The Salt Lake ValleyMTB X races through West Jordan, Weezer plays West Valley, and 9th & 9th closes the streets
Plus Blue Moon fills Holladay with art, Festa Italiana serves the Gateway, and Utah football starts 2-0.
Good morning, Salt Lake Valley.
MTB X brings professional mountain bikers to West Jordan’s Wheels Park Friday and Saturday. Spectators can see the whole course, and the Friday community session lets local riders bring their own mountain bikes.
Weezer plays West Valley City Tuesday, the free 9th & 9th Street Festival runs Saturday, and Holladay’s Blue Moon Festival puts local art and live music around the Village Plaza.
📍 30 seconds in the valley⏱️ 9 min read
- 🚵Watch MTB X race from start to finish in West Jordan
- 🎸See Weezer with The Shins and Silversun Pickups
- 🎨Walk the free 9th & 9th Street Festival
⭐ The Big One
Pick of the week
Watch MTB X race from start to finish in West Jordan
MTB X opens its first national race stop at Ron Wood Wheels Park with a professional mountain bike course made from dirt and wood features. Each rider gets three attempts, and only the fastest run counts. The park’s sightlines let spectators follow the full course from one standing area.
Our take
Bring a mountain bike Friday to ride the public parts of Wheels Park and meet the professional riders. Come Saturday if you would rather watch the timed competition, live music, and food trucks.⚠️ Heads up: Saturday’s start time is weather-dependent, and race viewing is standing room only. The park closes to regular riding before the professional competition begins.
free mountain bikingfree spectatorsWest Jordan
📰 Around the Valley
1300 West work shifts traffic around 8700 South
West Jordan’s current 1300 West schedule starts three separate work zones Monday between 7800 South and 8830 South.
University of Utah expects a smaller operations workforce
University of Utah leaders expect the school’s roughly 5,700 nonfaculty, nonclinical workforce to shrink over the next year as operational work is consolidated, simplified, or eliminated.
📅 This Week
Book before Tuesday
See Weezer with The Shins and Silversun Pickups
Weezer brings The Gathering tour to Maverik Center with two full opening bands: The Shins and Silversun Pickups. Doors open one hour before the three-band bill starts.
Our take
Arrive for the openers. The Shins and Silversun Pickups make this a full three-band night before Weezer closes the show.⚠️ Heads up: The concert is Tuesday, so there is no weekend backup date. Plan time for parking and security before walking to your section.
$$$ alternative rockthree-band lineupWest Valley City
Worth the full loop
Walk the free 9th & 9th Street Festival
The 9th & 9th Street Festival closes several blocks around 900 East and 900 South for local artists, makers, food vendors, nonprofits, and children’s art activities. The neighborhood festival is free, kid-friendly, and pet-friendly.
Our take
Start at one end of 900 South and walk the whole closure before choosing food. The children’s art area makes this an easy daytime stop for families.⚠️ Heads up: There is no festival parking lot. Street closures run along 900 South from 800 East to Lincoln Street and along 900 East from 800 South to Belmont Avenue.
free local makersfamiliesSalt Lake City
Best evening art walk
See local art after dark at Blue Moon Festival
Blue Moon Festival turns Holladay Village Plaza into a one-night art market with local artists, musicians, street performers, interactive art, and children’s activities. Plaza restaurants stay open, and food trucks join the event.
Our take
Go after the 9th & 9th festival if you want to turn Saturday into two art stops. The four-hour window is short enough to walk the market and stay for a performance.⚠️ Heads up: The festival overlaps with MTB X in West Jordan. Pick one evening stop instead of trying to cross the valley during both programs.
free local artlive musicHolladay
Skip unless you are shopping
Compare new trailers and motorhomes at the Utah RV SuperShow
The Utah RV SuperShow puts current and next-year travel trailers, fifth wheels, and motorhomes inside the Mountain America Expo Center. All displayed RVs are new, and dealers can issue a return pass if one day is not enough.
Our take
Use it as a comparison trip if you already know the trailer size and sleeping layout you need. The show is less useful as a casual walk when several free festivals run the same weekend.⚠️ Heads up: Tickets are sold only at the show, starting 30 minutes before opening. The emailed two-for-one coupon requires signup before you reach the box office.
$ RV shoppingindoor browsingSandy
🏟️ The Scoreboard
Utah football beats Arkansas 43-10
No. 20 Utah beat Arkansas 43-10 Saturday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes scored 22 points in the second quarter and held Arkansas to three points through the first three quarters.
Utah Royals win 1-0 in Houston
Mina Tanaka scored in the 69th minute as Utah’s professional women's soccer team beat the Houston Dash 1-0 Saturday. The Royals held Houston without a shot on goal.
🍴 Eat & Drink
Worth it for a shared dinner
Share the tasting menu at Saffron Circle
Saffron Circle serves modern Indian food in Mountain View Village with a full bar and a fixed-price tasting option called Aunty’s Assembly. The current menu covers dishes such as chicken tikka, coconut korma, garlic naan, and vegetarian curries.
Our take
Use Aunty’s Assembly if your table wants to try several dishes without negotiating every order. For a smaller meal, split a curry, rice, and naan instead.⚠️ Heads up: The restaurant is closed Monday. Lunch and dinner are separate service windows, with a break between them on Tuesday through Sunday.
$$$ Indian foodshared dinnerRiverton
🌲 Get Outside
Worth the short climb
Climb through the aspens to Willow Lake
Willow Heights is a short 1.9-mile out-and-back hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The trail climbs through an aspen grove to a quiet pond below the Solitude area, with most of the elevation packed into the walk up.
Our take
Allow about 90 minutes so the uphill section does not feel rushed. The lake is the turnaround; the walk back is mostly downhill through the same aspens.⚠️ Heads up: This is protected watershed. Dogs and swimming are not allowed, and the roadside trailhead is easy to pass if you are driving quickly up the canyon.
free short hikeaspen treesBig Cottonwood Canyon
🎟️ Also Happening
The Ironport Band in Murray
Murray’s free Family Night Concert brings The Ironport Band to the Senior Recreation Center, 10 E 6150 S, Monday from 7-8pm. The rock-and-variety concert is open to all ages and moves inside if weather interrupts the outdoor plaza setup.
AMPlify Youth Music Festival at the Gallivan Center
Youth bands from across Utah play primarily original music at the Gallivan Center, 239 S Main St, Saturday from 1-8:30pm. Admission is free; food trucks start at 11am, and an instrument petting zoo runs from 4-7pm.
Festa Italiana at The Gateway
Festa Italiana fills The Gateway, 18 N Rio Grande St, Saturday from noon-10pm and Sunday from noon-7pm. Admission is free for Italian food booths, live music, cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, an Italian car show, and pizza and pasta eating contests.
📰 Valley News
Highland High rebuild reaches the theater foundations
Salt Lake City School District says the foundations and footings for Highland High’s new theater and orchestra pit are nearly complete.
Culinary Dropout opens in the Utah Pickle Company building
Culinary Dropout has opened its first Utah restaurant at 765 S 400 W in the rebuilt Utah Pickle Company building in the Granary District.
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’s two free outdoor picks overlap. The 9th & 9th festival runs all day, while MTB X expects to start its competition around 4pm in West Jordan.
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.
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Read past issues · Refer a neighbor · Advertise with us