The Salt Lake ValleyHarry Potter opens at Eccles, Matchbox Twenty plays the fair, and Trolley Square goes full ’80s
Plus the Carmelite Fair in Holladay, free music in Taylorsville, and two newborn otters in Draper.
Good morning, Salt Lake Valley.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens Saturday at the Eccles Theater with three performances this weekend. The production stays in Salt Lake City through Oct 11.
Matchbox Twenty plays Utah State Fairpark Friday. Trolley Square follows Saturday with a free ’80s block party, aerialists, young bands, and an outdoor dance floor.
📍 30 seconds in the valley⏱️ 9 min read
- 🪄See Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Eccles Theater
- 🎸Catch Matchbox Twenty before the State Fair closes
- 🦦Look for two newborn otters at the aquarium
⭐ The Big One
Pick of the week
See Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at Eccles Theater
The touring production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opens its Salt Lake City run Saturday. The one-part stage sequel follows Harry and his son through a new time-travel story, with the production’s stage illusions carrying much of the show.
Our take
Choose opening weekend if you want the first Salt Lake performances. If seat location matters more, the production recommends weeknights from Sep 29 onward for the best remaining selection.⚠️ Heads up: Every patron needs a ticket, including young children. The box office lists no refunds or exchanges and limits standard sales to eight tickets per account.
$$$ touring Broadwaystage illusionsSalt Lake City
📰 Around the Valley
A Great Salt Lake study puts a price on exposed lakebed dust
University of Utah researchers estimate that dust from the exposed Great Salt Lake lakebed now costs the region about $115.8 million a year in health care and missed work and school.
Tower Theatre targets a 2028 reopening
Salt Lake Film Society plans to start renovating the closed Tower Theatre in spring 2027 and reopen it during the theater’s centennial year in 2028.
📅 This Week
Book before Friday night
Catch Matchbox Twenty before the State Fair closes
Matchbox Twenty brings its first tour since 2024 to the Days of ’47 Arena, with Dashboard Confessional opening during the final weekend of the Utah State Fair.
Our take
Go through the fair gate before the 5:30pm arena doors if you want food or a walk through the fair first. The concert ticket covers fair admission, so a separate gate ticket is unnecessary.⚠️ Heads up: The arena show starts two hours before the fair closes. Allow extra time for fair traffic and security before the walk to the arena.
$$$ 1990s rockState Fair nightSalt Lake City
Worth the Sunday stop
Visit the Carmelite Fair in Holladay
The Carmelite monastery opens its annual fair with live entertainment, children’s games, food, vendor booths, and live and silent auctions that support the Carmelite nuns.
Our take
Plan lunch at the fair, then give the children’s games and auction tables an hour or two. The six-hour window makes this easier to fit around Sunday plans than a fixed showtime.⚠️ Heads up: Admission is free, but food sales and auction bids fund the monastery.
free Sunday lunchcommunity fundraiserHolladay
Skip if you want a headliner
Hear two local acts at Starry Nights
Taylorsville’s last Starry Nights concert of the season puts Kristy Ballard and Bridging Betty on Centennial Plaza, with food trucks arriving before the music.
Our take
Use this as a free dinner-and-music stop. Kristy Ballard starts at 6pm, and Bridging Betty takes the stage at 6:45pm.⚠️ Heads up: This is a community concert with local performers, not a touring act. The show is outdoors on the plaza.
free free live musicfood trucksTaylorsville
Best free Saturday night
Dance outside at Trolley Square’s ’80s Block Party
SLC Circus Center aerialists, School of Rock bands, and Millennium Dance perform on Trolley Square’s West Plaza. Food trucks and vendors arrive before an ’80s dance party closes the night.
Our take
Arrive before 6:30pm to get food and a place near the performance area. Stay through the final set when the plaza opens for the public dance party.⚠️ Heads up: The West Plaza is outdoors, and the event runs past sunset. Bring a layer if you plan to stay for the final dance set.
free free dance partyall agesSalt Lake City
🏟️ The Scoreboard
Utah volleyball sweeps Air Force in Greeley
Utah beat Air Force 3-0 Thursday with set scores of 25-14 / 25-20 / 25-19, improving to 6-3.
Utah soccer carries a five-goal win into Big 12 play
Utah women’s soccer beat Long Beach State 5-1 Saturday and enters conference play with a 3-3-2 record.
🍴 Eat & Drink
Worth it for the consommé
Order the crispy birria combo at Los Tapatios
Los Tapatios Taco Grill uses its birria throughout the menu, from street tacos to ramen. Combo 1 puts three crispy tacos with cheese beside an eight-ounce cup of consommé and a drink.
Our take
Order Combo 1 if this is your first visit. It includes enough consommé for all three tacos, plus the cheese and crisp shell that separate it from the smaller street taco.⚠️ Heads up: The West Valley City hours differ from the other Los Tapatios locations. Use the 3252 W 3500 S listing when checking directions or ordering.
$$ birria tacoslate weekend dinnerWest Valley City
👨👩👧 Family & Free
Worth it for otter fans
Look for two newborn otters at the aquarium
Loveland Living Planet Aquarium has welcomed its first Asian small-clawed otter pups, a male and a female born June 6 to Kai and Emmie. The pups are beginning animal-care training while they settle into the habitat.
Our take
Visit the otter habitat as part of a full aquarium trip. The pups are new to the exhibit, and the aquarium plans to announce a public naming contest.⚠️ Heads up: The pups may stay out of view while they adjust and train. Do not make them the only reason for the ticket.
$$ young kidsnew otter pupsDraper
🎟️ Also Happening
Corner Canyon trail races in Draper
The Corner Canyon Half Marathon starts at Andy Ballard Arena, 1600 Highland Drive, Saturday at 7am, followed by the 10K at 7:20am and 5K at 7:40am. Online registration is closed, but day-of registration runs 5:30-6:15am.
Backyard Film Bash at Ballpark Stadium
Spy Hop fills Ballpark Stadium, 77 W 1300 S, with live music, art, food trucks, and 12 short films on Saturday from 3-10pm. Admission is free with an RSVP, and the film screening closes the night.
Free Chinese Mid-Autumn celebration
The free Chinese community celebration at Highland High School, 2166 S 1700 E, runs Saturday from 5-9pm. Cultural booths and activities run until 7pm. Music and dance fill the final two hours, with martial arts also on the program.
📰 Valley News
Feldman’s Deli settles into its Bib Gourmand rush
Feldman’s Deli has drawn a steady run of new customers since the Michelin Guide awarded it a Bib Gourmand in August, a distinction for strong food at a good value.
Delta Center unveils new upper-bowl hockey views this month
Utah Mammoth fans will see the latest Delta Center renovation phase when the team hosts Colorado in a preseason game Sep 26.
The Debate
💙 Good Neighbor
Tell us who showed up for someone
Know a neighbor, teacher, coach, or local worker who helped someone this week? Reply with their name, their city, and what happened so we can consider their story.
Nominate a neighbor →Saturday can be a full free day downtown: Backyard Film Bash starts at 3pm, and Trolley Square begins its block party at 6pm.
Reply with the restaurant, trail, or neighborhood event we should check next.
— The Salt Lake Valley crew
Got a tip, a new opening, or an event? Just reply, we read everything.
Read past issues · Refer a neighbor · Advertise with us
Read past issues · Refer a neighbor · Advertise with us