What's Happening in Provo and Orem | Jan. 22, 2025

What’s Up Provo!

Happy National Grandpa Day! 👴👨

Technically, this might be a Polish holiday, but we’ll take it. To all you grandpa’s out there, we hope today is a great one!

A few highlights of today’s newsletter:

• 🕯️ Walk of Life, Legos & Minecraft, BYU Blast, Fire and Ice 2025 🔥🧊, Chocolate Lovers Train Ride, Sundance Film Festival

• 🍆 Aubergine Expansion Plans

• 🚀 Edgemont Elementary STEM Fair 2025 (volunteers needed)

Local Business
Sparks Museum and Event Center 🚗 

If you're looking for a memorable event, wedding, family party, corporate event, fundraiser, reunion etc., this is the place!

Here is the story behind Sparks as told by Tiffany:
“Our dad (Sparky Sparks) was a picker before picking was cool.

‘…His oldest son was managing his Storage Park AAA Lakeside Storage and said "dad lets "dress up Lakeside Storage". This began the gas pump collecting which led to the sign collecting. He brought a gas pump that he had had for years and put it in the front of the Storage Park. One was not enough and what began with one is now hundreds of gas pumps and petroliana signs.”

Sparks Museum has what is most likely the largest collection of pole signs anywhere in the world. The gas pumps and petroliana signs come from all over the United States and Canada, and the collection keeps growing! It’s always great to find a local hidden gem.

Visit their indoor and outdoor museum, schedule a photo shoot, or host an event. Learn more about them at SparksMuseumAndEventCenter.com

Nothing in this section is sponsored. We’ll always let you know if something is sponsored..

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The Bulletin 📌 

Aubergine Expansion Plans 🍅🍆 

Aubergine Kitchen, which started in Orem, is expanding into 5 new locations soon, including a new location in Spanish Fork and the SLC airport! Great to see the success of yet another restaurant company that started locally. And congrats to the Zanatta’s on the success! Article

District Title 1 Preschool Registration Begins 🎒 

Registration is now open for the District Title 1 preschool (school starts Sep. 1, 2025). If you live in the boundary of one of these schools then your child might qualify: Amelia Earhart Elementary, Sunset View Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Provo Peaks Elementary, Provost Elementary, Timpanogos Elementary, Spring Creek Elementary. More info

BYU football ranked #13 🏈 

Really a great year for BYU. We still what wonder could have been, if only we could had gained a few more yards in that Kansas or Arizona St. game… But really a great year, and one that few, if any, of us expected. Kalani’s team finished the year with a 11-2 record and ranked #13. Plus a lot of importance pieces coming back next year. Article

Sundance Film Festival 2025 📽️ 

Sundance Film Festival starts January 23rd and goes until February 2nd. Single film tickets are now on sale. More info about the Sundance Film Festival 2025

Today
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Walk of Life 🕯️ 

This annual event, which commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is scheduled for tonight!

If you haven’t been before, participants will be meeting at the tunnel at next to the Marriott center and will commence on a silent, half-mile walk to the Wilk on BYU campus. After arriving, there will be speeches and presentations (often a few musical numbers), in honor of Martin Luther King. This event is free and everyone is welcome!

Marriott Center Tunnel | 6:30pm | More info

☂️ Mary Poppins at the Covey Center
Mary Poppins will be floating into the Covey Center tonight at 7pm. The performance will be put on by Utah COPA. (Tickets cost $14.)
Covey Center | January 22–23 @ 7 PM | More info

🧱 Legos & Minecraft
LEGO Crew (for ages 5-8) is happening today, with the theme being “Snow”, and Minecraft club (for ages 9-12) will start around the same time.
Provo Library | LEGO Crew - 4:15pm to 5pm, Minecraft Club - 4pm to 5pm | LEGO | Minecraft

🧩 Puzzle Swap
If you’re getting tired of UNO then throw it in the car, along with some of your old puzzles, and head to the Springville Library for the Puzzle and Game Swap. Maybe you can score a Dowdle puzzle, Camel Up, or Taco Goat Cheese Pizza!
Springville Library | 7pm - 8pm| More info

Also:
👉️ Blood Drive at the Provo Library
👉️ Big Kid Adventures at the Orem Library from 4pm to 5pm (for grades K-3rd)
👉️ Candy Craft at the Springville Library
👉️ Free guide through the Crossing the Divide exhibit at the BYU MOA starting at 12:10pm
👉️ BYU men’s volleyball vs #2 UC Irvine @ 7pm MST (away)
👉️ BYU women’s basketball vs Iowa State @ 5:30pm MST (away)

Thursday
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BYU Blast 🎷🎸🎙️ 

BYU Blast combines the efforts of students and faculty and is will no doubt be an electrifying concert!

Lots of short performances, back to back, featuring 25 ensembles and soloists. Past showcases have included groups like the BYU Philharmonic, Orpheus Winds, Synthesis, Harp Ensemble, Mountain Strings, Jazz Legacy Band, and many more. Prepare for a fast-paced musical event—don’t blink!

BYU Concert Hall | Jan 23, 7:30pm to 9:30pm | More info

🌍💃 International Folk Dance Ensemble Journey: Reflections
BYU’s international folk dance program has traveled the globe for seven decades performing traditional dances. But tomorrow night (and also Friday and Saturday) they will be performing for their home crowd. Tickets are $18. A world of dance awaits!
BYU Dance Performance Theatre | Thursday & Friday @ 7:30pm, Saturday @ 2pm | More info

🏹 First Peoples of Great Salt Lake
Steven Simms, of Utah State University, has done archaeological work across the United States and and the Middle East for over 45 years. And tomorrow he will be talking about some of his findings which he’s published in his recent book, First Peoples of Great Salt Lake: A Cultural Landscape from Nevada to Wyoming. This event is hosted by BYU's Charles Redd Center for Western Studies, and is free open to the public!
B192 JFSB, BYU Campus | Jan 23, 11:00am | More info

📘 Guys Read Book Club
Still some spots available for the Guys Read Book Club. This is for boys ages 9-12, and the book this week is called Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. There will be refreshments and crafts as well!
Provo Library | 7pm to 8pm | More info/Register

Also:
👉️ UVU women’s basketball vs California Baptist (home) @ 6pm MST
👉️ Cookie decorating class at 6pm to 8pm at Indigo355

Friday
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Fire and Ice 2025 🔥🧊 

It’s the 14th year of the Fire and Ice celebration at the Riverwoods! (The website says 12 but we were told it’s actually 14.)

Stroll through the Riverwoods, maybe grab something to eat/drink, enjoy the ice sculptures and live entertainment, take advantage of some amazing photo ops, or just stay warm by the fire pits. This year, The Shops at Riverwoods has partnered with The Food and Care Coalition to collect food donations during the event, and they will be giving a special gift to everyone who donates 2 cans!

And don't leave too early, or you might miss the finale (fireworks) at 8pm!

Shops at Riverwoods | Jan 24, 4pm to 8pm | More info

🚂🍫 Chocolate Lovers Train Ride
Join the (chocolate) love train! Love train! 🎶 Enjoy delightful artisan chocolates and warm cocoa as you enjoy a relaxing train ride. Perfect for date night.
Heber Valley Railroad | Jan 24, 7pm (also more of these events coming up in Feb, Mar, and Apr) | More info

🎥📰 Foreign Correspondent (1940)
This is a fascinating film, especially considering its storyline: an American reporter exposes a fictional conspiracy about an impending war in Europe in 1940. Of course, in 1940, most people didn’t realize they were about to enter the very much not fictional World War II. If you haven’t seen it, don’t miss this gripping thriller—and one of the last in the Orem Library’s Alfred Hitchcock film series.
Orem Library | Jan 24, 6:30pm | More info

🎞️ A Man for All Seasons (1966)
Another classic film for you, A Man for All Seasons. A historical drama about the great Sir Thomas More’s, who was beheaded in 1535 for standing up for his convictions and refusing to accept King Henry VIII as the head of the Church of England.
BYU Library Auditorium | 7pm | More info

🎙️ Ramin Karimloo @ BYU
Olivier Award nominee Ramin Karimloo is performing in Utah for the first time, and will be joined by The Broadgrass Band for a night of Broadway “with a touch of bluegrass”.
BYU Concert Hall | 7:30pm | More info

Also:
👉 Curtain's Up: Cabaret, A Night of Gershwin at the Noorda, 7:30pm
👉 Drop-n-Decorate at Baking Me Crazy, 4 pm - 8pm
👉 Uinta Trio at BYU Recital Hall, 7:30pm (free)
👉️ Gymnastics BYU vs Utah @ 7pm (home)
👉️ BYU men’s volleyball vs #2 UC Irvine @ 7pm MST (away)

Live Music 🎸

@ The Velour
TODAY - Open Mic
Saturday - Toddfather, Watterson, Pretty Kitties

@ The Boardwalk
Thursday - Always Her, Spencer Stix, Dead Metro
Friday - Komas, Foxland, Tulip’s Revenge
Saturday - KTH King, SheluvsJ, Nogltch, Jammato, Honorary, River the Kid, Berry, Hockey House

Wellness Wednesday: Service Opportunities 💝 

Edgemont Elementary STEM Fair 2025 (volunteers needed) 🚀

“Edgemont Elementary is hosting their annual STEM Fair!
K-3 will be on Friday, January 24 from 8:30-10:30 am.
4-6 will be on Friday, January 31 from 8:30-10:30am.

Each judge will receive a 30min training and then will judge at least 3 projects. There will be light refreshments provided.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Brock Berger (5th grade teacher/STEM Fair Coordinator) at: [email protected]”

More info | 2025 STEM Fair Google Slides

🛝 Help needed getting a new playground
(This one is for The Center for Women and Children, which is expanding to a new facility.) “We are seeking community support to help us build a playground… We need generous individuals, organizations, and businesses to help us turn this vision into reality. Whether you can donate materials, volunteer your skills, or contribute financially, your support will create a lasting impact on these families' lives.” More info

👁️‍🗨️ CharityVision International Social Media Help (ongoing opportunity)
CharityVision (their headquarters are near Day’s Market in Provo) is looking for someone who is interested in humanitarian work, not shy in front of a camera, can use Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin, is willing to learn the basics of Canva and Adobe Lightroom, and can commit to 5 hours per week, to help with their social media. More info

Thanks!

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed it! 😉 

-Nicole, Josh, & Carlie

p.s. If someone forwarded this to you, and you aren’t part of the group yet, then sign up here! 👈️