The Salt Lake Valley
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The Salt Lake Valley
Monday · The Week Ahead Issue #9012 · July 13, 2026
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Old Crow at the Gallivan, Hilary Duff in West Valley, a canyon that beats the heat

Rainbow Kitten Surprise, a Cuban spot in South Salt Lake, the splash pad in Bluffdale nobody talks about.

Good morning, Salt Lake Valley.

Old Crow Medicine Show kicks off Twilight tonight on the lawn at The Gallivan Center, and it is the loudest start to a week we have had all summer.

The heat is still no joke after the valley hit an all-time record on Sunday, so pace yourself. Real Salt Lake hosts Burnley FC on Wednesday, Hilary Duff plays West Valley on Friday, and we found the splash pad in Bluffdale that stays sane on a 100 degree afternoon.

📍 30 seconds in the valley⏱️ 5 min read

⭐ The Big One

Worth it

Twilight Concert Series: Old Crow Medicine Show, The Gallivan Center

The Twilight Concert Series is back downtown, and it opens tonight with Old Crow Medicine Show, the band behind the sing-along smash Wagon Wheel. This is Salt Lake City's signature summer concert night, low cost tickets, the whole valley on one lawn, and a stage tucked right in the middle of downtown at The Gallivan Center.
🕐Hours: Monday, July 13, 2026, gates in the early evening, music after
📍Address: The Gallivan Center, 239 S Main St, Salt Lake City · Downtown, right on the TRAX line
💵Cost: Low-cost ticket
⏰Timing: Take TRAX to the Gallivan stop so you skip the parking hunt. Bring cash for the food trucks and refillable water, it will still be hot after dark.
Our take
Twilight is the easiest big night out downtown all summer, and an old-time string band opening it is a fun choice. Everybody knows the words to Wagon Wheel whether they admit it or not.
⚠️ Heads up: Confirm doors, set time, and the bag policy on the ticket page before you head down, and check the heat forecast so you dress for a sticky evening.
$ musicdate nightdowntown

📰 Around the Valley

Salt Lake City sets an all-time heat record

Sunday was the hottest day the valley has ever officially recorded. The temperature climbed to around 109 degrees, breaking the all-time high in more than 150 years of record keeping. Families across the valley crowded splash pads, libraries, and any shade they could find just to get through the afternoon. The forecast stays brutal this week, so plan errands and outdoor time for the early morning.
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West Jordan apartment fire displaces dozens

A fire tore through a West Jordan apartment complex over the weekend and pushed dozens of people out of their homes. Crews knocked it down, and neighbors and local groups are helping families who lost belongings. It is a hard reminder to check smoke alarms during a stretch this dry and this hot.
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📅 This Week

Worth it

Real Salt Lake vs Burnley FC, America First Field

RSL hosts English club Burnley FC in a summer friendly at the downtown stadium. A chance to see a Premier League side up close without leaving the valley.
🕐Hours: Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at America First Field in Sandy
📍Address: America First Field, 9256 S State St, Sandy · About 20 minutes south of downtown, on the TRAX line
💵Cost: Ticketed
⏰Timing: TRAX drops you steps from the gates, and the concourse shade helps on a hot night. Get there early if you want to catch warmups.
Our take
A friendly against a Premier League club is a rare treat here. Fun even if you only casually follow soccer.
⚠️ Heads up: Friendlies can have lineup surprises, and start times shift, so confirm kickoff on the ticket page.
$$ sportsfamilydate night
Worth it

Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Sandy Amphitheater

The bones North American Tour brings Rainbow Kitten Surprise to the open-air Sandy Amphitheater with Spacey Jane in support.
🕐Hours: Wednesday, July 15, 2026
📍Address: Sandy Amphitheater, 9400 S 1300 E, Sandy · About 25 minutes south of downtown
💵Cost: Ticketed
⏰Timing: The amphitheater sits up against the foothills, so evenings cool off nicely. Bring a layer for after dark.
Our take
One of the most devoted fan bases in indie rock in a mid-size outdoor room. Expect a big sing-along night.
⚠️ Heads up: Parking near the amphitheater fills fast, so come early or plan a rideshare. Confirm the date on the ticket page.
$$ musicdate night
Worth it

Hilary Duff: the lucky me tour, West Valley City

Hilary Duff plays the amphitheater in West Valley City on her the lucky me tour. A full-on nostalgia and pop night out.
🕐Hours: Friday, July 17, 2026
📍Address: Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre, 5150 Upper Ridge Rd, West Valley City · About 20 minutes southwest of downtown
💵Cost: Ticketed
⏰Timing: Lawn seats are the budget move but bring something to sit on. Doors usually open well before the set, so build in time.
Our take
If you grew up on Lizzie McGuire, this is your Friday. A crowd that will happily scream every word.
⚠️ Heads up: Big shows here mean slow exits, so park with a getaway plan. Confirm the date and gates before you go.
$$ musicdate nightnostalgia
Worth it

The Avett Brothers, Maverik Center

The Avett Brothers bring their big-hearted folk rock to the Maverik Center in West Valley City for a Friday night indoor show.
🕐Hours: Friday, July 17, 2026
📍Address: Maverik Center, 3200 Decker Lake Dr, West Valley City · About 20 minutes southwest of downtown
💵Cost: Ticketed
⏰Timing: Indoor and air-conditioned, a real plus this week. Lines move slow at the doors, so arrive with a cushion.
Our take
One of the best live bands going for a crowd that likes to sing along. Cool room, big feelings, worth the drive west.
⚠️ Heads up: Parking lots empty slow after arena shows, and start times vary, so confirm on the ticket page.
$$ musicdate night

🍴 Eat & Drink

Worth it

Batista, South Salt Lake

Batista has been cooking up Cuban comfort food in South Salt Lake for five years now, and it is a real neighborhood favorite. Think slow-cooked pork, black beans and rice, sweet plantains, and pressed sandwiches done right.
🕐Hours: An established Cuban spot in South Salt Lake; check hours before you go
📍Address: South Salt Lake · About 10 minutes south of downtown
💵Cost: Casual sit-down
⏰Timing: Order the ropa vieja, shredded beef that has been simmered until it falls apart, with a side of tostones. Ask for a guava pastry if they have one.
Our take
A cozy Cuban spot that has quietly earned its regulars. The kind of place you leave already planning your next visit.
⚠️ Heads up: Hours and the daily menu shift, so call ahead or check their page before you drive over.
$$ dinnerdate nightcomfort food

💡 Hidden Gem

Worth it

Gilgal Sculpture Garden, Salt Lake City

Tucked behind homes just off 500 South is a free little garden full of strange, one-of-a-kind sculptures. The showstopper is a sphinx carved with the face of Joseph Smith, plus stones etched with poems and scripture. It is recognized as Utah's one true visionary art environment, and most people who live nearby have never wandered in.
🕐Hours: A free, unusual sculpture garden off 500 South; open most days, check the garden site for current hours
📍Address: 749 E 500 South, Salt Lake City · About 5 minutes from downtown
💵Cost: Free
⏰Timing: Go early on a hot morning before the sun bakes the yard. It is small, so plan a slow 30 minutes to really look.
Our take
The weirdest, most charming free thing hiding in a Salt Lake City backyard. You will text a photo to someone within two minutes.
⚠️ Heads up: It is a quiet residential spot, so keep it calm and confirm hours before you go.
Free freequirkydate nightfamily

👨‍👩‍👧 Family & Free

Worth it

Wardle Fields Regional Park, Bluffdale

One of the best splash pads in the whole county sits out in Bluffdale, next to a big playground, sports fields, and a covered pavilion. There are separate zones so little kids and bigger ones each get their own space. It is free, and on a scorcher of a week it is a lifesaver.
🕐Hours: A splash pad, playground and pavilion in Bluffdale; seasonal, check park hours
📍Address: 14148 S 2700 W, Bluffdale · About 28 minutes south of downtown
💵Cost: Free
⏰Timing: Get there before 11 to grab shade at the pavilion. Pack towels and a change of clothes, the kids will not want to leave.
Our take
The splash pad locals in the south end swear by, and worth the drive when it is 100 out. Big, shaded, and free.
⚠️ Heads up: Splash pad hours are seasonal and can pause for maintenance, so confirm before you load up the car.
Free familyfreekidsoutdoors

🎟️ Also Happening

Paul Cauthen

The big-voiced country outlaw plays Sandy Amphitheater on Friday.
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Save Ferris, 29 Year Anniversary Tour

The ska favorites play a 21+ show Friday at Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City.
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The Debate

📰 Valley News

Four-story building pitched for a Main Street corner

A new four-story project is on the table for the Main Street block that holds the old Los Tapatios and London Belle sites. It is one more sign downtown keeps filling in its gaps with taller mixed-use buildings. If it moves ahead, expect a familiar corner to change look over the next couple of years.
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Draper's The Point looks for home builders

The Point, the big redevelopment on the old prison land in Draper, is asking developers to pitch for-sale housing there. That means townhomes and condos people can actually buy, not just rent, on one of the largest open build sites in the county. It is a long game, but this is a real step toward homes on that ground.
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Craft by Proper and Provisions are closing

Two familiar names on the local dining scene are shutting their doors. Craft by Proper and Provisions both announced closures, another shift in a restaurant world that keeps turning over fast. If you had a favorite dish at either, now is the time to go say goodbye before the lights go out.
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A third naloxone box goes up downtown

The Salt Lake Harm Reduction Project added a third naloxone box downtown. The boxes hold free naloxone, the medicine that can reverse an opioid overdose, so anyone can grab it in an emergency. It is a small fixture on a wall that can turn into a life saved.
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That's the week. Old Crow tonight, Burnley on Wednesday, Hilary Duff on Friday, and a splash pad in Bluffdale for when the heat wins.

Reply and tell us what you want more of: the shows, the food, the trails, the news. We read every one.

Forward this to the neighbor who always asks what's going on this week. That's exactly who we're for.

— The Salt Lake Valley crew
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