What's Happening in Provo and Orem | Dec. 18, 2024

What’s Up Provo! Happy Answer The Telephone Like Buddy The Elf Day!

Fun fact: The script for Elf was written in 1993 with the original plan of having Jim Carrey play Buddy.

Ton’s happening so let’s get into it! Here are the highlights:

• 🌠 Deck the Dome, Santa & Friends, Home Alone & Fat Daddy’s Pizzeria, Night Owling @ Sundance (Friday)

• 🐟️ The Great Carp Hunt

• 🥧 Help needed delivering 500 meals!

Local Business
My Little Paint Brush 🖌️ 

You might have seen My Little Paint Brush in our local holiday gift guide.

My Little Paint Brush makes kits that give you all you need for your next masterpiece—a traced canvas, supplies, step-by-step instructions, and a free pre-recorded YouTube class specific for your kit. And they’ve got tons of fun character kits like Harry Potter, Grogu, Pikachu, Bluey, and Roz!

Sisters Sarah and Cami are the artist/entrepreneurs behind it all. “In between soccer practice, dance recitals, piano lessons, school projects and play time, we paint! It’s brought joy to our lives, and we want to share that with you! We believe the desire to create is in all of us. Sometimes we just need someone to tell us we can, to give us the confidence to try!”

Check out all their different paint kits 🎨 

Nothing in this section is sponsored. We’ll always let you know if something is sponsored.

The Bulletin 📌

Last day of Crossing Guard Christmas 🛑🎁

Thanks to many of you, a number of elementary school crossing guards will be getting generous Christmas gifts this year! See how much we’ve raised so far

For various reasons, some schools have had a harder time communicating with their parents/community about this fundraiser (Cascade, Orem, Cherry Hill, Franklin, Sunset View, Windsor, Westmore, Foothill, Orchard), so if you have any loyalty to these schools consider doing what you can to help! Contribute here | Share this post

If you’re wondering about the voting competition, Parkside and Rock Canyon have been dominating so far, but it is not over yet! Remember: Extended family, neighbors, coworkers, etc., can all vote (doesn’t have to just be parents and teachers). Share this vote link

The Great Carp Hunt 🐟️ 

$5,000 grand prize and monthly prizes are up for grabs for the teams who can bag the most carp at Utah Lake. There will be monthly events all year long, usually at the end of the month. “We want the carp gone.” Article | Register your carp hunting team

BYU makes history at the College Television Awards 📺️ 

“BYU received the most nominations compared to any other university in the competition”. “BYU swept all three nominations in the commercial, public service announcement,” and promo categories; and the animated short "Student Accomplice" (which has already won a medal at the international Student Academy Awards) was nominated in the animation series category. Article | Watch (parts of) “Student Accomplice” (the videos aren’t released in their entirety until after the awards circuit is over)

Wednesday
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Santa & Friends 🎅

For families of Frozen fans, Anna and Elsa will be at Santa’s Village today, so don’t let this one go…

They are the last of “Santa’s friends” to be visiting Santa at his “woodland chalet” this season. As always, it’s free to attend and each child visiting Santa will receive a special treat!

University Mall | 5pm - 7pm | More info

🐎 Holiday Lights Wagon Ride at Jordanelle
Percheron or Belgian draft horses pull you and your family as you take a wagon ride through a beautiful wintery setting and an interactive lasers and light display course. These are usually 15 to 20 minute rides.
515 State Road 319 Heber City | 6pm - 9:30pm (runs through the end of December) | More info/Tickets

Also:
👉️ Holiday Concert Series: A Christmas Carol One-Man Show with Bryan Johnson at the Orem Library at 7pm (we have not seen a registration for this event, but it does say the doors open at 6:30pm)
👉️ Nebo Holiday Chorus and Orchestra Benefit Concert: Handel's Messiah (ages 8+)

Thursday
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Deck the Dome 🌠 

The tickets to this popular Christmas laser show are running out! Take the family to this memorable and unique holiday treat—especially if you’re fans of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra & Mannheim Steamroller.

If you did this last year, there’s still good reason to go back—new special effects and upgraded equipment, and just a bigger, better show all around.

Christa McAuliffe Space Center (95 North 400 East, Pleasant Grove) | Shows through Jan. 4, Show times are typically 5:20pm, 6:30pm, 7:40pm | More info

Home Alone & Fat Daddy’s Pizzeria 🍕 

"Guys, I'm eating junk and watching rubbish! You better come out and stop me!"

Pizza, Christmas, and Home Alone go well together—but this is more than just a “lovely cheese pizza” and a movie—it’s a four-course dinner! (And all inspired by the movie… "Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale. Amen.")

Fat Daddy's Pizzeria | 7:30pm | More info

The Origins of Christmas Traditions with Ben Woodruff 🎅 
“Honey… why is there a pine tree… in our living room…?” Good question Jim Gaffigan. Learn all this and more, plus get an even deeper understanding and appreciation of Christmas at the John Hutchings Museum in Lehi!
John Hutchings Museum | $8 Adults/$6 Kids | 7pm | More info

Also:
👉️ Celtic Christmas: Thomas Cordner Memorial Pipe Band & An Rogaire Dubh at the Orem Library (doors open at 6:30pm)
👉️ Nebo Holiday Chorus and Orchestra Benefit Concert: Handel's Messiah
👉️ Ugly Sweater Night at the Lehi City Ice Rink

COMING UP…
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Night Owling @ Sundance (Friday) 🦉 

“Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure at Sundance this winter season as you immerse yourself in the captivating world of “Night Owling.”

This extraordinary experience, presented by the Great Basin Wildlife Rescue, invites you to explore the solitude of a Mount Timpanogos winter landscape on a professionally guided snowshoe tour. Through live owl encounters and expert-led wildlife discussions, Night Owling brings the magic of the night to life in a way that is both educational and enchanting.”

Sundance | 6:30pm-8:30pm | More info

🏀 BYU takes on Florida A&M at home (Friday)
Shaqir O’Neal (son of Shaq), and the rest of the Florida A&M rattlers, will be in town Friday to face against BYU. BYU is currently 8-2. Florida A&M is 3-6 and coming off a loss to Utah.
BYU Marriott Center | 7pm | Tickets

📣 Christmas prep sans kids (Saturday)
For some of us, having time this Saturday to prep for Christmas feels critical. How about prepping without the kids. That’s something we all could cheer for… So thank you Provo High Cheer team! This event is a fundraiser (they hope to raise $1,000!) and the way it works is simple. Drop your kids off, make a donation, and let the Provo High Cheer team entertain them for a few hours while you work your magic. The kids will get a snack and there will be crafts, games and the cheer team will even teach the kids a Christmas dance!
Provo High School | 4:45pm - 7pm | More info

Also:
👉️ Movie Night: It's a Wonderful Life (PG) at the Orem Library (Friday)
👉️ The Muppets Christmas Carol (Friday) at the Lindon Community Center
👉️ Winter Solstice Party 2024 at Sundance (Saturday)
👉️ The Johnson Files: An Improvised Christmas at the Covey Center (Shows Dec. 27 & 28) Tickets are expected to sell out quick! ⚠️ 

🎸 Live Music

@ The Velour
TODAY - Christmas Open Mic Night
Friday - Velour’s All Star Christmas Special Night #1!
Saturday - Velour’s All Star Christmas Special Night #2

@ The Boardwalk
Saturday - Marc Dark’s Acoustic Heart Show (The Playwright, Josh, Ben Bennet, Orchard of Strings, Rye Roads, Marc Dark)

Wellness Wednesday: Service Opportunities 💝 

Boys & Girls Club Holiday Meal Delivery 🦃 

“The Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County will be providing 500 dinners this holiday season. Each family will receive a family-style meal along with pantry staples for winter break. We need your help to reach all of these families!”

“Meal deliveries will take place on December 20th, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Please sign up for the time you plan to arrive, and we will provide you with a route and meals.” More Info

Handel’s Messiah with Nebo Holiday Chorus & Orchestra 🎵 

“The Nebo Holiday Chorus & Orchestra presents one of music’s most beloved choral works in this exciting holiday production. NHCO is joined by superb soloists in our annual benefit concerts in Spanish Fork, Utah.

For our performance nights on 12/18 & 12/19, we are looking for eight volunteers (ages 21+) each night to serve as ushers from 6:45 pm - 8 pm. After your service, you are welcome to stay for the free performances.” More Info

Family Home Evening - at Orem Rehabilitation and Nursing Center 👨‍🦼 

“The residents at this facility are anxious for uplifting activities. That's why we have a Family Home Evening on Monday evenings at 6:30 PM to help make life at the Orem Rehab Center more tolerable.

We are looking for people to come over once in a while, even once a year to share spend time with Orem Rehab residents. You can volunteer to sing, play an instrument, share almost any kind of talent, read a story, organize a game night, bring pets for a pet show and tell, etc., etc.

A family of any size could come and do family home evening activities like they would do at their own home, but with a much larger audience.”

Next available event is December 23, 6:45pm-7:45pm. More Info

Thanks!

Thanks for reading! Make it a great day today Provo! 😉 

-Nicole, Josh, & Carlie

p.s. If someone forwarded this to you, and you aren’t part of the group yet, then sign up here! 👈️