The Salt Lake ValleyMillcreek's air show, a Jordan Park drone show, and Josh Groban in West Valley
Plus macarons in Ballpark, an easy Oquirrh canyon most people forget, and where fireworks are actually legal this year.
Good morning, Salt Lake Valley.
The Cottonwood Fire is still the story hanging over the week, with more than 100 structures gone and crews still on it. That is why so many cities near us pulled back on fireworks this year, so know your town's rules before you light anything.
The good news: there is a lot of fun packed into the next few days that does not involve a match. Millcreek Common lights up the sky Friday with its Big Air Show, Salt Lake City trades sparklers for a drone show over Jordan Park, and Josh Groban brings Jennifer Hudson to the Maverik Center. Let's get into it.
📍 30 seconds in the valley⏱️ 5 min read
- ⭐Millcreek Common's Big Air Show kicks off the long weekend
- 📰Cottonwood Fire, fireworks bans, and The Point breaks ground
- 📅Groban, a rodeo in West Jordan, and Jaws at Woodbine
- 🍴Macarons and plated desserts in Ballpark
- 💡The Oquirrh canyon most locals drive right past
⭐ The Big One
Worth it
Independence Eve: Big Air Show 2026, Millcreek Common
With so many towns tightening fireworks rules this year, the safest big sky show near us is the one Millcreek puts on itself. The Big Air Show returns to Millcreek Common on Friday night, the eve of the holiday weekend, with a professional aerial display over the plaza. It is the kind of free community night the valley does well: families on the grass, food nearby, and a real show without anyone in the neighborhood setting off their own.
Our take
This is the low-stress way to do the holiday this year. No canyon smoke, no illegal bottle rockets on your street, just a real show you can walk to. With the Cottonwood Fire fresh on everyone's mind, a professional display is the responsible call.⚠️ Heads up: Confirm the start time and any road closures on the Millcreek Common calendar before you head out, since holiday-week schedules shift.
Free familyfreecommunityfireworks
📰 Around the Valley
Cottonwood Fire tops 100 structures and $20M to fight
The Cottonwood Fire has already destroyed more than 100 structures and cost over $20 million to battle, making it one of the more damaging fires the region has seen this season. Families have started returning to the burn area to see their losses for the first time, and one Utah family learned after days of waiting that their 1950s log cabin was gone. Eagle Point resort shared photos of its own charred grounds. It is a sober reminder of how dry the mountains are right now.
The 'Big Tree' survives the fire, but may not pull through
A famous old ponderosa pine known as the 'Big Tree' made it through the Cottonwood Fire, but officials fear it will not recover from the damage. The tree has been a landmark for generations of hikers and visitors, and its uncertain future has hit people hard. Crews and residents surveying the burn described the scene as looking like a war zone. It is a small loss inside a much bigger one, and it stung the community.
📅 This Week
Worth it
Josh Groban with Jennifer Hudson, Maverik Center
Josh Groban brings his tour to West Valley City with special guest Jennifer Hudson. Two big voices in one arena show, the kind of night that fills the Maverik Center.
Our take
A proper arena night out with two headline-worthy voices. If you have wanted to see Groban live, this is the local stop.⚠️ Heads up: Confirm your ticket and the start time before you go, and expect security lines to build early.
$$$ date nightmusicbig night out
Worth it
West Jordan's Western Stampede Rodeo 2026
West Jordan's long-running Western Stampede brings rodeo action to the arena, plus a full carnival at Veterans Memorial Park nearby. A classic small-town holiday tradition on the west side.
Our take
Boots, dust, and funnel cake. This is the west side doing the holiday the old-fashioned way, and the kids will love the carnival.⚠️ Heads up: Confirm rodeo showtimes and carnival hours before heading over, since holiday schedules shift.
$$ familyrodeocarnivalcommunity
Worth it
Salt Lake City's America 250 Drone Show, Jordan Park
Instead of personal fireworks, the city puts on a big drone light show over Jordan Park, timed to the America 250 celebration. A quieter, smoke-free way to watch the sky light up.
Our take
A crowd favorite for a reason. No smoke, no boom, and easy on pets and little ones. Bring a blanket and look up.⚠️ Heads up: Confirm the start time on the city's event page, and expect the park to fill up before dark.
Free familyfreecommunity
Worth it
Jaws at Woodbine Food Hall
The summer shark classic screens at Woodbine Food Hall in the Granary area, with the food hall's vendors on hand. A fun, low-key movie night with dinner built in.
Our take
Dinner and a movie in one stop, in one of the more fun food-hall spaces in town. Perfect if you want a chill Friday.⚠️ Heads up: Confirm the showtime and whether seating fills up before you head over.
$ date nightmovie nightfood
Worth it
Utah Symphony at Capitol Hill
The Utah Symphony plays an outdoor show on the grounds of the State Capitol, a free evening of live orchestral music with a view over the valley.
Our take
A gorgeous free night. The symphony, a sunset over the valley, and no ticket needed. Hard to beat that.⚠️ Heads up: Confirm the start time and any parking or road notes before you head up the hill.
Free freemusicdate nightfamily
🍴 Eat & Drink
Worth it
Fillings & Emulsions, Ballpark
A pastry shop in the Ballpark neighborhood with a Latin flair, known for its house-made macarons and plated desserts. It has been a valley favorite since 2013.
Our take
Order a few of the macarons, then talk yourself into one of the plated desserts. This is a quiet gem tucked away in Ballpark that punches way above its block.⚠️ Heads up: Hours can change and popular flavors sell out, so check the day's offerings before making the trip.
$$ date nightdesserttreat
💡 Hidden Gem
Worth it
Yellow Fork & Rose Canyon, Herriman
A quiet county recreation area in the Oquirrh Mountains with easy creekside trails and longer loops for hikers, bikers, horses, and birders. The Rose Canyon Spring walk is an easy 2.9 miles.
Our take
Most folks forget the Oquirrhs even have trails like this. Shade, a little creek, and none of the parking headache of the big canyons. A perfect low-key morning.⚠️ Heads up: It gets hot and exposed by midday, so go early and bring water. Confirm access and trail conditions before you drive out.
Free hikingfamilyfreeoutdoors
🥾 Hike of the Week
Worth it
Lake Solitude, Big Cottonwood Canyon
An easy 3.1-mile loop from Silver Lake up to a small lake at Solitude resort. It is a watershed area, so no dogs and no swimming, and it is not accessible in winter.
Our take
Big payoff for a short, gentle loop. The lake at the top feels like a reward you barely had to earn. Great with kids who can handle a few miles.⚠️ Heads up: This is a protected watershed, so no dogs and no swimming. Check conditions before you drive up.
Free hikingfamilyoutdoors
🎟️ Also Happening
Broadway Fireworks: Concerts in the Park
A free Broadway-style concert night Friday at Brigham Young Historic Park in Salt Lake City.
First Friday Concerts 2026
Free outdoor live music Friday in West Jordan.
Harmony (Touring)
The touring musical plays the Jewel Box at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy this week.
The Debate
📰 Valley News
Which Wasatch Front cities banned fireworks this year
With fire danger high, cities across the Wasatch Front set very different rules for the Fourth this year. Some towns banned personal fireworks outright, while others kept looser restrictions with limited legal areas and dates. If you plan to light anything, the rules depend entirely on which city you live in, and getting it wrong can mean a fine or worse in these dry conditions. Check your own town's map before you buy.
The Point breaks ground in Draper on a walkable new district
Officials broke ground on The Point in Draper, the massive redevelopment of the old prison site, with leaders promising a focus on urbanism and walkability. The project is one of the largest planned developments in the state, meant to grow into a whole new district over years. For the south end of the valley, it is a big deal that will reshape how that area looks and moves. Expect this one to stay in the news for a long time.
SLC Temple renovation shows fresh progress
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared new updates and photos on the ongoing Salt Lake Temple renovation downtown. The years-long project has kept a big chunk of Temple Square fenced off and changed the look of the city center. The latest images give a peek at how the work is coming along. It matters to a lot of people who watch this space and to anyone downtown wondering when the square fully reopens.
Rose Park could get a new apartment and retail project
A mixed-use project with apartments and retail has been pitched for Rose Park along 1000 North. If it moves ahead, it would add housing and shops to a part of the west side that has seen less of this kind of building. Proposals like this are stacking up across the valley as the region keeps growing. It is early, but worth watching for folks on that side of town.
More Salt Lake City school closures may be coming
Salt Lake City schools may face more closures, with several buildings possibly on the chopping block as the district deals with shifting enrollment. Closures hit neighborhoods hard, changing where kids go and what happens to the old buildings. Nothing is final yet, but families in affected areas will want to keep an eye on the discussion. It is a slow-moving story that touches a lot of households.
💙 Good Neighbor
Tell us who's making the valley better
Every issue we spotlight one neighbor, teacher, coach, or cause quietly making the Salt Lake Valley a better place to live. With so many families hit by the Cottonwood Fire, we would love to hear about someone stepping up to help. Send them our way.
Nominate a neighbor →That's the Midweek Mix. A drone show over Jordan Park, the Big Air Show in Millcreek, Groban in West Valley, and macarons in Ballpark.
One more time: with the mountains this dry, check your own city's fireworks rules before you light a thing. A professional show is the kinder call this year.
Forward this to the neighbor who always asks what's on this weekend. That's exactly who we're for.
— The Salt Lake Valley crew
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