The Salt Lake Valley
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The Salt Lake Valley
Friday · The Weekend Issue #9010 · July 10, 2026
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JJ Grey at Red Butte, Draper Days in full swing, Cuban lechon in South Salt Lake

Plus Broadway's Hell's Kitchen at the Eccles, momo in Sandy, a Murray farm where the kids can pet a cow for free.

Good morning, Salt Lake Valley.

JJ Grey and Mofro roll into Red Butte Garden tonight with The Wood Brothers, and that foothill lawn is about the best place in the valley to spend a warm Friday night.

Down in Draper, the whole town turns out for Draper Days at City Park. On the stage front, Alicia Keys' Hell's Kitchen opens at the Eccles, and over in South Salt Lake, Batista keeps the Cuban lechon coming.

Here is everything worth doing this weekend.

📍 30 seconds in the valley⏱️ 5 min read

⭐ The Big One

Worth it

JJ Grey & Mofro with The Wood Brothers, Red Butte Garden

The Red Butte Outdoor Concert Series brings JJ Grey & Mofro to the foothill amphitheater tonight, with The Wood Brothers opening. Grey plays swampy Southern soul out of Florida, all horns and slow-burn grooves, the kind of set that fits a summer night under the trees.
🕐Hours: Friday, July 10, 2026. Gates open in the early evening, music after. Check the venue for exact times.
📍Address: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City · About 15 minutes from downtown, up in the University foothills
💵Cost: Ticketed
⏰Timing: Red Butte does not allow outside chairs at the amphitheater, so bring a low blanket and expect to sit on the grass slope. Come early to grab a spot near the stage.
Our take
The best outdoor show in town this weekend. Two roots acts, a garden setting, and the whole valley lit up below you as the sun drops.
⚠️ Heads up: Shows sell out and start times shift, so confirm tickets and gate time on the Red Butte calendar before you drive up.
$$ musicdate nightoutdoors

📰 Around the Valley

Great Salt Lake dust blows across the valley again

Another dust event swept off the drying Great Salt Lake bed and pushed across the valley this week. Researchers who study the exposed lakebed say the dust can carry metals and other particles picked up over decades. As the lake sits low, more of that bed is bare and open to the wind, which means more of these dusty days when storms roll through.
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Cottonwood Fire leaves lasting scars near Beaver

Crews and residents are still taking stock of the Cottonwood Fire, which burned a large stretch of land and left the area changed. Locals who saw the aftermath describe hillsides stripped bare and a long recovery ahead. Fire season is in full swing across the region, and crews are staying busy.
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📅 This Week

Worth it

Draper Days 2026, Draper City Park

Draper's big annual city celebration is in full swing this weekend, with live music, food, games, and family events packed into City Park. It is one of the valley's longest-running town festivals and pulls the whole community out.
🕐Hours: Running this week through the weekend. Check the schedule for daily events.
📍Address: Draper City Park, 12500 S 1300 East, Draper · About 30 minutes from downtown, south end of the valley
💵Cost: Free to attend, some events ticketed
⏰Timing: Parking near the park fills fast during the marquee events, so come early or plan to walk in from a few blocks out.
Our take
The classic Draper summer weekend. Live music, food, and a small-town feel that is hard to fake.
⚠️ Heads up: The lineup runs across several days and venues, so check the Draper Days schedule for what is on which day and time.
Free familyfreefestivalcommunity
Worth it

Hell's Kitchen (Touring), The Eccles Theater

The Broadway musical Hell's Kitchen, built around the songs of Alicia Keys, opens its run at the Eccles Theater downtown. It is a coming-of-age story set in New York, with a score you already know by heart.
🕐Hours: Now playing at the Eccles through Sunday, July 12; several performances remain.
📍Address: The Eccles Theater, 131 S Main St, Salt Lake City · Downtown, on the TRAX line
💵Cost: Ticketed
⏰Timing: The Eccles sits on the Main Street TRAX line, so take the train and skip the parking hunt downtown.
Our take
A big Broadway touring night out downtown, and those Alicia Keys songs land even bigger live.
⚠️ Heads up: Showtimes vary by night and seats go fast, so confirm your date and tickets before you head down.
$$$ theaterdate nightdowntown
Worth it

Utah Royals FC vs. Gotham FC, America First Field

The Utah Royals host NJ/NY Gotham FC, one of the top clubs in the league, at America First Field in Sandy. Gotham is a real test, so this is a chance to see the Royals against a heavyweight.
🕐Hours: Friday, July 10, 2026. Check the match time on the ticket page.
📍Address: America First Field, 9256 S State St, Sandy · About 25 minutes from downtown, in Sandy
💵Cost: Ticketed
⏰Timing: Get to the stadium early for the walk-up energy outside the gates, and take TRAX to the Sandy Civic Center stop to dodge lot traffic.
Our take
Top-flight women's soccer under the lights against one of the best teams in the country. Great summer night out.
⚠️ Heads up: Kickoff time can shift, so confirm on the ticket page before you go.
$$ sportsfamilydate night
Worth it

Houndmouth, Sandy Amphitheater

Indie folk-rock band Houndmouth plays the open-air Sandy Amphitheater on Saturday. Their warm, singalong sound is made for a summer night up against the foothills on the east bench.
🕐Hours: Saturday, July 11, 2026. Check the venue for gate and show time.
📍Address: Sandy Amphitheater, 1245 E 9400 South, Sandy · About 30 minutes from downtown, east side of Sandy
💵Cost: Ticketed
⏰Timing: The amphitheater sits up high in Sandy, so bring a layer for when the temperature drops after sunset.
Our take
A mellow, singalong night at one of the prettiest outdoor rooms in the valley.
⚠️ Heads up: Outdoor show, so keep an eye on the forecast and confirm the start time before you head up.
$$ musicdate nightoutdoors
Worth it

Days of '47 KUTV Pops Concert, Abravanel Hall

The Days of '47 Pops Concert brings a full orchestra to Abravanel Hall as part of the pioneer-days celebration season. It is a big, festive concert night in one of the best-sounding rooms in the state.
🕐Hours: This week at Abravanel Hall. Check the calendar for the exact date and time.
📍Address: Abravanel Hall, 123 W South Temple, Salt Lake City · Downtown, on the TRAX line
💵Cost: Ticketed
⏰Timing: Abravanel Hall is right by the Gallivan and Temple Square TRAX stops, so the train is your easiest way in.
Our take
A polished orchestra night downtown, and a fun way to kick off the pioneer-days stretch.
⚠️ Heads up: Confirm the date and start time on the event page before you buy.
$$ musicfamilydowntown

🍴 Eat & Drink

Worth it

Sugar House Park

A 110-acre classic with a big pond, a recently updated playground, and a shallow stream just north of the play area that kids treat as their own splash zone. Wide-open lawns make it the valley's default picnic park.
🕐Hours: Daily, dawn to dusk
📍Address: 1330 E 2100 S, Salt Lake City
💵Cost: Free
Our take
The west hill is the sledding-and-kite hill the rest of the year; in summer it is shade and frisbee.
⚠️ Heads up: It fills up fast for July 4 fireworks; any other summer day is calm.
Free familiespicnicfree

💡 Hidden Gem

Worth it

Wheeler Historic Farm, Murray

Not a splash pad, but the perfect dry-day pivot: a free working farm in the middle of the valley where kids can visit animals, walk the grounds, and hit the playground. A small fee gets you a wagon or cow-train ride.
🕐Hours: Daily, daytime
📍Address: 6351 S 900 E, Murray
💵Cost: Free (rides extra)
Our take
Go in the morning before the heat and the animals are most active.
⚠️ Heads up: Ride and activity hours are seasonal, so confirm before promising the kids a cow train.
Free familiesanimalsfree

🎟️ Also Happening

Joe Machi, Wiseguys Downtown SLC

Stand-up comedy Friday in downtown Salt Lake City.
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High School Musical, Draper Historic Theatre

Live stage musical this weekend in Draper.
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Cumbiatron: The Cumbia Rave (21+), The Depot

Late-night cumbia dance party Saturday in downtown Salt Lake City.
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The Debate

📰 Valley News

Craft by Proper and Provisions are closing

Two established local restaurants, Craft by Proper and Provisions, have announced they are closing. Both had loyal followings in the local dining scene, so the news landed hard with regulars. If you have a gift card or a last visit in mind, sort it out soon.
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Batista in South Salt Lake marks five years

Batista, the Cuban spot in South Salt Lake, is celebrating five years of cooking. The family kitchen has built a following for its lechon and other Cuban plates. In a stretch where a couple of local restaurants are closing, a five-year run in South Salt Lake is worth a nod.
🕐Hours: Open regular hours; the family-run spot has been serving since 2021.
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💙 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.

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That's your weekend. JJ Grey up at Red Butte, Draper Days at City Park, and a plate of lechon at Batista.

Reply and tell us what you got up to, and what you want more of: the shows, the food, the trails, the deals.

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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