St. George
Around St. George
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Utah · 207k people
St. George
Locals say Dixie · “Utah's Dixie”
Where the red rocks meet the sky
Desert SunsetRed RockNight Sky
Welcome to St. George, where the red rocks meet the blue skies. Whether you're here for the golf, the trails, or just to escape the cold, you'll find a friendly desert community.
Clubs for St. George
No clubs for St. George yet.
The room
One room for everyone around St. George. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around St. George. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Snow Canyon State Park Red rock canyons and lava tubes
- Red Cliffs National Conservation Area Desert tortoise habitat and scenic trails
- Sand Hollow State Park Reservoir for boating and paddleboarding
- Quail Creek State Park Popular for fishing and swimming
- Tuacahn Amphitheatre Outdoor theater in a red rock canyon
- Utah Tech University Home of the Trailblazers
- Outdoors Hiking in Snow Canyon
- Outdoors Paddleboarding at Sand Hollow
- With kids Visiting the Dinosaur Discovery Site
- With kids Swimming at Sand Hollow State Park
- Evenings Tuacahn outdoor theatre
- Evenings Live music at local venues
- Locals love Red rock hiking trails
- Locals love Golf courses
Through the year
- St. George Marathon October October
- Huntsman World Senior Games October October
- St. George Arts Festival April April
- Washington County Fair August August
- St. George Balloon Festival January/February January/February
Hot desert climate with very hot summers and mild winters. Best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall offer perfect temperatures for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “Dixie”
- The local name for the St. George area
- “Snowbirds”
- Winter visitors from colder states
- “Red rock”
- The distinctive red sandstone landscape
- “Trailblazers”
- Utah Tech University athletes
Getaways
- Zion National Park Majestic canyons and hiking trails
- Cedar City Shakespeare festival and mountain scenery
- Las Vegas Entertainment and nightlife
- Pahrump Desert wineries and quiet getaways
Local flavour
Teams
- Utah Tech Trailblazers NCAA Division I (WAC)
Also rooting for Utah Jazz (NBA), BYU Cougars (NCAA), Utah Utes (NCAA)
Eat and drink
- Funeral potatoes A creamy, cheesy potato casserole, a Utah staple
- Fry sauce A ketchup-and-mayonnaise blend served with fries
- Dirty soda from Swig Swig, a soda shop chain, originated in St. George
- Nielsen's Frozen Custard A local custard shop chain
Where people go
- Red rock canyons and hiking trails Snow Canyon, Zion National Park, and countless desert trails
- Golf courses Many championship courses set against the desert backdrop
- Retirement communities and snowbird destinations A popular winter haven for retirees
- Desert botanical gardens Showcasing native flora of the Mojave Desert
Heritage and traditions
St. George and the surrounding 'Dixie' area are proud of their Mormon pioneer heritage, dramatic red rock landscapes, and a warm, welcoming community that blends old-time Western charm with a growing retirement and outdoor recreation culture.
This time of year in St. George
- St. George Marathon October Held in October, known for its fast course and stunning scenery.
- Huntsman World Senior Games October Held in October, attracts thousands of senior athletes.
- St. George Jazz Festival Fall A weekend of jazz performances, usually in the fall.
Say it like a local: “The creek” — A dry wash or arroyo, often used for hiking.
Festivals
- St. George Scottish Festival September Highland games, bagpipes, and Scottish heritage in September.
- Hurricane Valley Heritage Days July Pioneer-themed parade, rodeo, and pioneer reenactments in July.
- Santa Clara Swiss Days September Celebrates Swiss pioneer heritage with food, crafts, and music in September.
- Ivins Arts in the Park Spring Spring arts and crafts festival in Ivins.
- St. George Jazz Festival Fall A weekend of jazz performances, usually in the fall.
- St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site's Fossil Festival Spring Family-friendly event with fossil digs and science activities.
Landmarks with a story
- St. George Temple The first LDS temple completed in Utah (1877), a landmark of pioneer faith and craftsmanship.
- Brigham Young Winter Home Where Brigham Young stayed during winters, now a museum.
- Jacob Hamblin Home Preserved pioneer home in Santa Clara, honoring the 'Apostle to the Lamanites.'
- St. George Tabernacle A historic meetinghouse and community gathering place, completed in 1876.
- Pine Valley Chapel The oldest continuously used LDS meetinghouse in the West, built in 1868.
- Hurricane Canal A hand-dug irrigation canal from the early 1900s that helped settle the area.
Food traditions
- Dutch oven cooking A pioneer tradition still popular for large gatherings; beans, stews, and cobblers are cooked over coals.
- Utah scones Fried dough, often served with honey butter, a staple at local potlucks and restaurants.
- Green Jell-O A Utah favorite, often served with carrots or fruit, a nostalgic side dish at community meals.
- Dirty soda Soda with cream and flavor syrups, a local invention that has become a cultural icon.
- Funeral potatoes A cheesy potato casserole served at gatherings, a comfort food with deep Utah roots.
Music and arts
- Tuacahn outdoor theater A world-class amphitheater in a red rock canyon, known for Broadway-style productions.
- Community theater Several local groups produce plays and musicals year-round.
- St. George Arts Festival An annual juried art show and sale.
- Pioneer folk music Songs and hymns from the Mormon pioneer era are still performed at heritage events.
A little history
- 1850s Mormon pioneers settle the area, calling it 'Dixie' for a cotton-growing mission.
- 1877 St. George Temple is completed, the first LDS temple in Utah.
- 1911 Dixie College (now Utah Tech University) is founded.
- 1904 Hurricane Canal is completed, enabling agriculture in the Hurricane Valley.
- 1990s–present The area begins rapid growth as a retirement and snowbird destination.
Rivalries
- Utah Tech vs. Southern Utah College rivalry for Southern Utah bragging rights
- BYU vs. Utah Statewide college football rivalry
- Snowbirds vs. locals Friendly banter about winter visitors
- Game day Utah Tech Trailblazers games
- Game day St. George Marathon
- Outdoors Zion National Park
- Outdoors Hiking Snow Canyon
- With kids Tuacahn family shows
- With kids Splash pads and city pools
Locals speak with a mild Western drawl and often use 'Dixie' to refer to the area. The city of Hurricane is pronounced 'HURR-i-cun' (rhymes with 'turkey'), and 'soda' is the preferred term for soft drinks.
Only here
- The 'Dixie' nickname from the failed cotton mission, still used with pride.
- The St. George Temple was the first LDS temple completed in Utah.
- The Huntsman World Senior Games is the largest multi-sport event for seniors in the world.
- The St. George Marathon is known as one of the fastest courses in the country.
New here? A few tips
- Stay hydrated in summer; temperatures often exceed 100°F and the air is very dry.
- Learn to pronounce 'Hurricane' as 'HURR-i-cun' (rhymes with 'turkey') to sound like a local.
- Embrace the 'Dixie' nickname; locals are proud of it and use it all the time.
- Many residents are LDS, but the community is diverse; be respectful of local customs and Sunday quiet hours.
- Take advantage of the mild winters—it's why the snowbirds come!
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Nearby
Every areaSt. George, UT. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.