The Salt Lake ValleyAfro Utah fills Library Square Saturday, with concerts in Sandy and Salt Lake City
Plus Our Town in Sandy, Camp Tracy in Millcreek Canyon, and the Royals' 2-1 comeback in Orlando.
Good morning, Salt Lake Valley.
Afro Utah puts nine hours of music, food, fashion, dance, and art around Library Square Saturday.
Tuesday brings Built to Spill to Urban Lounge, and Air Supply plays Sandy Amphitheater Wednesday.
The Royals came back to beat Orlando, while Real Salt Lake left Colorado with a 1-0 loss and an eight-match MLS winless streak.
📍 30 seconds in the valley⏱️ 7 min read
- ⭐Afro Utah fills Library Square Saturday
- 📰Sandy puts out sand and bags before Monday's storms
- 📅Air Supply plays Sandy Amphitheater Wednesday
- 🍴Layla's roasted chicken and sumac flatbread in Holladay
- 👨👩👧A $10 day at Camp Tracy in Millcreek Canyon
⭐ The Big One
Afro Utah brings nine hours of music, food, fashion, dance, and art to Library Square
Afro Utah's all-ages festival surrounds the library with music, dance, food, fashion, visual art, and family activities. Admission costs nothing, but every guest needs a free Universe ticket. The confirmation email carries the parking details and schedule updates, and Friday's separate awards night at Little America requires its own paid ticket.
📰 Around the Valley
Sandy puts out sand and bags before another round of storms
Sandy placed a pile of sand and empty bags at 9800 South and Highland Drive on Sunday so residents can fill their own flood barriers. The setup comes roughly two weeks after water reached city roads, parks, and homes.
The University of Utah will close its Sandy Center after fall semester
The University of Utah's Sandy Center will close Jan. 1, 2027. Every Fall 2026 class already on the schedule will continue at the Centennial Parkway building.
📅 This Week
Best of the week
Air Supply brings the A Matter of Time Tour to Sandy Amphitheater
Air Supply's Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock bring their current tour to Sandy's outdoor stage Wednesday night.
Our take
This is the week's best large concert without an arena trip. Sandy's outdoor room is small enough that the lawn still feels connected to the stage.⚠️ Heads up: The amphitheater has separate west and east parking lots. Check your gate before you walk over from the wrong side.
$$ Soft rock fansOutdoor concertSandy date night
Worth it
Our Town runs Monday through Saturday at Hale Centre Theatre
Hale Centre Theatre stages Thornton Wilder's play on the Beehive Stage every night Monday through Saturday, with three additional Saturday performances.
Our take
A week of 7 p.m. performances makes this easier to fit around dinner than a one-night touring show. Pick it if you want a play rather than another concert.⚠️ Heads up: Our Town plays on the smaller Beehive Stage. Confirm that stage when you choose seats because Hale has three productions running in the same building.
$$ Classic theaterWeeknight planSandy evening
Skip unless
Theresa Caputo brings her live audience-reading show to Abravanel Hall
Theresa Caputo brings the theater version of her television format to Abravanel Hall. She uses personal stories and humor before moving into readings with audience members.
Our take
Only buy this if you already want the audience-reading format. A show that can run longer than two hours without an intermission is a long first try.⚠️ Heads up: An ArtTix ticket doubles as UTA fare on the day of the show. Resale prices through AXS can sit above or below face value.
$$ Television fansAudience readingsDowntown theater
Worth it
Built to Spill closes its current tour at Urban Lounge
Built to Spill brings its current trio lineup to Urban Lounge for the final stop on this run, with PLAYDEAD opening the 21-and-over show.
Our take
This is the smaller-room rock show of the week. The tour ends here, and the current band puts Doug Martsch between Teresa Esguerra on drums and Melanie Radford on bass.⚠️ Heads up: The show is 21 and over, and the venue requires a physical ID.
$$ Indie rockSmall roomTuesday night
🏟️ The Scoreboard
Utah Royals
The Royals erased a halftime deficit and beat Orlando 2-1 Saturday. Cloé Lacasse scored in the 50th minute, then set up Paige Cronin's winner in the 69th.
Real Salt Lake
RSL lost 1-0 at Colorado Saturday and left Commerce City without the Rocky Mountain Cup. That loss extended its MLS winless run to eight matches.
🍴 Eat & Drink
Worth it
Layla Mediterranean Grill, Holladay
Layla's dinner menu covers Lebanese mezze, grilled lamb, and seafood. Several family recipes have stayed on the menu since the restaurant opened in 2010.
Our take
Order the musakhen if you want the dish that separates Layla from a standard kebab stop. Roasted chicken, caramelized onions, sumac, and pine nuts are folded into thin flatbread and served with rice or fries.⚠️ Heads up: Layla does not use third-party delivery services. Order pickup directly or eat in the dining room.
$$ Dinner reservationLebanese foodHolladay date night
👨👩👧 Family & Free
Book now
Camp Tracy offers day passes and overnight stays for Labor Day
Venture Out opens Camp Tracy to day visitors and overnight campers for Labor Day weekend. General activities include hikes, giant bubbles, a rock wall, fishing, crafts, a bird show, a petting zoo, and evening programs.
Our take
The $10 day pass lets a family use the general camp activities without buying an overnight stay. Pick two or three activities before you arrive because the list is longer than one day.⚠️ Heads up: Parking at Gate 5 is limited, and cell service is weak or absent. Carpool and bring cash for snacks or other on-site purchases.
$ FamiliesMillcreek CanyonDay trip or campout
🎟️ Also Happening
Teej Festival Celebration
The free cultural program starts Saturday at 3 p.m. at the South Salt Lake Community Center, 2530 S 500 E, with Nepali music, dance, food, family activities, and recognition of local high school graduates.
The Wailers at The Commonwealth Room
The Wailers mark 50 years of Rastaman Vibration Thursday in South Salt Lake. Doors open at 7 p.m., the 21-and-over show starts at 8, and tickets are sold through AXS.
Dogstar at The Complex
Dogstar brings the All In Now Tour to Rockwell on Thursday. Doors open at 7 p.m., The Backfires open, and the all-ages show starts at 8.
📰 Valley News
Knoops starts serving chocolate drinks in 9th and 9th
British chocolate-drink company Knoops opened its first permanent U.S. shop in Salt Lake City's 9th and 9th neighborhood on Aug. 21.
Sweetgreen plans a Sept. 8 debut
Sweetgreen will open its first Utah restaurant Tuesday, Sept. 8, in the rebuilt Sugar House fire site at 2188 Highland Drive.
Salt Lake City International Airport's final seven gates open Oct. 27
Salt Lake City International Airport will open the final seven gates and six concessions in its redevelopment program on Oct. 27.
The Debate
💙 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 →Claim a free ticket for every person going to Afro Utah before you drive to Library Square Saturday.
Friday's question put West Jordan's Backyard Festival against the KRCL stage at Jordan Park. If you went to either one, tell us whether it deserved the drive.
Reply with your Air Supply or Our Town pick. We read every one.
— 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