Good Friday morning. 🏈 Who are you rooting for tomorrow? Utah or BYU?

• ☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 54.

Today’s newsletter is 602 words — a 2.5-minute read.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Salt Lake City International Airport.

Why it matters: Travelers may not realize the massive undertaking of decking out more than half a million square feet of airport space for the holidays each year.

State of play: Axios got a behind-the-scenes look this week at how the airport's maintenance crews prepare.

• First up is a visit to a warehouse near the airport dedicated solely to storing decorations and assembling displays.
• Decorating starts after Halloween and continues through Thanksgiving weekend.

What they're saying: David Tingey, the airport's maintenance support manager, told Axios that seeing travelers express joy and take photos next to the displays makes the effort worthwhile.

• "We all get a little stressed when traveling, right? Even if you're going someplace fun," Tingey said. The decor "takes a little bit of that stress off."
• One challenge is transporting delicate displays from the warehouse, setting them up and taking them down without causing damage. A large ball ornament can cost up to $100, he said.

By the numbers: The airport budgets about $60,000 annually to maintain the holiday decor.

• The warehouse is 10,000 square feet and holds 4,600 feet of garland, 60 nutcrackers, more than 100 wreaths, thousands of ornaments and more.
• The marquee display — and the hardest thing to put together, according to Tingey — is the 40-foot tree at the main plaza. The tree includes 22,000 lights and 1,600 ball ornaments.
• About 1,500 to 1,700 poinsettias are grown in the airport's on-site greenhouse for holiday displays.

On average, more than 60,000 people move through the airport each day during the holiday season, according to airport spokesperson Nancy Volmer.

The bottom line: If you're traveling through the airport this winter, take a few moments to appreciate the holiday decor.

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🗳️ GOP Rep. Blake Moore has defeated Democratic challenger Peter Crosby in Utah's 2nd Congressional District race, after leading with 51.2% of votes, the Associated Press called yesterday. Crosby received 42.4% of voter support in the newly drawn district, per unofficial results. (FOX 13)

• Republican Rep. Mike Kennedy also won his 4th Congressional District race against three other candidates, receiving 53.2% of the vote as of yesterday, per the AP.

🌟 The Utah State Board of Education has named Daren Lentz of South Cache Middle School the 2027 teacher of the year. (Salt Lake Tribune)

• Talia Casares of Moroni Elementary was originally awarded the honor, but she died unexpectedly two weeks later.

🏛️ Sandy City Council Member Marci Houseman is resigning Jan. 3 due to the growing demands of the business she owns, creating a vacancy on the body. (ABC 4)

• Applications for the seat are open through Nov. 20.

Here's what's happening in and around Salt Lake this weekend.

🏳️‍🌈 Utah Queer Film Festival: The Utah Film Center is showing more than 35 LGBTQIA+ independent films tomorrow-Sunday at 375 W. 400 North in the city's Marmalade District. Tickets

🥘 Potluck + Recipe Exchange: Bring your favorite dish and share recipes at this community event hosted by Maven and the Wastach Food Co-Op at 177 E. 900 South, Suite 200. RSVP

🏈 The "Holy War": Seats are still available, though pricey, to watch University of Utah and Brigham Young University renew their heated rivalry 10am Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Tickets

🍿 Kim finally saw "You Can See Everything."

🎉 Erin is back today.

This newsletter was edited by Jodie Lau.