Draper Days, Wynton Marsalis at Red Butte

Draper's big summer celebration is in full swing this week, and it is the kind of small-town party the valley does best. Draper City Park turns into the hub for concerts, food, a carnival feel, and a whole slate of family events. Out at the Andy Ballard Arena and Equestrian Center, the Draper Days Rodeo runs its nights with roping, riding, and the crowd noise that comes with it.

One Utah man got his first look at his cabin neighborhood after the Cottonwood Fire tore through, and what he found was ash and rubble where homes used to be. The fire has been one of the larger ones in the state this season, and the damage to cabins near Beaver is now coming into focus. For valley folks with a family cabin in the mountains, it is a hard reminder of how fast a dry summer can turn. Crews and property owners are still working through the aftermath.

A suspected firework sparked a fire at a Costa Vida in Layton that collapsed the roof and caused more than a million dollars in damage. Nobody wants to see a fireworks holiday end with a burned-out restaurant, but that is what crews found. It is a heads-up for the whole valley heading into a dry stretch of summer. Fireworks and July heat do not mix well, and this one shows how quickly it goes wrong.

The legendary jazz trumpeter plays Red Butte's outdoor amphitheater as part of the summer concert series. A night of world-class horn under the foothill sky.

The rising country star brings his tour to the big amphitheater in West Valley for a summer night of new-school honky-tonk.

The free Concerts in the Park series brings a cello quartet playing movie music at Brigham Young Historic Park downtown. An easy, free summer evening.

The singer-songwriter and son of Willie Nelson plays the outdoor amphitheater up in Sandy for an easygoing summer night of roots rock.

A short, steep, forested canyon tucked below Big Cottonwood, with granite walls that draw climbers and an upper meadow at the top. It sits outside the watershed, so leashed dogs are welcome.

110 acres with a big pond, a recently rebuilt playground, a 1.4-mile loop, and a stream the kids treat as a splash zone. The valley's default picnic and kite park.

The Alicia Keys musical hits the Eccles Theater downtown starting Tuesday.

Swampy Southern soul at Red Butte Garden on Friday.

A free outdoor movie night at Ballpark Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday.

An eleven-acre creekside preserve tucked right in the city, with two short loops under an hour, a spring-fed pond, and big old trees. The south loop allows leashed dogs; the north loop does not.

A free city splash pad open through the summer, right in the heart of Midvale. An easy way to cool the kids off on a hot July day.

Two local spots from the Proper family are closing their doors, according to the local food world. Craft by Proper and Provisions both put out word they are wrapping up. Restaurant closings sting because these places become part of the neighborhood routine. If you have a favorite dish at either, now is the time to go get it one more time.

Batista, the Cuban spot in South Salt Lake, has been cooking for five years now and is still going strong. It is the kind of family-run place that quietly builds a following one plate at a time. In a summer of closings, it is nice to see a small local spot hit a real milestone. More on this one down in Eat and Drink.

Salt Lake City has Main Street between 100 and 200 South dressed up with flowers and color for Downtown Blooms. It is a small thing that makes a downtown walk a lot nicer this time of year. If you are heading to a show at the Eccles or grabbing dinner, it is worth taking the block on foot. A little brightness in the heart of the city.

Mexico fans packed America First Field for a Real Salt Lake watch party, turning the stadium into a wall of green and cheering. World Cup energy is running high across the valley this summer. Watch parties are popping up around town for the big matches. If you love soccer, this is the summer to find a screen and a crowd.