Aug 6, 2025 - Cougar Kickoff & Summerbration

What’s Up Provo! Congrats to all those pre-k kids who completed the 1,000 books before kindergarten challenge and Happy Root Beer Float Day to everyone else! 🍺

In Partnership with
Timber Moose Lodge

The Timber Moose Lodge - They do weddings, family reunions, corporate events. It’s located in Heber, and it’s the BIGGEST cabin in America!

📷 Check out their amazing interior including their entry, dining room, kitchen, sun room, game room, gathering room, the Grand Room, the Sitting Room, the Bullwinkle Room, the Don Quixote Landing, the pool & hot tub & sauna, and the Crow’s Nest.

📆 Look for open days (and discounted days) on their reservation calendar (just give it a second to load)
📍 10000 E Timber Moose Way, Heber City

📈 Proposed Tax Increases
Five Utah County cities — Provo, Payson, Santaquin, Woodland Hills, and Springville — are holding public hearings in August on proposed property tax increases. Payson leads with an 18.16% hike to help fund a second fire station. Santaquin (+8.05%), Woodland Hills (+9.98%), Provo (+9.56%), and Springville (+1.99%) cite needs such as staffing to maintenance. There will be hearings you can attend (from what we understand, “Truth-in-Taxation” hearings are required by law when something like this is proposed). Those hearings are scheduled between Aug 6 and Aug 12.

💬 Your Voice Matters Town Hall
Provo City is hosting its second bilingual Spanish‑language town hall, "Tu Voz Importa", on Thursday this week at 6:30 p.m. at the Provo City Library. Conducted mostly in Spanish with English translation, the event features Mayor Michelle Kaufusi, council members, a Q&A session, Peruvian food, a Mexican dance group, and more! (Maybe we should have made this an event.)

🏀 Timpview’s Dean Rueckert commits to BYU
Dean is a 4-star recruit, 6-foot-8, the 68th overall recruit in the nation, a T-bird, and in 2026 he’ll be a Cougar! Congrats Dean!

💰 Provo water bill credit for planting a garden?
They are proposing a $120 savings on your water bill for people who qualify as “urban farmers.” There are a number of requirements if you want to qualify, for example you need to “urban farm” at least 5,000 square feet or 25% of the total parcel area, and you need to use a drip system or some other high efficiency irrigation method. For more info click the blue header link (for all you new people, all the blue headers are links).

🏈 2025 Cougar Kickoff

The ultimate pre‑season shindig, tailgate thing! We love it, and if you haven’t been before come ready for playing, competing, and some chaos! (Also, some waiting in lines, but that’s OK.)

Inflatable obstacle courses, student‑athlete autograph sessions, giveaways, food trucks, face‑painting, merch, and more. Will AJ be there? Will Kalani or Jen Rockwood or Kevin Young be there? We don’t know, but let’s hope so.

Also, this year the Annual Adaptive Races will be the culminating event at Cougar Kickoff! Register for free. These races will be start at 8pm and go until about 8:30pm.

BYU’s Helaman Halls Fields | 6pm-8pm

🖌️ Special Needs Art Class at the Museum
Sensory play, dive into stories and a museum tour, then take home your own craft.
BYU Museum of Art | Aug 6 | 10am

🍕 30 Years of A Goofy Movie Pizza Celebration
Relive the ’95 cult classic as summer winds down. (And, yes, apparently this is a “cult classic.” It didn't achieve a lot of success when it was released, but it gained a dedicated following over time.)
Fat Daddy’s Pizzeria | Aug 6 | 7:30pm

🐾 Dog Walk Wednesdays
This is part of a series of events happening all August long. Stroll through Ashton Gardens with your dog. It’s free for Thanksgiving Point members (just keep those leashes on).
Ashton Gardens | Aug 6 | 8am-9am

🎶 Midway Music on the Square
The Fuse will be playing and food trucks will be Thigh Guy, and Sinatra’s Fusion Kitchen.
Midway Town Square | Aug 6 | 6:30pm-8pm

🏘️ National Night Out
Bring the crew for free games, hands-on activities, and exciting demos with the Lehi Police Department.
Wines Park | Aug 6 | 5pm–8pm

⚽ BYU Women’s Soccer vs Utah Tech
South Field, Provo | Aug 6 | 8pm

🎺 2025 Summer Concert: The Iceman Special
The Iceman Special will be performing (funk-rock with a little bit of New Orleans — their description says: “Materializing as if from the depths of a Louisiana swamp, The Iceman Special is a living, breathing ghost story.”). Tomorrow is starting to feel a little Halloween-y.
Heber Market Main Stage | Aug 7 | 6:30pm-8:45pm

🎉 Summerbration
Belt out Wicked karaoke, craft hats & wands, join the costume contest, enjoy free pony rides, the petting zoo, free popcorn and/or food from the food trucks, and then enjoy a movie under the stars. There’s lots happening, (the event is going to last 6 hours!), and it’s free to attend!
Pleasant Grove | Aug 7 | 4pm-10pm

💃 Swing Dancing and Instruction
Part of the Gazebo Gatherings that have been happening all summer. Only a few more left!
Gazebo in the Civic Center Park | Aug 7 | 7pm-8:30pm

🌅 Sunset Sculpt
Flow through a sunset mat Pilates session by the vines, browse a wellness market, sip a fresh smoothie, and snag a custom tote (mats provided!).
The Vineyard at Shade Wellness | Aug 7 | 7pm-8:30pm

🎉 City Wide Teen Party
End your summer with food, outdoor games, and a movie night at Ira Allen Park—bring a blanket, your friends, and your summer vibes.
Mapleton’s Ira Allen Park | Aug 7 | 6pm-9pm

🛶 WMI Community Kayak
Grab your paddle for an all-ages, naturalist-guided kayak tour at Jordanelle—$20 suggested donation, RSVP required.
Rock Cliff Area @ Jordanelle State Park | Aug 7 | 6pm-8pm

🎈 500 Books Before Middle School Completion Party
This one’s an invitation-only party with games, crafts, and sweet treats!
Provo Library | Aug 7 | 4:15pm-5pm

🎶 University Chorale
Free admission to an evening of dazzling choral selections live from BYU’s Recital Hall.
Recital Hall, Music Building | Aug 7 | 7:30pm

🚧 Road Closed
Not really an event but we put it here anyway. 820 North from Geneva Rd to Independence Ave will be shut down for a sewer upgrade.
Provo | Aug 5, 10pm–Aug 7

🌺 Back to School Luau
Samoan fire knife dancers (ailao afi), tasty luau eats, Kona Ice, yard games, and kids’ activities.
The Orchard | Aug 11 | 7pm–9pm

🎻 Gazebo Gathering Concert: Desert Heartstrings
Springville City Civic Center Park | Aug 11 | 7pm-8pm

⏰ Learn It: Creating Smoother Routines for Children
Cut morning mayhem and bedtime battles with easy-to-follow tips.
Provo Library | Aug 12 | 7pm-8:30pm

🎶 Free Music Together Classes
Join a free demo music session for families with little ones (ages 0–5) and their caregivers — just make sure you register ahead!
Wednesday, Aug 13, 10am at Steps Performing Arts Center in Spanish Fork with Miss Jess
Thursday, Aug 14, 10am at Leaps and Bounds Dance Academy in American Fork with Miss Annie
Thursday, Aug 14, 11am at Leaps and Bounds Dance Academy in American Fork with Miss Annie

🏫 Back to School Nights
Most Provo, Orem, Springville, and Lindon schools are doing their back to school nights on August 11th or August 12th. But we can’t say that for sure for every school, so check out your school’s calendars here: Alpine School District, Provo School District, Nebo School District (go to the “Schools” dropdown at the top of the page)

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"Experts in Frivolity, Stupidity, and Swordwork
(not necessarily in that order)!"

This Utah County sword-fighting troupe slices through serious and silly with equal flair—wowing with their blend of theatrical combat and rapid-fire banter. Here's a little more about them:

How it started: Founded by Jakob Lau Smith Tice ("Jacopo de la Puente") in 2012 after a call from the Utah Renaissance Faire, Masters of Dueling has become a local legend in the performance circuit. Jakob is joined by "Robert Seann Truis" (Adam Argyle), and "Percival of Lincoln-Logsley" (Matthew R Carlin). Each show is a tightly rehearsed display of stage combat, with real steel blades clashing in scenes that range from Shakespearean duels to full-on cutlery chaos.

Their comedic twist: Favorites like King Arthur leave audiences in stitches—figuratively, thankfully—as the group leaps from duel to joke and back again. Whether it’s rapiers or lightsabers, serious Macbeth or not-so-serious sword puns, it's always a great show.

Catch them at FanX, the Lehi Ren Faire, and other Utah events!
facebook.com/themastersofdueling

@ Velour Live Music Gallery
Wednesday - Open Mic Night
Thursday - New Band Showcase (four bands TBA)
Friday - Daniel’s Park, GEIST, Sad Cartoon
Saturday - Saemore, Jaxen Hanks, Kaytlin Numbers

@ Java Junkie
Thursday - LampShade Writers Round (lineup TBA)
Friday - Open Mic Night
Saturday - Performance TBA

@ BYU
Thursday - University Chorale

@ The Rise
Friday - TRENY: Pink

@ The Social
Saturday - Jacob Oman, Corey Stefon

@ Seven Brothers Riverwoods
Friday - Kieran Hellum (6 PM–8 PM)

We hope today’s was fun and helpful. If not, send any suggestions ‘cause we love hearing from you. And please refer a friend! (Specifically a friend who could challenge Cosmo in a dance-off. 😉)

-Nicole, Josh, & Carlie