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DD Web • November 22, 2019

What to Do in Salt Lake City: Your 2019 Holiday Guide

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and your local Salt Lake holiday favorites are back! With Thanksgiving a little less than a week away, the holiday season is about to kick off in full swing. Salt Lake City has something to offer everyone, from live music and holiday-themed displays to performing arts and a winter solstice celebration. With snow in next week’s forecast, Salt Lake City will once again turn into a magical winter scene surrounded by snow-capped mountains — the perfect setting for enjoying your favorite holiday events.

Here are a few local favorites that are returning for 2019 — and it all begins this weekend!


2019 Bells on Temple Square Holiday Concert



Kick off the holidays this weekend with the Bells on Temple Square! Part of The Tabernacle Choir organization, the hand bell ensemble includes 35 volunteer musicians living within a 100-mile radius of Temple Square. The bells will be ringing Friday and Saturday, November 22-23 at 7:30 pm in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square. Patrons are encouraged to come for standby seating which is nearly always available. Temple Square lights are turned on November 29th, the day after Thanksgiving, and will be on until New Year’s Eve.


Holiday Window Stroll at Grand America


Get into the holiday spirit by walking through one of Salt Lake’s most elegant hotels. The Grand Christmas Hotel Holiday Window Stroll showcases “14 hand-crafted, whimsical displays that capture the imagination and joy of the holidays. Sip on hot chocolate while exploring taking a journey through this year’s theme of the Night Before Christmas. The Window Stroll unveiling is Tuesday, November 26 at 4 pm and runs through December 31.


Christkindlmarkt at This is The Place Heritage Park


Admission is free to this annual Christmas market in Salt Lake’s Foothill District. The historic park transforms for the season with costumes, decorations, treats, sweets, and arts and crafts of all kind. The market is open from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm from December 4-7th as locals and visitors alike get into the spirit of the holiday season. Kid-friendly activities include daily parades, a live nativity, a gnome festival, and more.


Festival of Trees


Charity and holiday tradition unite at the Festival of Trees. This fundraising event for Primary Children’s Hospital is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Each year, the Festival of Trees transforms Mountain America Expo Center into a wonderland of uniquely decorated Christmas trees, wreaths, playhouses, crafts, quilts and freshly baked goods. This year’s festival will take place over a 4 day period, December 4-7 from 10 am to 9 pm. For ticket purchase and info, visit here.


Breakfast with Santa at Gardner Village


Treat your family to a magical morning in a charming setting as the Mill Plaza at Gardner Village presents Breakfast with Santa. Children will enjoy a visit with St. Nick, a yummy buffet breakfast, music, an activity, plus a special surprise visitor! This year’s Breakfast with Santa will be held November 30, December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21 with 8:30 am and 10:30 am seatings. Make sure to bring your camera to capture the fun!


Winter Solstice Celebration at Red Butte Gardens


A kid-friendly celebration of winter and nature, this annual event commemorates the shortest day of the year with crafts and explorations. This ticketed event is $5 for Garden members, Garden admission + $5 to the general public and free for kids 2 and under. The celebration is held in the orangerie on December 21st from 9 am to noon and includes admission to the rest of the gardens.


Hanukkah Candle Lighting at Snowbird Resort


Each year during the 8 nights of Hanukkah, candles are lit in a traditional ceremony every evening at sundown. Guests should meet at The Cliff Lodge Front Desk Lobby from 5 – 5:15 pm, Dec. 22-29th and are welcome to bring their menorahs. Make it a stay-cation and book a room at this newly-remodeled ski lodge and enjoy ski-in/ski-out convenience, on-site ski rental, and a year-round heated pool to enjoy after a day on the slopes.


Ballet West’s The Nutcracker


Visitors and locals alike flock to this annual performance of William Christensen’s The Nutcracker at Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City, which highlights the incredible full-length choreography of this classic children’s story. Performances are held throughout the month of December, with special matinee performances every weekend at discounted prices. Visit here for more info on tickets and schedule.

Like it or not, the holidays are upon us! Bundle up, get outside and explore all the city has to offer. What’s your favorite holiday event in Salt Lake City?

2025 Is Here: New Year, Same Trusted Partner for Your SLC Home Adventures

By Stephanie Cline • January 21, 2025
Welcome, 2020! We made it through the first week of the New Year and are already excited for what’s to come in this brand new decade. Anything can happen, and we have so much to create! Whether you’re a fan of long-term resolutions or prefer setting smaller, short-term goals, it feels good to start the year off with a desire to change for the better. If you know us, you know our approach at Novation Title has always been goal-centric, not only within our business but in our personal lives and out in the community.  In today’s world where we are constantly connected (and distracted), it’s no wonder that we increasingly find ourselves overwhelmed mentally and physically drained. Often, the issues in everyday life are the ones that prevent us from enjoying the very same everyday life! How can we balance this out? We believe we can do better. That is why we are introducing meditation into our workspace. While meditation has been practiced for over 5,000 years, it is increasingly becoming a necessary way for us to unplug from the modern world. But what, exactly, is it? Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique — such as mindfulness — to train attention and thoughts. Mindfulness is awareness, it is a state of peace. It is being in the present moment, intentional and serene. It is the process of being aware of your thoughts while also disconnecting from them so you can connect within. Connecting within is the highest form of intelligence and results in proven mental, emotional and spiritual health benefits. Here are just a few science-based benefits of meditation: Reduces blood pressure Increases serotonin production that improves mood and behavior Improves immune system Increase in energy levels Lessens stress and anxiety Increases happiness and creativity Clarity and peace of mind Increased memory retention and recall Enhances self-awareness and self-acceptance Each one of us, regardless of gender, age or other factors, undergo daily stress and tension at some level or the other. That’s why we’re so excited to introduce #NovationMeditation into our business and we encourage others to join us this year. We can ALL benefit from improved mental and physical health in 2020. Who’s with us?!

Attitude of Gratitude: How Giving Back helps YOU!

By Stephanie Cline • November 15, 2024
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” —William Arthur Ward ‘Tis the season for giving! November officially kicks off the holiday season with America’s favorite foodie holiday — Thanksgiving. It is the month where we are once again reminded of all of the things we are thankful for as we gather with family and friends, stuff ourselves with turkey and pumpkin pie, and watch (a lot) of football. It’s fitting, then, that November has been dubbed National Gratitude Month here in the United States. Americans are encouraged to ‘practice gratitude’ which goes beyond just feeling thankful, and actively showing gratitude by giving back. While ideally it is something we should be practicing all year long, people are more likely to give more generously during the holiday season than the rest of the year. According to the annual Holiday Giving Survey conducted by Harris Poll, more than 3 in 5 Americans (63%) typically donate to an organization or charitable cause in the last two months of the year (known as giving season). Americans are among the world’s most generous people, ranking No. 4 out of 140 countries. Utah has consistently ranked the most charitable state in the nation, coming in second this year behind Minnesota. Beyond the obvious benefit of helping and enhancing the lives of others, research shows that practicing daily gratitude can enhance our own moods, decrease stress and drastically improve our overall level of wellbeing. On average, grateful people tend to be happier, healthier, more physically fit, have a higher income and have much more satisfying personal and professional relationships. It’s a win-win for everyone! The easiest way to practice gratitude is to say THANK YOU to someone who has helped you or impacted your life in a positive way or spending time with a loved one who may be lonely or going through a difficult time. Your words and your time are often the best gifts! -The Novation Team

Mission vs. Vision: What Does Your ‘Statement’ Say About You?

By Stephanie Cline • October 18, 2024
Mission accomplished. Or is it? It is common practice for organizations to summarize their goals and objectives in the form of mission and/or vision statements. For many, they come in the form of a typed out statement hung on a wall, easily forgotten about and only reminded of when a crisis strikes. Or they come in the form of a long-winded, regurgitation of thoughts following a midnight-hour ‘breakthrough’ (see Jerry Maguire). While they are often confused for relaying near identical messages, both serve very different purposes. A mission statement describes what a company wants to do now, and a vision statement outlines what a company wants to be in the future. A mission statement guides the day-to-day operations and decision-making of an organization. It helps in tactical planning and “rallying the troops” around a common short to medium-term goal. A vision statement outlines the long-term view of the organization and why it exists. It attracts people — not just internally but also externally — who believe in the vision of the organization. Your mission, then, brings your vision to life. We believe these statements are the lifeblood of our company. They are something we live and breathe by, because as with anything else, our thoughts become our actions and our actions become our reality. We want our reality to reflect the words written on our walls, the words we use to describe who we are and the words our clients attach to our reputation. To us, they are much more than words. Mission: We believe in making an impact and having purpose within our community. Whether we are protecting real estate investments, giving back to our surroundings or creating opportunity and growth for others. We are here to redefine the experience. Vision: To create an experience that our industry has never seen before . To develop individuals to live by their full potential in all areas of life. To have unlimited growth and make an impact in people’s lives for the better. To empower our team members to dream big so together we can make a difference in our world. Impact. Purpose. Growth. Empower. Create. Dream. These are our words, our actions, our reality, and something we are proud to stand by each and every day. Experience the difference!
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