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Editor\u2019s note<\/strong>: As 2025 winds down, the Ogden Standard-Examiner is taking a look back at the year that was for the region. Today we present the fourth of four stories recounting the Top 5 stories in Major Events, Entertainment & Culture, Government and Local First Responders recounting some of the greatest highs and most devastating lows of an unforgettable year.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n OGDEN \u2014 It\u2019s said that \u201call the world\u2019s a stage.\u201d<\/p>\n Ogden and surrounding towns provided a stage for arts and culture throughout 2025, from preparing to welcome the world to the region to the evolution of the state\u2019s largest amusement park, furry fandom, national recognition of area attractions and more. This is a roundup of some of the biggest entertainment stories of the year that was 2025.<\/p>\n Preparing for the world<\/strong><\/p>\n In 2024, Salt Lake City \u2014 and by extension, Northern Utah \u2014 was officially awarded the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.<\/p>\n Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner<\/span><\/p>\n Julie Reed, director of special events at Lagoon Amusement Park, announces the park’s next thrill ride \u2014 the Nutcracker \u2014 on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. The Nutcracker will open during the 2026 season. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n In 2025, the region began laying the groundwork to make the Games a reality.<\/p>\n This included the formation of steering committees in May that incorporated members of the Ogden community<\/a>, including Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski, who was named to the Host Communities Committee; Kym Buttschardt, owner of Roosters Brewing Co. and Restaurant Group, and Nolan Karras, former Utah speaker of the House, who have been appointed to the Finance and Audit Committee; and then-Weber State University President Brad Mortensen, who was selected for the Ethics Committee while continuing his role on the 2034 Steering Committee.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing at the table as Olympic plans take shape is a rare opportunity to help chart our future,\u201d Nadolski said at the time. \u201cThe Games bring more than world-class athletes\u2013they bring global attention, economic opportunity, and a chance to build a culture and legacy of sport that develops character in our kids and creates lasting opportunity for our community.\u201d<\/p>\n May also included the beginning of a tour<\/a> by the Organizing Committee for the 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games to various communities along the Wasatch Front to discuss planning for the games.<\/p>\n In November, while marking 3,000 days until the opening of the games<\/a>, the branding of the 2034 Winter Olympics was announced with the unveiling of a sculpture depicting \u201cUtah 2034\u201d at the Salt Lake City International Airport.<\/p>\n Courtesy Alexia Martinez, Ogden City<\/span><\/p>\n Spectators watch the fireworks over the Christmas Village in Ogden on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe 2034 Winter Olympics are going to unify the world, but they\u2019re also going to unify our state,\u201d Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said at the event. \u201cThe focus isn\u2019t just on those 100 countries that are going to be coming here. The focus is also on those 29 counties all across this state. This isn\u2019t just the Salt Lake Olympics. It\u2019s not just the Wasatch Front Olympics. This is our Olympics. It\u2019s all of us together, and I can\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/p>\n Attractions coming and going<\/strong><\/p>\n Lagoon Amusement Park had a year of major changes in 2025.<\/p>\n This season included the introduction of a handful of new rides in a newly minted section of Pioneer Village known as The District.\u00a0 Built on the site of the former log flume, The District\u2019s new rides included Steamworx<\/a> and a thrill ride named Time Tinker<\/a>. The park\u2019s helicopter ride was also re-imagined as Rivets & Rotors.<\/a><\/p>\n The park also reintroduced the Carousel Candy store, the original of which had been destroyed in a fire in 2021.<\/p>\n Grace Watters, Standard-Examiner<\/span><\/p>\n People ski down the mountain on opening weekend at Snowbasin Resort on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Meanwhile, the park also spent 2025 divesting itself of its zoo element. Throughout the year, animals were re-homed elsewhere. The zoo element had been a source of controversy over the years due to accusations the animals were held in substandard conditions.<\/p>\n Lagoon spokesperson Adam Leishman told the Standard-Examiner in March that the decision to remove the park\u2019s zoo elements came down to the realities of space the park faces as it aims to evolve with the times.<\/p>\n \u201cLagoon is in Farmington City \u2014 we\u2019ve been here for almost 140 years \u2014 and the way the lay of the land is, we are landlocked,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are always trying to enhance and bring new attractions to the park, and the decision was to close down the exhibits so we can develop that for future attractions and experiences for our guests.\u201d<\/p>\n And with the 2025 season winding down, Lagoon Amusement Park announced its next big attraction in October \u2014 a S&S Worldwide \u201cScreamin\u2019 Swing\u201d by the name of Nutcracker<\/a> \u2014 which is set to be completed and open to riders during the 2026 season.<\/p>\n National recognition<\/strong><\/p>\n Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner<\/span><\/p>\n Ulmar Vice celebrates winning the dance competition at Anthro Weekend Utah on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Want to see Ogden-area attractions receive national accolades from a major publication? You wanna see Ogden-area attractions do it again?<\/a><\/p>\n Good, because that\u2019s exactly what happened with Historic 25th Street, Snowbasin Resort and Ogden\u2019s Christmas Village in various USA Today 10BEST Reader\u2019s Choice Awards contests in 2025. Each of these rankings were based on the votes of readers from all across the country.<\/p>\n In April, it was announced that Historic 25th Street<\/a> had finished third in the Best Main Streets category \u2014 the same ranking it achieved in 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were just overjoyed to hear that we made the top three again, for the second year in a row,\u201d Visit Ogden Director of Marketing and Communications Taylor Hartman told the Standard-Examiner in April. \u201cIt\u2019s such a point of pride for the community. 25th Street is such an anchor point for our community. It\u2019s a hub, everybody knows it, and to have that ranking again and to have voters from all over the United States tell us what we believe to be true \u2014 that we have one of the coolest Main Streets around. That means a lot to both us at Visit Ogden and to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n In November, it was announced that Snowbasin had also received a second consecutive 10BEST recognition<\/a>, placing first in the \u201cBest Ski Resort in the U.S. and Canada\u201d category<\/p>\n \u201cIt means a great deal to myself and to my team,\u201d Snowbasin Resort Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Davy Ratchford told the Standard-Examiner after the ranking had been announced. \u201cThe effort that we\u2019re putting forth is working and people all over America are seeing it.\u201d<\/p>\n Finally, in December, Ogden\u2019s Christmas Village took center stage in December<\/a> with a second-place finish in the\u201dBest Public Holiday Lights Display (2025)\u201d contest. This was an improvement on the display\u2019s third-place finish in 2024.<\/p>\n Ogden City Communications Director Mike McBride said a lot makes Christmas Village stand out against the other light displays.<\/p>\n \u201cIt speaks volumes about the strength of this community,\u201d he said. \u201cOgden\u2019s display isn\u2019t built on scale or spectacle but rather is built on connection, history and a tradition that families have shared for generations. What started off as a simple parade has grown into a statehood tradition. To see our hometown display stand alongside some of the most iconic holiday destinations in the world is a testament to the heart of Ogden and the people who keep this tradition alive.\u201d<\/p>\n Snowbasin milestone<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the area\u2019s biggest ski resorts celebrated a big milestone in 2025.<\/p>\n The 2025-26 ski season marks Snowbasin Resort\u2019s 85th ski season.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ogden_images.s3.amazonaws.com\/www.standard.net\/images\/2025\/12\/10131459\/171125_christmas_ogden410-Editbutterfield-1200x800.jpg\")
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