December 23, 2025 - Jólabókaflóð, Snow Cat Meet N Greet

What’s Up Provo! Merry Christmas Eve Eve! And happy Festivus too!

And remember Festivus is not over until the head of the household is pinned in a wrestling match, so you have that to look forward to today. Also, the annual “airing of grievances.”

But there’s lots more to look forward to, as well. We’ll take a break for Christmas and then we’ll be back next week. Until then, let’s get into it!

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🍦 The Cougar Paw
Not long ago, BYU Dining set out to make the “next Cougar Tail,” and the result is the Cougar Paw — a paw‑shaped ice cream bar dipped in rich milk chocolate and made with BYU Creamery’s LaVell’s Vanilla. Head pastry chef Fernanda Dutra perfected the idea using custom molds and a hand‑crafted two‑day process. It debuted last week at the Marriott Center!

🏈 Notre Dame coming to Provo next season
We were going to play them this Saturday, before they opted out, but we won’t be completely deprived. The Cougars will host the Fighting Irish in Provo in 2026, then head to South Bend in 2027 in a two‑game home‑and‑home series. It’ll be Notre Dame’s first visit to LaVell Edwards Stadium since 2004, and the series fills a slot left open after a scheduled game vs Cal was canceled. Dates and TV info will be announced later — but already a lot of buzz for this one and good job BYU on finally getting the Notre Dame home and home series to happen.

🛕 Lindon Temple Photos & Stories Wanted
The Daily Herald is putting together a special magazine to celebrate the upcoming open house and dedication of the new Lindon Utah Temple — and they want your photos and story ideas. Whether you’ve watched the building go up, know someone connected to the project, or have historic pics or memories, send them in! Submissions (with high‑res photos and credit info) are due Jan. 15 to [email protected]. By the way, the temple is set for a public open house March 12–April 11, 2026 and dedication May 3, 2026.

📚 Jólabókaflóð (Christmas Book Flood) Book Swap
Jólabókaflóð (pronounced yo-la-bok-a-flot), "Christmas Book Flood," originated in Iceland during WWII, when imported goods were scarce. At this traditional event, books are the main Christmas gifts, exchanged on Christmas Eve, and after the exchanges people spend the night reading them, often with hot chocolate or other cozy treats.
Bring one book to swap 1-for-1, snag a new read, and settle in. (And, of course, there will be refreshments!)
Springville Library | Dec. 23 | 6pm-7:30pm

❄️ Snowcat Meet N Greet
Family-friendly and free. Go and meet the mountain ops team, learn how snowcats groom the slopes, and get up-close photos of the machines in the Resort Village. (it’s near the Outlaw Express Lift if you know where that is)
Sundance | Dec. 23 (also on Dec. 30) | 5:30pm

🎄 Christmas Classics for Kids: A Charlie Brown Christmas (NR, 1965)
Scraggly tree, Vince Guaraldi's iconic jazz, Linus reciting Luke 2—all wrapped up in this 30 minute classic.
Media Auditorium, Orem Public Library | Dec. 23 | 11:15am-12:15pm

🌟 The Healer Nativity
An immersive, walk-through nativity that brings Bethlehem’s quiet night to life with vivid scenes, reverent storytelling, and a faith-filled atmosphere—hopefully you can still get a ticket!
4931 N 300 W, Provo | Dec. 23

🎄 Christmas Eve Recital by Neil Harmon
Presented by the Utah Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists—celebrate Christmas Eve with a one-hour organ recital by Neil Harmon.
450 North 1220 West (Provo Central Stake Center) | Dec. 24 | 8pm-9pm

🎄 Christmas Eve High Fitness Party
High-energy HIGH Fitness class with holiday jams and a party vibe—family-friendly for all ages, festive outfits encouraged. (It’s free for members, and $6.50 for everyone else.)
Provo Recreation Center (Cougar Court) | Dec. 24 | 8am

We’ll include these ongoing events at least one more time:
🎄 Gardener Village
Vendors, elf scavenger hunt, shows, and more
1100 West 7800 South, West Jordan

🎅 Santa’s Village
And don’t forget to visit the Light the World Giving Machines by Dillard’s.
University Place (Santa visits until Dec 24, Giving Machines available until Jan 2)

🕯Holiday Lights in Highland
Our favorite holiday light show!
11671 Granite Flats Road in Highland

Later this week

🎄 Christmas Day Brunch 2025
If you’re up there skiing anyway, might as well celebrate with Santa for a festive Christmas Day brunch.
Sundance | Dec. 25 | 9am-2pm

🎶 Community Concert Series
Free, all-ages live music hosted by the library—this one in the series will have the Holiday Harps with Alissa Amundson & Anamae Anderson.
Wasatch County Library | Dec. 26 | 6pm-7pm

🍿 Sleepless in Seattle
“You make a million decisions that mean nothing, and then one day you order take-out and it changes your life.”
Orem Library | Dec. 29 | 6pm-8pm

🏈 Pop Tarts Bowl
BYU is playing to prove they deserved to be in the CFP, Georgia Tech is playing for it’s first 10-win season since 2014, and both teams are playing to get the chance to lift the Pop Tarts Bowl trophy, which looks like a football with two slots on the top like a toaster. (Usually there are two pop tarts sticking out of the slots as well, strawberry flavored.)
Orlando | Dec 27 | 1:30pm MT

🎄 Johnson Files Christmas Show
Covey Center | Dec. 29-30 | 4pm & 7:30pm

Tuesday - 58° | ☁️ | 1%

Wednesday - 58° | ☁️ | 24%

Thursday - 54° | 🌧️ | 61%

Friday - 48° | 🌧️ | 71%

Saturday - 41° | ⛅️ | 24%

Sunday - 40° | ⛅️ | 4%

(next) Monday - 45° | ⛅️ | 2%

@ Java Junkie
Friday – Open Mic Night, Ryan Call, Kate Fitz & The Romantics
Saturday – Ryan Call, Kate Fitz & The Romantics

@ The Rise
Wednesday – Open Mic Night
Friday – Silent Disco

Thanks for reading and have an amazing Christmas! 😉

-Nicole, Josh, & Carlie

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