is scheduled to land around 10 am in the parking lot in front of Tucanos Brazilian Grill.
*Weather permitting
Santa & Friend’s
Saturday November 28, December 5, 12, 19
5:00 – 7:00 pm
Come and meet Santa and some of his closest friends, including superheroes, princesses, cartoons characters, and even some from friends from a galaxy far, far away. Be sure to bring your Christmas list, and cameras for free photos with the friends.
Christmas Carolers
Wednesday November 29, December 6, 13, 20
6:00 – 8:00 pm
While you are holiday shopping at University Place on Wednesday evenings, you will also be treated with the sounds of the holidays by our roaming Christmas carolers.
Storytime with Mrs. Claus
Wednesday December 13, 14, 15
10 am
Christmas is a busy time for Ms. Claus too, but for three days she has made time to come to University Place to read holiday stories to the kids! She will read a book, lead caroling and crafts and treats will be provided.
You must register for this free event as space is limited. Register at www.universityplaceorem.com/events closer to the event.
Quiet Santa
Monday December 4–8
8 – 11 am
Quiet Santa is returning for the 6th year at University Place. Santa knows a traditional Santa visit can be overwhelming for some kids, and this is a time for those kids to meet one on one with Santa on their terms before the shopping center opens to the public. It’s estimated one out of 5 kids in Utah experiencing sensory sensitivity, and our Quite Santa hours ensure those kids get a special holiday experience.
Details on appointments to be released on our website closer to the event.
Live Nativity
December 8
6 – 8 pm
University Place is pleased to bring back a live nativity again this year for the 7th consecutive year. Actors from Mountain View High School will re-enact what the first days could have been like in a stable after Jesus’ birth. Live animals include a camel, and treats will be provided while supplies last.
Lite Brite Nite
December 11
6 -8 pm
Lite Brite Nite includes our giant Lite Brite game and the Christmas Lights that are programmed to glow to the music of a live DJ. Bundle up, and head to The Orchard to enjoy our festive Christmas lights, and giant color changing shapes. Treats will be provided while supplies last.
All events are subject to change and weather. For more details and a full schedule of events, visit https://www.universityplaceorem.com/events/.
About University Place
Opening in the early 1970’s in Orem, Utah, University Place (formerly University Mall) is a 120-acre development in the midst of a $500 million revitalization. In addition to first class retail offerings, University Place is now home to upscale residential, Class-A office and high-quality green space. University Place was first developed and is still owned and operated by Woodbury Corporation, a 100-year-old, 4th generation family-run business, and one of the oldest and most respected full-service real estate development and management companies in the Intermountain West. For more information about University Place and updates on the project, visit https://www.universityplaceorem.com/. For more information about Woodbury Corporation, visit https://live-woodburycorp3.pantheonsite.io/.
Press Contact:
Amanda Butterfield
Woodbury Corporation PR
A_butterfield@woodburycorp.com
801-440-9837