The Salt Lake ValleyThe State Fair opens Thursday with $9 admission, and Greek Festival starts Friday
Plus UNDERTALE at Eccles, a teen anime convention in West Jordan, and new student counseling access.
Good afternoon, Salt Lake Valley.
The Utah State Fair opens Thursday with $9 admission purchased at the fairgrounds. Gates open at noon, and the carnival starts at one.
Friday brings the Greek Festival’s 50th anniversary and a teen anime convention in West Jordan. Before the weekend, UNDERTALE gets a full concert at Eccles. We also checked the Royals’ next match and a fish taco order in Cottonwood Heights.
📍 30 seconds in the valley⏱️ 8 min read
- 🎡Get the State Fair’s $9 opening-day admission
- 🥙Eat at the Greek Festival Friday through Sunday
- 🎮Hear UNDERTALE at Eccles Tuesday
⭐ The Big One
Pick of the week
Get $9 admission on the State Fair’s opening day
The Utah State Fair opens Thursday for its 170th year. Opening-day admission is $9 when purchased on site, and the fair also offers $10 off a carnival wristband that day. The fair continues through Sep 20.
Our take
Thursday is our pick if you want the opening-day admission discount. Decide separately whether you want rides before adding a carnival wristband.⚠️ Heads up: The $9 promotion is an on-site purchase. Admission does not include a carnival wristband.
$ fair foodfamiliesSalt Lake City
📰 Around the Valley
Camden Court breaks ground on 96 apartments
Construction began Sep 3 on Camden Court at 390 W 1300 S. The development will contain 96 income-restricted apartments for households earning 30% to 60% of the area median income. Completion is planned for spring 2028.
Native trout return to Mill Creek after restoration work
Crews began returning native Bonneville cutthroat trout to Mill Creek Wednesday after work to remove brook trout. The project covers 3.1 miles between Church Fork and I-215. The cutthroat trout had been moved temporarily to a Springville hatchery while the creek work took place.
📅 This Week
Book before Tuesday
Hear UNDERTALE performed at Eccles
UNDERTALE: The Determination Symphony brings music from the game to the Eccles stage Tuesday. The concert runs about two hours and ten minutes, including an intermission.
Our take
Pick this if the game’s soundtrack is already on your playlist. Book before Tuesday’s show, and allow time for the full concert.⚠️ Heads up: Recommended for ages eight and up; infants are not admitted. The theater limits bag size.
$ game soundtracksconcert night
Worth it
Watch two Bharatanatyam programs in Taylorsville
Nitya Nritya Festival opens Friday at Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. The first evening includes VILAASA with Praveen Kumar, a short artist talk, and PUNAHA.
Our take
Choose this for a full evening of Indian classical dance. Both dance programs are part of the same night.⚠️ Heads up: The performance is recommended for ages eight and older.
$ classical danceTaylorsville
Skip unless you are 12-19
Send your anime-loving teen to ToshoCON
The county library’s teen anime convention brings cosplay, panels, music videos, and a teen marketplace to West Jordan. Admission is free, and the FAQ says tickets are not required.
Our take
This is built for ages 12-19. Give your teen time to look through the program and choose the panels they want.⚠️ Heads up: Skip this as an adults’ anime outing. Parents are encouraged to drop teens off or spend time in the adjacent library.
free teensanimeWest Jordan
Worth it
Eat at the Greek Festival’s 50th anniversary
The Greek Festival returns to Holy Trinity Cathedral Friday through Sunday with food, music, and folk dancing. Gyros, souvlaki, and baklava are among the foods on the festival’s menu.
Our take
Buy admission online if you want to use the separate digital-ticket entrance on 300 West. Leave room in the food budget for dessert.⚠️ Heads up: Admission does not cover food. Credit-card purchases carry a 3% surcharge.
$ Greek foodfamiliesSalt Lake City
🏟️ The Scoreboard
Real Salt Lake draws LAFC 2-2
Real Salt Lake drew LAFC 2-2 Saturday. Saba scored in the 18th minute, and Noel Caliskan added the second in the 75th. RSL’s record after the match is eight wins, nine losses, and five draws.
Utah Royals women's soccer heads to Houston after a late loss
Utah Royals FC lost 2-1 to Boston Legacy Friday after conceding late. Utah’s record is now 12 wins, eight losses, and three draws. The next match takes the Royals to Houston.
🍴 Eat & Drink
Worth it
Order a fish taco at Lone Star Taqueria
Lone Star’s fish taco comes with cabbage, tomato, cilantro, onion, and jalapeño mayo. The fish changes by the day; the current menu lists a taco at $5.74 and the combo at $11.49.
Our take
Start with the fish taco and ask which fish is being served that day. That tells you more than ordering from the taco name alone.⚠️ Heads up: The fish varies, and the listed prices exclude tax.
$ fish tacosCottonwood Heights
🌲 Get Outside
Worth it
Walk Conservation Garden Park after the holiday
The demonstration gardens show waterwise plants and landscaping ideas you can see at full size. September hours run Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6:30pm, but the park is closed for Labor Day.
Our take
Go Tuesday or later with a short list of plants you want to see. Take photos of the labels next to anything you might use at home.⚠️ Heads up: Closed today for Labor Day and closed Sundays. September closing time is 6:30pm.
$ gardeningWest Jordan
🎟️ Also Happening
Chemistry Night at NHMU
Meet University of Utah scientists and try hands-on experiments Wednesday, Sep 9, from 5 to 8pm at the Natural History Museum of Utah, 301 Wakara Way. Activities are included with museum admission.
Squeeze with Adam Ant
Squeeze plays Wednesday, Sep 9, at 8pm with special guest Adam Ant. The show is at Capitol Theatre, despite the Live at the Eccles presenter name. Doors open at 7pm; tickets are through ArtTix.
Grillfest in Midvale
Grillfest comes to Midvale Main Street Saturday, Sep 12, from noon to 10:30pm. The ticketed event combines food and live metal music.
📰 Valley News
U students get a new virtual counseling provider
The University of Utah has replaced TELUS with Mantra Health for virtual student mental-health support. Eligible students can use the service at no extra cost, including while outside Utah. The new arrangement adds on-demand support alongside therapy accessed through a University Counseling Center referral.
U researchers join a $30 million robotics center
University of Utah researchers are joining a six-university center studying how people and robots learn to work together over time. The National Science Foundation is funding the consortium with $30 million over five years. Planned work includes robots performing delivery tasks at the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital.
The Debate
💙 Good Neighbor
Tell us who showed up for someone
Know a neighbor, teacher, or coach who helped someone this week? Reply with their name, their city, and what happened so we can consider their story.
Nominate a neighbor →Thursday’s $9 fair admission is purchased on site. Greek Festival admission can be bought online before Friday.
Reply with the food you would go back for, or a new opening we should check.
— The Salt Lake Valley crew
Got a tip, a new opening, or an event? Just reply, we read everything.
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Read past issues · Refer a neighbor · Advertise with us