🎪 Festivals, Fairs & Attractions
Summer 2026
The Wasatch Front is in full swing — open-air concerts under canyon sunsets, county fairs and rodeos, arts festivals on historic Main Streets, and family destinations built for return visits. Here is your guide to the rest of the season, plus the anchor attractions that define a life well-lived along the Front. Dates and prices are confirmed where available and verified against each event's official source; always double-check before you make plans, and watch this page for updates as the season unfolds.
🎶 Summer Concert Series
Three series run all season long — bookmark these and build your summer around them.
NOTE: More live music: Browse our full roundup of concerts and live music planned through the summer → at these venues and across the Wasatch Front.
Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series
Widely considered Utah's most beautiful outdoor concert setting, Red Butte Garden's amphitheater wraps a full season of national touring acts in the foothills above the University of Utah. The 39th annual series runs 31 shows from May 31 through September 22, 2026 — one of the biggest seasons yet. Highlights include Bonnie Raitt, Herbie Hancock, jazz legend Wynton Marsalis, Maren Morris, Alabama Shakes, Ziggy Marley, Melissa Etheridge, Grace Potter, Blues Traveler, and the venue debut of Utah's own The National Parks. Bring a blanket and a low-back chair for the sloped lawn; outside food and non-alcoholic drinks are welcome.
When: May 31 – September 22, 2026
Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre, 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT
Cost: Varies by show (typically $35–$75)
Tickets & Website: redbuttegarden.org/concerts
What to Know: Gates open before showtime for picnicking on the lawn. On-site parking. Shows sell out regularly — buy early. Skip ticketing fees by buying in person at the Visitor Center.
Ogden Twilight Concert Series
Ogden Twilight is Northern Utah's signature summer series, bringing nationally touring indie, alternative, electronic, and hip-hop acts to the intimate downtown Ogden Amphitheater. The 2026 lineup runs June 9 through October 7 across ten shows, opening with The Black Keys and closing with Big Thief. In between: Gregory Alan Isakov (June 22), Wet Leg (Aug. 5), Sofi Tukker (Aug. 22), Mt. Joy (Aug. 25), Lane 8 (Sept. 18), and more. Part concert, part community gathering — affordable tickets, food trucks, full bars.
When: June 9 – October 7, 2026
Where: Ogden Amphitheater, 343 E. 25th St., Ogden, UT
Cost: Single shows ~$20–$45; season passes available
Website & Tickets: ogdentwilight.com
What to Know: General-admission lawn — arrive early for a good spot. Outside food is not permitted; vendors are on-site. Rain or shine. Tickets required for ages 4 and up. No chairs, blankets, or coolers.
Twilight Concert Series — Salt Lake City
Presented by the Salt Lake City Arts Council with S&S Presents, the Twilight Concert Series is in its 39th year and remains one of downtown SLC's most beloved summer traditions. The 2026 six-show series runs July 13 through October 1 across two downtown venues — The Gallivan Center and the SLC Civic Center (the Library Square / Washington Square area, 200 E. 400 South). The lineup: Old Crow Medicine Show (July 13), Freddie Gibbs (July 17), Suki Waterhouse (July 27), MUNA (Aug. 4), Goose (Aug. 29), and The War on Drugs (Oct. 1). Tickets are among the best values in the market for the caliber of artists.
When: July 13 – October 1, 2026 (six dates)
Where: The Gallivan Center (239 S. Main St.) and SLC Civic Center (200 E. 400 South), Salt Lake City, UT
Cost: Affordable per-show pricing; season passes available
Website: twilightconcertseries.com
What to Know: Gallivan shows open at 6 p.m.; Civic Center shows at 5 p.m. Your ticket includes free UTA fare (train or bus) on the day of the show. Some shows sell out.
🎡 Festivals & Fairs
Listed in order through the rest of the season.
Days of '47 — Parade & Rodeo
Salt Lake City's signature Pioneer Day celebration commemorates July 24, 1847, when the first Mormon pioneers entered the valley. Two marquee events anchor the week: the Days of '47 Parade down the streets of downtown SLC, and the Days of '47 Rodeo — billed as the world's only Gold Medal Rodeo — at the Days of '47 Arena at the Utah State Fairpark, with a drone-and-fireworks show after each performance.
When: Parade — Friday, July 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. • Rodeo — July 21–25, 2026
Where: Parade: downtown Salt Lake City • Rodeo: Days of '47 Arena, Utah State Fairpark, SLC
Cost: Parade free • Rodeo ticketed (Fun Zone at the Fairpark is free, 5 p.m. nightly)
Websites: Parade — daysof47.com • Rodeo — utahdaysof47rodeo.com
What to Know: Families camp out along the route the evening of the 23rd to claim parade spots.
Fiesta Days
One of Utah Valley's most spirited summer celebrations, Spanish Fork's Fiesta Days fills the week around Pioneer Day with parades, concerts, a craft fair, food in the park, and the beloved Fiesta Days Rodeo (84th year in 2026), capped by a fireworks finale on the 24th. The rodeo nights are a highlight.
When: July 20–24, 2026 (rodeo nightly; Grand Parade and fireworks July 24)
Where: Spanish Fork, UT (rodeo at the Fairgrounds, 475 S. Main)
Cost: Most events free; rodeo and select events ticketed
Website: spanishfork.gov/events/fiestadays
Wasatch County Fair Days
Running nearly ten days across two venues, Wasatch County Fair Days is one of the most complete small-town fair experiences in the state. The schedule includes a Demolition Derby (July 23–25) — the largest in Utah, and a regular sellout — the Mountain Valley Stampede Rodeo (July 30), the Country Market & Carnival (opening July 29), fair exhibits, live country music and outdoor movies at Southfield Park, and the Party in the Park talent showcase (July 27). Heber Valley is only about 45 minutes from Salt Lake City.
When: July 23 – August 1, 2026
Where: Wasatch County Event Complex / Southfield Park, Heber City, UT
Cost: Most events free; derby and rodeo ticketed
Website & Tickets: gohebervalley.com/Wasatch-County-Fair
What to Know: Derby and rodeo tickets go on sale the second Monday in June at wasatchparksandrec.com and sell out. Plan ahead.
Utah County Fair
One of the best values on the summer calendar — free admission and free parking at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. Highlights include an authentic western rodeo with bull riding, barrel racing, and roping; monster trucks; demolition derbies (ticketed); a petting zoo and kids' inflatables; live country and classic-rock nights; agricultural exhibits; a 100-plus-vendor makers market; and a full lineup of food vendors, all at the foot of the Wasatch.
When: July 29 – August 1, 2026
Where: Spanish Fork Fairgrounds, 475 South Main Street, Spanish Fork, UT 84660
Cost: Free admission; free parking (rodeo seating free; derby ticketed)
Website: utahcountyfair.org
What to Know: Popular events and the rodeo fill up fast — arrive early. Weather shifts quickly; bring layers and sun protection.
Weber County Fair
The Weber County Fair brings classic fair traditions to the Ogden area: livestock shows, carnival rides, local vendors, live entertainment, and rodeo action over four days in early August.
When: August 5–8, 2026 (Wed.–Thurs. noon–10 p.m.; Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m.)
Where: Golden Spike Event Center, 1000 N. 1200 W., Ogden, UT
Cost: Affordable; check the website for current pricing and promotion days
Website:webercountyfair.org
Bear Lake Raspberry Days
Garden City's annual celebration of the region's iconic raspberry harvest brings live music, a parade, a rodeo, a 5K, a boat light parade, fireworks, and vendors selling every raspberry product imaginable — jam, shakes, syrup, pie. A beloved late-summer road trip with Bear Lake as the backdrop.
When: Early August 2026 (typically Thursday–Saturday; 2026 dates expected around August 6–8 — confirm before you go)
Where: Heritage Park, Garden City, UT (Bear Lake)
Cost: Free admission
Website:gardencityutah.gov/raspberrydays
Park City Kimball Arts Festival
One of the top-ranked art festivals in the country and one of Park City's signature events, the 57th annual Kimball Arts Festival turns Historic Main Street into a three-day, open-air gallery. Expect 150-plus jury-selected artists across more than a dozen mediums, two stages of live music, artist demonstrations, kids' art-making, food trucks, and craft beer — all benefiting the Kimball Art Center's year-round programming.
When: August 7–9, 2026 (Friday 5–9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.)
Where: Historic Main Street, Park City, UT
Cost: Ticketed; Weekender and single-day passes available
Website: kimballartsfestival.org
Swiss Days
One of Utah's most charming heritage festivals, Swiss Days celebrates Midway's Swiss pioneer roots with folk music, traditional dancing, Swiss food, 180-plus artisan vendors, a 10K, and a parade. Held on the Friday and Saturday of Labor Day weekend, it draws tens of thousands to tiny Midway — parking fills early and shuttles are recommended.
When: September 4–5, 2026 (market 8 a.m.–8 p.m. both days; parade Saturday 10 a.m.)
Where: Town Square, Midway, UT
Cost: Free admission; $10 parking with shuttle
Website: midwayswissdays.org
Brigham City Peach Days
Utah's longest continually running harvest festival — celebrating Brigham City's famous peach crop since 1904 — caps the season at the north end of the Front. Held the weekend after Labor Day, it draws around 75,000 people for two parades, the Peach Queen Pageant, a classic car show and motorcycle show, 200-plus craft and food vendors, a carnival, a quilt show, live entertainment, and a free Saturday-night concert — plus fresh Brigham City peaches and peach treats everywhere you turn.
When: September 10–12, 2026 (the weekend after Labor Day; main parade and events Friday–Saturday)
Where: Historic Downtown Brigham City, UT (Box Elder County)
Cost: Free admission; carnival and some activities ticketed
Website: boxelderchamber.com/peach-days
NOTE: Festival and Fair Dates for recurring events are confirmed where available and estimated based on historical scheduling for others. Always verify with the event's official website before making plans. Mountain & Main will update this page as 2026 schedules are finalized.
🎡 Family Attractions
The Wasatch Front is home to some of the Intermountain West's best family destinations — places you return to year after year, not just once. From world-class botanical gardens and wildlife encounters to the region's beloved amusement park and a genuine Olympic training site still in use today, here are the anchor attractions that define a life well-lived along the Front.
🌿 Red Butte Garden & Arboretum
Utah's state arboretum sits on 100 acres at the foothills of the Wasatch, just above the University of Utah. Meticulously landscaped gardens, a beloved Children's Garden, hundreds of thousands of springtime bulbs, and a nationally recognized concert amphitheater make this one of Salt Lake's most cherished destinations — and an annual membership one of its best values.
What to do: Stroll themed gardens including the Water Conservation Garden, Fragrance Garden, and Monet-inspired pond. Catch a summer concert on the hillside lawn (see the Concert Series above). Take the kids through the Children's Garden.
Where: 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Call: 801-585-0556
Hours: Open year-round, 7 days a week; extended hours April–September. Closes early on concert days. Closed Thanksgiving and Dec. 24–Jan. 1.
Admission: Adults $14; children 3–17 $7; half-price December–February (confirm current rates online)
Web: redbuttegarden.org
🦁 Utah's Hogle Zoo
Fun at Hogle Zoo
Perched at the mouth of Emigration Canyon since 1931, Hogle Zoo is Salt Lake's top paid family attraction — 42 acres of tree-shaded walkways, 800-plus animals, and one of the most respected AZA-accredited zoos in the country. The African Savanna, Asian Highlands, Rocky Shores, and the newer Wild Utah exhibit keep it fresh for families who've been coming for generations.
What to do: Feed giraffes in the African Savanna, catch keeper talks in Wild Utah, and cool off at the Rocky Shores splash pad. Active-duty military, veterans, and reservists get $3 off daily admission with valid ID.
Where: 2600 Sunnyside Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Call: 801-584-1700
Hours: Open daily; summer hours typically 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (seasonal — confirm online)
Admission: Check website for current pricing; children 2 and under free. Save by buying online in advance.
Web:hoglezoo.org
🦜 Tracy Aviary at Liberty Park
One of only two free-standing aviaries in the United States, Tracy Aviary has been a Salt Lake institution for more than 80 years. Set within 8 lush, tree-shaded acres inside Liberty Park, it's home to over 400 birds from around the world — including many endangered species — plus curated botanical gardens that lend the whole experience a serene quality.
What to do: Catch daily bird shows and keeper demonstrations, hand-feed lorikeets in the Parrot Encounter, and explore exhibits including flamingos, owls, and a wetlands experience tied to Great Salt Lake ecology. The seasonal Lightwalk holiday event is worth booking ahead.
Where: 589 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84105 (southwest corner of Liberty Park)
Call: 801-596-8500
Hours: Open daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (last admission 4 p.m.); extended Monday hours in summer with $5 admission after 5 p.m.
Admission: $11–$15; infants under 2 free
Web: tracyaviary.org
🦈 Loveland Living Planet Aquarium
Following a major 2026 expansion, Loveland is now the fifth-largest aquarium in the United States — and it regularly surprises first-time visitors with its scale. Home to thousands of animals across immersive ecosystems, its centerpiece is a 300,000-gallon shark habitat with a 40-foot walk-through tunnel. In February 2026 the new Sam & Aline Skaggs Science Learning Center opened, housing the all-new Ford Expedition: Asia — a multi-story indoor cloud forest with clouded leopards, a Komodo dragon, a tree kangaroo, otters, and a kids' canopy play zone — plus an event center and education hub.
What to do: Walk the shark tunnel, visit the penguins, and explore the new Expedition: Asia. Penguin and Stingray Encounters are bookable add-ons. Monday evenings offer extended hours and lighter crowds.
Where: 12033 S. Lone Peak Pkwy, Draper, UT 84020
Call: 801-355-3474
Hours: Tues–Sun 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Mondays until 8 p.m. Closed Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Admission: Demand-based pricing (roughly $18–$28 adult); discounts for teens, students, seniors, and military; children 2 and under free. Buy ahead to save.
🌸 Thanksgiving Point — Ashton Gardens & Farm Country
Note: the Mountain America Museum of Ancient Life is listed in our Museums & Galleries section. Below are the other destinations on this remarkable campus.
The Thanksgiving Point campus in Lehi is one of the most ambitious family destinations in the western U.S. — a complex that could fill an entire day without repeating itself.
Ashton Gardens spreads across 50 acres and features the largest man-made waterfall in the country, a Monet-inspired lake, cascading Italian stone basins, fragrance and rose gardens, outdoor concerts and movies, and the springtime Tulip Festival. Garden carts, scooters, and wheelchairs are available to rent, and free guided tours are included with admission.
Farm Country is a genuine working-farm experience — not a petting zoo — where kids can milk cows, ride ponies, feed animals, and explore Curiosity Farms, a high-tech agriculture showcase in the heart of Silicon Slopes.
Where: 3900 N Garden Drive, Lehi, UT 84043
Call: 801-768-2300
Hours: Ashton Gardens — roughly late March through late October, Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–8 p.m., closed Sundays. Farm Country — Mon–Sat; off-season hours vary.
Admission: Tickets vary by venue; an All-Access Pass covers all Thanksgiving Point venues in one day. Off-season pricing (Oct.–March) is reduced.
🚜 Wheeler Historic Farm
One of the Salt Lake Valley's most quietly beloved destinations, Wheeler Historic Farm is a genuine 75-acre working farm operated as a public park by Salt Lake County — and it's free to enter. Near Murray, the property has been farmed since the mid-1800s and includes a restored 1896 Victorian farmhouse, meadows, wooded trails, and a full cast of farm animals.
What to do: Visit cows, horses, chickens, pigs, sheep, goats, and rabbits. Take a tractor-drawn wagon ride, watch a cow-milking demonstration, and tour the Victorian farmhouse. In fall, the Pumpkin Days event with a corn maze is a Wasatch Front family rite. The Wheeler Sunday Market (May–October) also runs on the grounds.
Where: 6351 S 900 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84121
Call: 385-468-1755
Hours: Park open daily dawn to dusk; office hours Mon–Sat 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Admission: Free to enter the grounds; nominal fees for wagon rides, cow milking, and special events
🏅 Utah Olympic Park
Built for the 2002 Winter Olympics and still an active training site, Utah Olympic Park is one of the most genuinely unique destinations in the Mountain West. The 400-acre Park City facility houses one of only a handful of sliding tracks in North America, six Nordic ski jumps, and two free museums. With the 2034 Winter Olympics returning to Salt Lake City, this venue's legacy is just getting started.
Don't miss this summer: The Flying Ace All-Stars Freestyle Show — Olympic and national-team aerialists launching up to 60 feet off the jumps before splashing into the Spence Eccles Olympic Freestyle Pool. Friday and Saturday evenings, beginning June 12, 2026. A half-hour, family-friendly spectacle and one of the best free-spirited nights out in Park City.
What to do: Both museums — the Eccles 2002 Olympic Winter Games Museum and the Alf Engen Ski Museum — are free. The Summer Gold Pass unlocks the alpine slide, extreme tubing, ziplines, ropes courses, and the airbag jump tower (peak-season activities, including the Drop Tower and ropes courses, run roughly June 26–Aug. 15). The signature add-on is the Comet Bobsled — a pilot-guided run down the actual 2002 track. Book ahead.
Where: 3419 Olympic Pkwy, Park City, UT 84098 (about 25 miles east of SLC via I-80)
Call: 435-658-4200
Hours: Museums open daily, free admission. Summer activity sessions May–September. Check website for current schedule.
Admission: Museums free. Gold Pass starts around $80 (plan-ahead pricing); bobsled and guided tours ticketed separately.
🎢 Lagoon Amusement Park (Seasonal — Late March through October)
Utah's only amusement park has been part of Wasatch Front family life since 1886 — predating statehood by a decade. Today Lagoon offers more than 50 rides blending century-old classics with modern thrill coasters, a six-acre waterpark (Lagoon-A-Beach, included with admission), Pioneer Village, daily live entertainment, and a Frightmares Halloween season.
What to do: Thrill-seekers head for Cannibal — a 208-foot elevator-lift coaster that plunges into an underground tunnel — or the launch coaster Wicked. Families gravitate to Pioneer Village, the play area, and the hand-carved 1918 carousel. Cool off at Lagoon-A-Beach when temperatures climb.
Where: 375 N Lagoon Drive, Farmington, UT 84025
Call: 801-451-8000
Season: Late March through late October; Frightmares in September–October
Hours: Vary by day and season — check website before visiting
Admission: Single-day tickets and Season Passports online; buying in advance saves. Under 24 months free.
Web: lagoonpark.com
🛤️ This Is the Place Heritage Park
At the mouth of Emigration Canyon — the very spot where the pioneers entered the valley — This Is the Place is a sprawling living-history park and one of Salt Lake's best family days out. Costumed interpreters bring 19th-century Utah to life across Heritage Village's historic homes and shops, a Native American Village explores the cultures of Utah's first residents, and the grounds are dotted with monuments to the pioneers, the Mormon Battalion, and the Pony Express.
What to do: Ride the mini-train and ponies, pan for gold, visit the petting zoo, and try hands-on pioneer trades like rope-making and candle-dipping. Pioneer Day (July 24) is one of the park's biggest celebrations — a natural pairing with the Days of '47 festivities downtown — and Huntsman Day offers free admission and free ice cream each summer.
Where: 2601 E. Sunnyside Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84108 (next to Hogle Zoo)
Hours: Heritage Village open Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m., closed Sundays; Pioneer Center & Gift Shop open daily. Hours vary by season.
Admission: Daily Experience Pass; free on-site parking (confirm current rates online)
Web: thisistheplace.org
Have a family attraction we should add? Submit it for a free listing using our event submission form →
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