The Salt Lake ValleyMonster Jam at Rice-Eccles, a Jordan Park drone show, West Jordan's rodeo weekend
Plus Josh Groban at the Maverik Center, hand-pulled noodles in Sandy, Donut Falls before the parking lot fills.
Good morning, Salt Lake Valley.
The Monster Jam World Finals rolled into Rice-Eccles Stadium tonight, the first time the championship has landed in Salt Lake City. Trucks the size of a garage, dirt piled onto the U's football field, and a two-day run downtown.
That is the headliner, but it is not the whole weekend. Josh Groban plays the Maverik Center, West Jordan's Western Stampede takes over Veterans Memorial Park, and Jordan Park lights up with a drone show for the Fourth. Here is what is worth leaving the house for.
📍 30 seconds in the valley⏱️ 5 min read
- ⭐Monster Jam World Finals hits Rice-Eccles
- 📰Cottonwood Fire, water warnings, and a missing Sugar House hawk
- 🍴Hand-pulled noodles and dim sum in Sandy
- 🌲Donut Falls before the lot fills up
⭐ The Big One
Worth it
Monster Jam World Finals, Rice-Eccles Stadium
The Monster Jam World Finals took over Rice-Eccles Stadium this weekend, and it is a big deal that the championship is here at all. Crews trucked in tons of dirt to build the course right on the University of Utah's football field. Expect the giant trucks you know, Grave Digger and the rest, going head to head in racing and freestyle for the world title.
Our take
Loud, dusty, and a genuine blast with kids. Bring ear protection for the little ones, the trucks are as loud as they look.⚠️ Heads up: Show times and ticket availability change fast on a championship weekend. Confirm your night and seats before you head over.
$$ familysportsweekend
📰 Around the Valley
Cottonwood Fire is now the 6th largest in Utah history
The Cottonwood Fire burning near Beaver has grown into one of the largest wildfires in state history. Crews are still working to hold it, and the smoke and size have put it on the map for the whole state. If you are heading south this weekend, plan around it.
North Creek and Manderfield put on evacuation 'SET' status
As the Cottonwood Fire keeps spreading, the North Creek and Manderfield areas were moved to 'SET' evacuation status. That means residents there are told to be ready to leave on short notice. It is a reminder of how dry things are across the region right now.
📅 This Week
Worth it
Josh Groban with Jennifer Hudson, Maverik Center
Josh Groban brings his big voice to West Valley City, with Jennifer Hudson along as special guest. Two powerhouse vocalists on one stage inside the Maverik Center.
Our take
A proper date-night concert with two of the strongest voices touring right now. Dress up a little.⚠️ Heads up: Confirm your seats and start time before you drive out, arena shows can shift.
$$$ date nightmusicconcert
Worth it
Independence Day Drone Show, Jordan Park
Jordan Park lights up with a drone show for the Fourth, a quieter, calmer alternative to loud fireworks. Bring a blanket, spread out on the grass, and watch the lights move across the night sky.
Our take
Easier on dogs and little kids than fireworks, and just as pretty. A low-key way to do the holiday.⚠️ Heads up: Weather and wind can push drone shows. Check the event page before you head out.
Free familyfreeholiday
Worth it
West Jordan's Western Stampede, Veterans Memorial Park
West Jordan's Western Stampede is in full swing this weekend, with a carnival at Veterans Memorial Park and a rodeo at the arena. Rides, fair food, and real cowboys, a classic valley holiday tradition.
Our take
The most kid-friendly holiday scene in the south valley. Bring cash for ride tickets and funnel cakes.⚠️ Heads up: Carnival and rodeo hours differ each night. Check the schedule so you time it right.
$$ familyfestivalweekend
Worth it
Salt Lake Bees vs. Las Vegas Aviators, The Ballpark at America First Square
The Bees host the Las Vegas Aviators out at the ballpark in South Jordan. Minor league baseball on a summer night, cheap seats, and food you can actually afford.
Our take
The easiest family night on the list. Kids run wild, you watch a few innings, everyone leaves happy.⚠️ Heads up: Confirm the game time and any promo nights before you buy.
$$ familysportsweekend
Worth it
Freedom Fest Parade and Community Celebration, Fitts Park
South Salt Lake throws its Freedom Fest at Fitts Park on the Fourth, with a parade and a community celebration. A neighborhood-scale holiday party, the kind where you run into people you know.
Our take
Small-town Fourth of July feel right inside the valley. Great with a stroller.⚠️ Heads up: Parade start times move year to year. Confirm before you set up your chairs.
Free familyfreeholiday
🍴 Eat & Drink
Worth it
Cafe Anh Hong, Sandy
A Cantonese spot in Sandy that has been serving daily dim sum and house-made hand-pulled noodles since 1994. The noodles are pulled by hand in the kitchen, and the dim sum comes fresh through the day.
Our take
A south valley classic that has been quietly nailing dim sum for over 30 years. Order the hand-pulled noodles and a few dumpling plates to share.⚠️ Heads up: Hours can shift around holidays. Call ahead this weekend before you drive out.
$$ familydate nightdim sum
Details → 🌲 Get Outside
Worth it
Donut Falls, Big Cottonwood Canyon
A short forest walk along a rushing creek that ends at a waterfall pouring through a hole in the rock. It is one of the most popular family hikes in the valley for a reason, easy enough for little legs and a real payoff at the end.
Our take
The classic first hike for kids and out-of-town guests. Wet shoes are worth it, but go early and let the little ones set the pace.⚠️ Heads up: Rocks near the waterfall are slippery and the crowds are real. Confirm canyon conditions before you drive up.
Free outdoorsfamilyhiking
Details → 🎟️ Also Happening
Utah Symphony at Capitol Hill
Free symphony on the Capitol lawn Friday in Salt Lake City.
First Friday Concerts
Free evening concert Friday in West Jordan.
💡 Hidden Gem
Worth it
Empress Theatre, Magna
A restored 1916 Main Street theater in Magna, now a 178-seat volunteer-run community playhouse in the round. They put on musicals, plays, and youth productions in a space that feels like a real slice of old Utah.
Our take
A charming, cheap night out most people never think to make the drive for. The volunteer cast heart is the whole point.⚠️ Heads up: Show dates and times change with each production. Confirm the calendar before you go.
$ date nightfamilycheap
Details → 👨👩👧 Family & Free
Worth it
Sugar House Park, Salt Lake City
The county's largest city park at 110-plus acres, with a pond, big open lawns, and room to spread out. On a holiday weekend it is the easy call for a picnic and a game of catch.
Our take
The most no-fuss family afternoon in the valley. Pack a blanket, some sandwiches, and a frisbee.⚠️ Heads up: The park stays busy over the holiday. Check for any event closures before you load up the car.
Free familyfreeoutdoors
Details → The Debate
📰 Valley News
Eagle Mountain asks residents to cut back on water
Eagle Mountain is asking people to conserve water after an equipment failure hit part of its system. It is the kind of thing that reminds everyone how thin the margins are in a dry summer. Watering less and holding off on big outdoor use helps the system catch up.
Liberty Wells strip mall set to come down for housing
A strip mall in Liberty Wells near 1300 South is slated to be torn down and replaced with apartments and townhomes. It is part of a steady wave of infill housing filling in older commercial corners on the east side. Expect construction fencing and changes to the block in the months ahead.
Wells Ward townhome plan clears a key review
A plan to build townhomes on the old LDS Wells Ward site in Salt Lake City got a thumbs up from the city Planning Commission. It is another sign of how much new for-sale housing is being added inside established neighborhoods. The project moves ahead now that the design cleared review.
Two SLC restaurants announce they are closing
Craft by Proper and Provisions both announced they are closing their doors. Two familiar names off the local dining map is a real loss for regulars. If you have a favorite dish at either, this is your window to go one more time before they wind down.
💙 Good Neighbor
Tell us who's making the valley better
Every issue we want to spotlight one neighbor, teacher, coach, or cause quietly making the Salt Lake Valley a better place to live. Know someone who deserves it? Send them our way.
Nominate a neighbor →That's the weekend. Monster trucks at Rice-Eccles, a drone show over Jordan Park, and hand-pulled noodles out in Sandy.
If the Cottonwood Fire smoke drifts in, keep an eye on the air before you plan an outdoor day. And if you spot that missing hawk in Sugar House, tell someone.
Forward this to the neighbor who always asks what's going on this weekend. That's exactly who we're for.
— The Salt Lake Valley crew
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