Local residents know there’s no shortage of things to do in Salt Lake City and surrounding areas during the summer months. Whether you’re interested in the great outdoors, free concerts, indoor activities, thrill rides, or sporting events, this area will keep you and your family entertained all summer long.
Cottonwood Canyons exploration
These two canyons, located right off the I-215 in Salt Lake City, offer a plentiful variety of summer activities. If you’re into hiking, both canyons have beautiful trails that lead to lakes, waterfalls, and incredible mountain views. The well-known
donut falls hike is located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, and is an easy 2.5 mile round trip hike to a unique waterfall feature. There’s also fishing spots, picnic locations, and even camping sites for those who want a multi-day experience. The Cottonwood Canyons are most well-known for summer rock climbing. There’s a variety of climbing spots in both canyons, and plenty of viewing locations as well, if you’d rather observe.

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FlickrDrive-in movies at Redwood Theatre
A drive-in movie is the quintessential summer activity for kids and adults. The Redwood
Drive-In Theatre, located in West Valley, is open 7 days a week, with adult tickets priced at $9 each, and kids ages 5-9 at $1 each. Redwood shows the latest and greatest box office hits, and have been the pioneers of the family movie night since 1948.

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FlickrFree concerts in Park City
The summers may be short in Park City, the mountain town just 30 minutes east of Salt Lake City, but they pack a lot of fun into the season.
Free concerts become a nightly occurrence in Park City starting mid-June. Deer Valley Resort, Canyons Village at Park City, and Newpark all offer free weekly outdoor concerts, open to the general public. Bring some chairs and a picnic basket, and enjoy a warm summer evening with some good tunes.

Lagoon during the Summer
Do you have thrill seekers in your family that are ready to ride giants?
Lagoon amusement park, located in Farmington, offers mega coasters and also some gentler ones, perfect for all ages in the family. Spend a day eating cotton candy, riding the Ferris wheel, and checking out fun performances at Lagoon.

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FlickrReal Salt Lake games
There’s nothing like a sun and fun filled afternoon at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy to watch an
RSL game. Tickets range from $20 and upwards, making it an affordable way to watch the biggest major league soccer players up close and personal.

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FlickrOktoberfest at Snowbird
Oktoberfest is the perfect way for Salt Lake residents to end the summer season. This festival, held every weekend during September and October at Snowbird Resort, features Utah’s growing craft beer scene. You can take a leisurely walk around Snowbird with a tasty Utah beer in hand, or partake in the many family-friendly events offered. Families can enjoy face painting, mountain-coaster riding, a trip up the tram, and food from favorite Utah eateries. Depending on the weekend that you attend, you may witness a fair amount of lederhosen, wild beards, and fun characters walking about the resort property.
