What's Happening in Provo/Orem | Nov 27th, 2024

What’s Up Provo! Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

Some years ago we started celebrating Thanksgiving Eve (which isn’t a real holiday) by drinking milk from fancy glasses. Around midnight. True story. 🥛

Here are a few highlights of today’s newsletter:

• Wonka 🍫 Thankful 13 🏃 Santa + Helicopter/Coke Bear 🐻‍❄️🚁 Night in Bethlehem ⭐️ Tree Lightings 🎄

• Provo School District’s new device policy 📱 

• Help needed sorting presents 🎁 and helping @ Kids Night Out 🧸

The Bulletin 📌 

Gingerbread House Competition Winners 🍪🏰 

The winners have been decided and the pictures are amazing! 🥇 First Place: Krista Johansen |🥈 Second Place: Emilee Hannant | 🥉 Third Place: Rebecca Geilman See the winning gingerbread houses

Local Business Holiday Shopping Guide Coming Soon 🛍️ 

If you are interested in shopping local this Black Friday we have you covered. Be on the look out for our Ultimate Holiday Local Shopping Guide in your inbox!

Provo School District adopts new electronic device policy 📱 

The new policy aims to reduce distraction at school. According to the article “students at all grade levels must keep their devices out of sight during school hours and have them set to a mode in which notifications cannot be received”. However, high school students are allowed to use them between classes and at lunch. The new policy goes into affect Jan. 7, 2025. Article

Wednesday
37° | 🌨️ | 10%

🍫 Free Showing of Wonka
“Ladies and gentlemen, greetings to you all, and welcome to Wonka's. Tremendous things are in store, both literally and metaphorically.” The Springville Library will have a showing of Wonka (2023, PG)—bring your own snacks and blankets!
Springville Library | 6pm | More info

Thursday
35° | ☀️ | 10%

Thankful 13 🏃 

In true Thanksgiving fashion, there are a number of running events happening Thanksgiving morning. We talked about them in the last email, but we’ll go over them again briefly.

The Thankful 14 is put on by Thanksgiving Point and will include a half marathon, 10k, 5k, and a kid’s run.

Thanksgiving Point | 7:45am | More info

Earn Your Turkey Run 🦃
“Since 1982, Runner's Corner & the Orem Fitness Center have sponsored the this popular Thanksgiving Day Run/Walk in Utah.” Participants will get a T-shirt and food after the race.
Orem Fitness Center | 8am | More info

2024 Hobble Before You Gobble 🏃‍♂️ 
10k, 5k, and Fun Run in Springville
Ray Arthur Wing Park (950 W 125 N, Springville) | 7:45am | More info

Also:
👉️ Men's Basketball vs Ole Miss at 3:30 (in San Diego) | Watch on FS1 | Listen
👉️ Spanish Fork Festival of Lights from 6pm to 10pm

Friday
40° | ☀️ | 0%

Santa Welcome Party 🐻‍❄️ 

Santa Claus is coming to (Provo) Town(e) (Center)…and he’s bringing his good friend the Coke Bear along with him!

There will be free face-painting, balloon animals, and photo ops! Coca-cola is sponsoring the event, so maybe some free soda? Here’s hoping.

Provo Towne Centre | 1pm - 3pm | More info

Santa's Grand Arrival 🚁 

When he’s not driving his sleigh, or his 2021 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, Santa likes to take a helicopter to work. Especially on Black Friday. The traffic is ridiculous.

Be at the parking lot between Tucanos and The Cheesecake factory to watch Santa arrive and maybe score some free stuff! Refreshments and treats are being provided by Chick-Fil-A, Quench It!, and D.L. Evans!

University Mall | 9:30am to 10:30am | More info

⭐️ Night in Bethlehem
"Step into the Frame Works Gallery at University Place and witness the magic unfold as our talented artists bring the Nativity to life on canvas.” This is a two day event (Friday and Saturday) and they ask that you RSVP.
Frameworks Gallery, University Place | 6pm-8pm | More info

🛍️ Winter Market Lehi
There are so many shopping events on Friday, obviously, but this one is at the ice rink! We assume you don’t have to wear skates, but it’s worth going just to find out! (If you miss this event, don’t worry, it will be running from now until mid-January.)
Lehi City Ice Rink (2000 W 700 S) | 5:30pm-10pm | More info

⚔️ Nordik Village
Sip some gløgg (not really) and enjoy a sleigh ride and great local vendors at the Nordik Village at Jaker’s in Springville! The village will be open this Friday and Saturday, and Thursday through Saturday throughout December.
Jaker’s in Springville | Friday & Saturday 11am - 10pm | More info

Also:
👉️ Christmas Gift & Craft Show in Spanish Fork
👉️ Meet Santa At Granny's Drive In in Heber (free mini shake with toy donation)
👉️ BYU Basketball vs ??? (either no. 13 Purdue or NC State)
👉️ The Cargo Cinema movies are 5pm: The Nightmare Before Christmas & 8pm: The Goonies

Saturday
42° | ☀️ | 0%

BYU vs Houston 🏈

As you may remember, we’ve written about what needs to happen in order for BYU to get into the BIG 12 championship game in Monday’s email. Basically, they need to win this one and Arizona State and/or Iowa State needs to lose.

So let’s win this one! The Houston Cougars are 4-7 overall and are coached by Willie Fritz. The BYU cougars enter a 9-2 (and are not many yards away from being 11-0).

On top of being a big game for the conference title race—it is also Senior Night, and maybe the last chance many of these players will have to play at LES. So if you are going, then be loud!

Cougar Canyon: West of the Stadium @ 5pm | More info
Cougar Walk: From the north end of Cougar Canyon through the southwest corner @ 6:15pm | More info
Game: Lavell Edward Stadium @ 8:15 | More info

Tree Lightings in Midway and Spanish Fork 🎄 

Santa is doing double duty in Midway tonight. He will be at the Tree Lighting at the Homestead in Midway—there will be treats and lots of fun, and he’s even lighting the tree. And then there’s another tree lighting in Midway he needs to be at, in the Midway Town Square, where there will be candle lighting 🕯️, music, caroling, fireworks, reindeer, candy bags, cookies and coca!

There’s a chance he will also be in the Spanish Fork Winter Lights Parade on Main Street in Spanish Fork—at the same time! He really is magical.

Homestead Tree Lighting: Homestead Resort @ 7pm -9pm | More info
Midway Tree Lighting: Midway Town Square @ 6pm | More info
Winter Lights Parade and Tree Lighting: Main Street in Spanish Fork @ 7pm | More info

Also:
👉️ The Carpenters Platinum - Christmas Show in Heber
👉️ Provo Farmers Market in the Provo Towne Center

🎸 Live Music

@ The Velour
Saturday - Queenadilla, Homestyle Dinner Rolls, AURHE

@ The Boardwalk
Saturday - Pretty Kitties, Fleeing the Scene, Burnt Film

Wellness Wednesday: Service Opportunities 💝 

BYU just came out with a study that about how how just one act of kindness per week can make all the difference. 😃 Here’s the article.

So check out these service opportunities coming up, and if you are aware of others you would like us to mention then please let us know!

Kids Night Out 🧸 

“Children are dropped off for a night of fun with volunteers, while their parents can have a couple of hours off. Aptive provides games, crafts, sports, dinner and snacks. Volunteer Responsibilities: Buddy up with a small group of children ages 0-18. Keep children engaged in an activity, help them with dinner and keep them safe.”
(Volunteers must be 18 or older. Volunteers 16 and up may volunteer with a parent.)
More info

Help Parents Shop for Toys 🎁 
“Our Event will run for two nights. The first night will be on an invite only basis. Invitations are given out by local church and non-profit organizations to those truly in need this Holiday season. The second night is open to all. We know that there are many situations in which families find themselves unable to afford presents for their children. For this reason, we open our event to all who come. We do not ask questions or require paperwork, if families need help they simply come. Our event runs by having the parent or guardian of children 0 to 18 come and go "shopping" for one present for each of their children. Tables are set up with ages and you the volunteer will walk them around and help them select toys for their children. We also need help with re-filling these tables and set-up/ take-down. We expect at least 600 families per night- to ensure no family is turned away empty-handed: we need you!!!” More info

Help Sorting Toys & Donations 🔋 
“We need volunteers to sort through donations of gently used items. We will be cleaning, inserting batteries and packaging them together into a "big" quality present…We package and clean all donations to make them look as brand new as possible. We currently have over 2,000 families planning to attend our event. In order to ensure we have enough presents ready, WE NEED YOUR HELP!!” More info

Fall Clean Up @ Brades’ Place 🍃 
Brades' Place is making a home for kids with serious illness or disabilities to be their 'home away from home'. We need your help getting it ready for our kids and families, by helping with fall clean up like raking leaves, removing overgrowth, and general clean up.” More info

Thanks!

May your thanksgiving be perpetual! 😉 

-Nicole, Josh, & Carlie

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