July 23, 2025 - Pioneer Day Extravaganza and Orem's Pioneer Celebration

What’s Up Provo! Happy National Gorgeous Grandma Day!

And, of course, happy Pioneer Day tomorrow!

Here’s a quick summary of today’s newsletter:

In Partnership with Grifols
Get Paid to Save Lives

GRIFOLS is offering the chance for donors to earn $400 over their first four visits + donors can now earn additional $100 bonuses for referring friends! 

If you’re ready to make a difference and get some extra cash, (all while you’re relaxing and either watching a movie or getting some work done), then check out their appointment schedule 📅

🩸 Read more about their Male AB program (for children who are battling Juvenile Leukemia)
📍 651 W Columbia Lane, Provo (801-377-1243)
(minutes away from BYU and UVU, on Columbia Ln - across the street from Deseret Industry)

🏗 New Development coming to Center Street 300 West?
A 3‑acre dirt lot in downtown Provo—once home to City Hall—is slated for a major makeover. Two previous attempts to develop the land (in 2018 and 2022) both failed, but the city is going to try again. They are looking for proposals for a “mixed-use project” that combines retail, housing, public space, parking, and possibly hospitality. Submissions are due by August 1, 2025. If approved, construction could begin within two years.

🏘 Utah ranks #4 in home construction
Utah is now #4 in the U.S. for new-home construction—issuing 18.6 building permits per 1,000 existing homes in 2024, trailing only Idaho, North Carolina, and South Carolina. While Utah’s statewide permit growth is down ~25% since 2022, the Provo‑Orem‑Lehi metro saw 27.9 permits per 1,000 homes, ranking 8th nationally. Plus, (and maybe we’ve already covered this in a previous newsletter), Provo leads U.S. metros in newest average housing— the median age of homes is just 6 years! (at least according to Redfin)

😅 Corrections
We talked about The Startup Building in our last email, and we just wanted to clarify that the link for the calendar was for their TOUR calendar. (If you want to see it here it is.) They have a separate calendar for their bookings, which goes out much further than their tour calendar. (To get on their booking calendar you’ll have to contact them directly.)

Also, we mentioned the Demolition Derby last time, but the date was incorrect. The date for the derby is Saturday, August 2nd.

🩴 New Business: Flip Flop Shoes
New business alert! The University Mall has added a new store which opened up just this month.

If you want to be one of them let us know. Learn more about WUP partnerships

⚖ West Provo Town Hall
This public meeting is about the new “UTA On Demand” (which is kind of like Uber but for public transportation).
Lakeview Elementary School | July 23 | 6pm-7:30pm

🎭 Museum Concert Series: Opera Fest
If you’re wondering about this opera and if you would want to go, this 60-second video (spoiler alert!) will give you a better idea what it’s about.
Springville Museum of Art | July 23 | 5pm–7pm

🚗 Rev Up For Rescues
Cool cars, curry pizza, and adoptable animals! It’s a crazy mix, but so is curry and pizza and it somehow works.
Curry Pizza Lehi | July 23 | 7pm-9pm

❤️ Blood Drive
Provo Library Young Special Events Room #201 | July 23 | 10am-4pm

Festival Events today:

🤠 Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Events
Rodeo - Preshow begins at 7pm and the rodeo begins at 7:30pm
Carnival - 4pm - 11pm
Craft Fair - 4pm - 9pm
Spanish Fork's Got Talent - City Park Stage at 7:30pm | They say it’s one of their most popular events, and this year the contestants include the Purcell Trio, Eyes Wide Shut Band, and Glen Baker The Utah Elvis!

🐴 Days of ‘47 Events
Rodeo Night #2 - Gates open at 7pm, the rodeo starts at 8pm | There’s going to be a “Special Drone and Fireworks Show” and before the rodeo starts there’s the Days of ‘47 Frontier Fun Zone!

🥧 Pioneer Day Extravaganza
Live music, Pie-oneer Bake off competition, vendors, petting zoo, sack race, stick and pull (is this different then the stick pull?), axe throwing, duck race (we assume they will be rubber ducks, but hopefully we’re wrong and they will be racing real ducks instead), face painting, root beer chugging (winner gets a prize!), and more.
North Park in Provo | July 24 | 10am–2pm

🎆 Pioneer Day Celebration
We never knew University Mall did a pioneer celebration, but apparently this will be the 8th one! DJ Paul Sleem, Bluegrass Thunder & party band, Music City Groove will be there. There will be a market, a dance party for the kids, an eating contest, and, of course, fireworks! (And, of course, a stick pull contest!)
The Orchard at University Place | July 24 | 5pm–9:50pm

🏃 Temple to Temple 5k
Register, run, and help this race hit 25,000 participants to be dubbed the largest 5k in the United States! It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s for everyone (strollers, wagons, scooters, and other forms of wheeled transportation are welcome). All the registration and race details are in the link (blue headers are linked).
The corner of North Temple Dr (2300 North) and 1200 East | 8am start time

🌞 Summer on the Deer Valley Café Deck
This time Reid Jarvis, from Springfield, Missouri will be performing. According to his bio his music can be compared to “Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen to Ed Sheeran and Marcus Mumford.”
Deer Valley Café Deck | July 24 | 12pm-3:30pm

🎭 Shrek the Musical
From the website: “Irreverently fun for the whole family, Shrek proves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre.” Adult tickets are $10, $8 for seniors, $8 for kids (thru 12th Grade), $6 for kids younger than 11.
Spanish Fork High School | July 24 | 2pm-3pm

🎸 2025 Summer Concert: Headshine
Main Stage | July 24 | 6:30pm-8:45pm

Festival Events tomorrow:

🤠 Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Events
Speedy Spaniard Mile & 10k - July 24 | 6:30am for the 10k, 7:30am for the mile
Carnival - 10am - 11pm
Craft Fair - 10am - 9pm
Grand Parade - 9am
Outdoor Quilt Show - 9am
Adopt-A-Duck race - 2pm | Apparently duck races are a new Pioneer Day staple
Rodeo - Last day!
Fireworks Spectacular and Concert - Concert starts at 8pm, Fireworks at 10pm | Mikayla Paige (rising country artist) will be performing

🐴 Days of ‘47 Events
Rodeo Night #3

🔫 Laser Tag Tournament
Channel your inner Stormtrooper (but with better aim)! Teams of 5 will be competing for trophies and gift cards.
Laser Assault | July 28 | 6:30pm

🗑 Utah Lake Cleanup
Legends tell of a time when you could walk into Utah Lake up to your chest and the water was so clear you could see your toes! This one’s not really about cleaning up the water, but we thought it was a cool thing to share anyway.
Lindon Marina | July 28 | 7pm-9pm

🌍 World Folkfest Community Extravaganza
This year Brazil, Poland and Slovenia are here to share their cultural dance performances. There will be traditional costumes, authentic music, cultural displays, dance lessons, and more.
The Orchard at University Place | July 29 | 6pm

💃 World Folkfest Opening Night Festival
The official World Folkfest opening night is the next night (after the event at University Place, see above).
Arts Park, Springville | July 30 | Gates open 5:30pm

✨ Glow & Reveal VIP Event
Get the inside scoop on Hydra-Facials, Botox consultations, and snag some amazing giveaways while you're at it.
V/O MED SPA Orem | July 29 | 4pm-7pm

🎶 Deer Valley Concert Series: Maren Morris
Deer Valley Resort | July 29 | 7:30pm

🧶 Utah County Fair Competition at Heindeselman’s
Heindselman's Yarn & Needlework | July 30-August 2

🎡 Utah County Fair
Open Horse Show – July 28 @ 9 am, Indoor & Outdoor Arena
Makers Market – Jul y31–August 2
LEGO Display – July 31–August 2 during fair hours | Kid (and adult) favorite.
Kids Games with Prizes – July 31–August 2 during fair hours | Carnival games, no tickets required.
3-Day Music Festival – July 31–August 2 during fair hours @ Fairgrounds | Live music from start to finish.
Family Fun Stage – July 31–August 2 during fair hours @ Fairgrounds | Magic shows, reptiles, and more.
4-H Events – July 31–August 2 during fair hours @ Fairgrounds | Local youth showcase their animals and projects.
Open Class Displays – July 31–August 2 during fair hours @ Fairgrounds | Quilts, crafts, and baked goods on display.
Open Ranch Versatility Horse Show – July 31, 5:00 pm @ Outdoor Arena
Western Night Rodeo – July 31, 7:00 pm @ Outdoor Arena (free!)
Monster Trucks – August 1, 7:00 pm @ Outdoor Arena
Car Show – August 2, 9:00 am–2:00 pm @ 49 S Main, Spanish Fork
Antique Tractor Pull – August 2, 12:00 pm @ Outdoor Arena
UTC Demolition Derby – August 2, 7:00 pm @ Outdoor Arena

💄 Hair/Makeup Workshop for Special Needs & Disabled Girls & Young Women
“Join us as a volunteer for our Inclusive Beauty Workshop, where we’ll be assisting young women and women of all needs and abilities with hair care and makeup. Our volunteers, who include professional makeup and hair experts, will lead tutorials and demonstrations.”
26 Jul | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

🎅 Christmas in July
“By July, the holiday donations we received at the Food and Care Coalition are long gone.”
The Food & Care Coalition is a nonprofit in Provo that supports individuals and families in need with hot meals, housing assistance, hygiene items, laundry services, and more. Through our “Christmas in July” initiative, we’re asking for help restocking essentials.” (Shampoo, paper towels, milk, bedding, etc.)

🚲 Bike Valet - Provo Farmer's Market
“BikeWalk Provo is seeking friendly volunteers to help run our Bike Valet service at the Provo Farmer's Market on Saturdays. This is a fantastic opportunity to support sustainable transportation in Provo and help create a welcoming environment for people on bikes!”
26 Jul | 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM

♟ CheckMated Survey
Grad student research project survey: Relationships and Dating

🩺 Health and Education Screenings with Preschoolers
“We're looking for people to help with the general operations of it. This ranges from helping people check in, to weighing, or asking children questions!”
(They are also looking for Spanish translators)
Springville | 28 Jul | 11:00 AM - 5:30 PM

@ The Velour
Wednesday - Open mic
Friday - LOAFA, Always Her, Gralley
Saturday - Ryan Innes, Garon Brett

@Java Junkie
Thursday - LampShade Writers Round
Friday - Open mic
Saturday - Cougar Gold Music

@ The Rise
Friday - TRENDY

Thanks for reading and please forward this to a gorgeous grandma! 😉

-Nicole, Josh, & Carlie