Okay friends, I’ve got a confession to make: this year, my holiday season officially starts the minute I walk into a Pickleville show. And this year? It’s going to be more special than ever, because I’m finally seeing it for the first time. That’s right — we’re headed to Bandito’s Holiday Heist in Salt Lake City over Thanksgiving weekend, and I could not be more excited.
If you’ve never heard of Pickleville on Tour, you’re missing out on one of Utah and Idaho’s most magical Christmas traditions. Their touring productions bring the hilarity, heart, and holiday spirit of classic family theater from Bear Lake into cities like Salt Lake City, Logan, Roy, and beyond. The shows are put on by a tight-knit troupe led by real families who pour love, laughter, and a whole lot of mischievous Christmas cheer into every performance.
What Is Bandito’s Holiday Heist?
Bandito’s Holiday Heist is the 2025 holiday production from Pickleville on Tour. The show centers around the notorious outlaw Juanito Bandito and his gang of misfit bandits. Their plan? To sneak into Santa’s secret elf outpost on Christmas Eve and pull off the ultimate heist. But standing in their way are Santa’s bravest elves — and possibly Santa himself. It’s comedy meets chaos meets Christmas magic.
Expect toe-tappin’ tunes, big laughs, dance numbers, silly banter, and a story that delivers holiday warmth along with wild western-style fun. In short, it’s Christmas chaos wrapped in a musical comedy that’s made for families.
Why It’s A Favorite Holiday Tradition for Local Families
For many families in Utah and Idaho, attending a Pickleville holiday show has become as much a part of their December as lights, cocoa, and wrapping paper.
- It’s predictable fun with a dash of unpredictability — you know it will be good, but you never know exactly which jokes or bits will have your kids (and you) cracking up.
- It’s family-friendly. No heavy themes, no “adult jokes behind the curtain.” Just good old fashioned holiday fun for kids and adults alike.
- It brings together community and creativity. Pickleville on Tour is grounded in family, connection, and creativity — not a corporate holiday spectacle. That gives their shows a warm, genuine vibe you don’t always get elsewhere.
To generations of families, going to a Pickleville show has become part of how they mark the holiday season.
This Year, I’m Finally Joining the Tradition
This is my first time going to one of their shows — and I can’t wait. I’ve heard people talk about the years of laughter, the family hugs afterward, the kids dancing in the aisles, the parents wiping away tears of joy during the “awww” moments.
When & Where — And How to Get Tickets
Bandito’s Holiday Heist will be playing in Salt Lake City on Friday, November 28 and Saturday, November 29, 2025.
Tickets go fast, especially for family-friendly times on holiday weekends. If you want to snag great seats (or sit together with your whole crew), here’s how to get them:
- Head to the Pickleville on Tour website and check the “Tour Dates / Get Tix” section.
- Consider joining their waitlist or text/email club — that sometimes gives presale access or better seat selection.
- If you’ve got a bigger group (extended family, friends, cousins), they offer group-sales starting early (useful if you want to sit together).
Because it’s such a limited run, I’d grab tickets as soon as you decide — before they disappear.
Why I Think It’s the Perfect Way to Start the Holiday Season
There’s something about live theater at Christmastime that feels timeless and real. In a season often dominated by shopping lists, screen time, and frantic activity, a night at Bandito’s Holiday Heist is sure to be a reset button.
It’s laughter. It’s music. It’s silly chaos. It’s heart. And with a story about outlaws, elves, and a heist at the North Pole — it’s exactly the kind of goofy, magical energy we need as soon as the calendar flips to holiday mode.
For me — a mama who tries hard to make magic happen for her kids even when life gets busy — this show feels like more than a “holiday outing.” It feels like memory-making.
the mommy avenger 
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