What's Happening in Provo and Orem | Jan. 8, 2025

What’s Up Provo! There are some good Wellness Wednesday holidays today including National Winter Skin Relief Day, National Take the Stairs Day, and National Snuggle a Chicken Day! 🐔 

Highlights of today’s newsletter:

• 🧩 Jigsaw Race, 🎿 Cross Country Skiing Race, Van Gogh to Playdough 🖼️, Moonlight Snowshoe Hike in Midway ❄️

• ✈️ Flights from Provo/SLC for less than $50

• 🍎 Food/meals, supplies, and volunteers needed!

Local Business
Plunj 🥵🥶😌

Enjoy all the wellness benefits of “contrast therapy” in Provo’s own Nordic style bathhouse! (They also have locations in Saratoga Springs and Idaho Falls, too!)

Sweat it all out in their sauna, which gets up to 175 degrees(!?!), then jump into the cold plunge (no cannonballs please), rest, and then repeat! (Hot, cold, rest, repeat.)

3768 N University Ave. STE 101, Provo | More info

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

The Bulletin 📌 

Watershed Restoration Success 🌲 

Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative has been going on for a number of years now, and the results are starting to get noticed by other states. The program has restored nearly 3 million, 119 miles of streams have been restored, and it’s also created over 800 jobs. Article

$20 million to be allocated towards 31 outdoor recreation projects 💰️ 

The state of Utah is allocating the funds, and part of the funding allocation will go towards the AF Canyon, to restore a “safe access to the upper part of the canyon”. Also, the funds will be used to purchase the Burr Family farm, which is along the Provo River Parkway Trail, to ensure long-term public use of that area. Article

Cheap Flights from Provo/SLC ✈️ 

We love Utah, but it’s also nice to get a break from the cold weather… Flight deals change frequently, but here’s what’s available currently:

$151 Roundtrip Provo to D.C. in January | See Deal
$44 Roundtrip SLC to Phoenix in January | See Deal
$84 Roundtrip Provo to San Francisco in January | See Deal
$38 Roundtrip SLC to San Francisco in January | See Deal
$92 Roundtrip Provo to San Diego in March | See Deal
$181 Roundtrip Provo to Tampa in April | See Deal

Today
33° | ⛅️ | 0%

The Great January Jigsaw Race 🧩 

Some puzzle tips from the experts: Turn all the pieces face up (alright, kinda obvious), good lighting is key (ok, little less obvious), focus on just one area of the puzzle at a time (a solid lean production principle, チャクチャク).

The race is happening all month long, so get a team together and see how well you guys stack up against others in Provo/Orem at assembling large, medium, and small puzzles!

Provo Library | All month long | More info

🎹 McBride Music: Music Together (Ages 0-5)
McBride Music has a free class today! If you can’t make it today, don’t worry, they have another free class on Friday, as well. (If spots are still available…) Your toddler will love this music class—and don’t be surprised if you learn some new things as well. The class today, and the one on Friday, will last 45-minutes.
Steps Performing Arts Center in Spanish Fork | Wednesday, January 8th at 10:00 a.m. and Friday, January 10th at 5:30 p.m. | Register

🏀 BYU vs Houston
BYU women’s basketball is looking to avenge the men’s loss to the Houston Cougars over the weekend. 😠 So cheer on freshman Delaney Gibb, sophomore Amari Whiting, and the rest as the team as they (hopefully) hand Houston their 11th loss of the year.
BYU Marriott Center | 7pm | Tickets

🎿 Cross Country Skiing Race
Another reminder about the race today. Be there at 5:30pm sharp if you plan on racing!
Soldier Hollow Nordic Center | 5:30pm | More info

Thursday
35° | ☀️ | 10%

Van Gogh to Playdough 🖼️ 

For kids 3-5 years old. This event is likely to be full, but watch for openings as sometimes there are cancellations.

At this free BYU MOA event, kids read, sing, play and create. There are all kinds of activities the kids could play, inspired by the art and the artists featured at the MOA. The kids will also complete an art and craft project for the day, and the museum provides all the materials!

BYU Museum of Art | 10am | More info

💀 Hamlet (2015)
“Brevity is the soul of wit.”*
Noted Polonius. We’ll keep this brief. Hamlet, starring Benedict Cumberbatch, (8.4/10 on IMDb), at the Noorda at UVU. Get your tickets.
(*Quote from Polonius, right-hand man of Hamlet's stepfather.)
Noorda | 6:30pm | More info

Friday
40° | ⛅️ | 10%

Moonlight Snowshoe Hike in Midway ❄️ 

We’ve heard if the clouds cooperate you might not even need headlights! (We’re not telling you to not bring flashlights, but when it’s a full/almost-full moon the snow reflects the moonlight and creates a beautiful scene.) These hikes usually get filled up quick, but last we saw the one on Friday is not yet full—so grab a spot quick! ($7.00 per person and $6.00 for snowshoe rentals)
Wasatch Mountain State Park | 6:30pm - 9:30pm | More info

🏴‍☠️ Peter Pan
"Would you like an adventure now, or shall we have our tea first?"
The Dance Conservatory presents Peter Pan at the Covey Center this Friday and Saturday! There are 2 shows each day, tickets are $10 each, and kids under 3 are free!
Covey Center | Friday @ 4pm & 7pm & Saturday @ 4pm & 7pm | More info

🧑‍🎤 Vocal Point
BYU’s Vocal Point has 4 shows coming up, two on Friday and two on Saturday, and they are all almost sold out!
BYU Mainstage Theatre | Friday 5pm, Friday 7:30pm, Saturday 3pm, Saturday 7pm | More info

Also:
👉️ Free Faculty Recital at BYU: Sacred and Spiritual Music (Ammons, Owens, and Pierce)
👉️ Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope (1948) showing at the Orem Library
👉️ BYU men’s volleyball vs St. Thomas Aquinas College at 7pm | Tickets

Live Music 🎸

@ The Velour
Velour Slumber Party this Fri/Sat (so bring your blankies, jammies, and teddy bears)
Friday - Book On Tape Worm w/ Ryan Call
Saturday - Book On Tape Worm w/ Avintaquin

@ The Boardwalk
Friday - Bat Brain, Charlotte Hills, The Playoffs
Saturday - Sydney Rian, Rainbowcurlie, The Wannabees, Cactus Tree

Wellness Wednesday: Service Opportunities 💝 

Usually, there’s a drop in charitable activity and donations after the holidays. From a recent Daily Herald article, “With the ending of the holiday season each year comes a sharp decrease in donations, especially to food banks and pantries.” (Read more about how to help alleviate hunger after the holidays.)

So there might not be a better time to volunteer/donate then now! Check out some of the local service opportunities below:

🍎 Rescue Food FHE
“Join us on Monday evenings to help rescue food! Depending on our needs, volunteers may assist with repackaging food into smaller containers, preparing food for public distribution, or participating in food processing.” More info

🥗 “Adopt-a-Meal" at the Family Room at Primary Children’s (Lehi)
“The Adopt-a-Meal program provides a much-needed service to families who are supporting their sick or injured children. Families often will not have the time, resources, or energy to prepare a healthy, hot meal for themselves. This program invites friends, families, co-workers, school, community, or church groups to cook and prepare meals for families staying at the Ronald McDonald Family Room inside Primary Children’s Hospital-Miller Campus.” More info

🧼 Homeless Warming Centers - Supplies Needed!
“Blankets (NEW and CLEAN, gently used. Adult size. Preferably no fleece!) New, unopened Hygiene motel and regular size (toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, pads, tampons, combs, brushes, shaving cream, razors (men and women's, bath soap/gel, etc.), Cup of Noodles, Macaroni and Cheese Cups, Fruit Snacks (packaged), Granola Bars, Sweet and Salty Packs, Sandwich Crackers/Cookies (packaged), Candy/Candy Bars (must be wrapped), Bottled Water, Hand Warmers, Umbrellas, Rain Ponchos” More info

♨️ Volunteers needed to serve at homeless warming centers
“Volunteers, 18 years and older, are needed nightly at the local homeless centers for the homeless through April 30th. Those volunteering will help with set up and clean up, safety and security, and will provide friendship and fellowship under the guidance of trained staff. Nightly shifts are 8:30pm to 1:00am, 12:30am to 5:00am, and 4:30am to 8:30am. Locations are in or near Provo and vary nightly.” More info

🚛 Feed Utah: Macey’s Provo
March 15th 11:30am - 2pm
“Volunteers will sort and load donated non-perishable food onto trucks for distribution to designated sites.” More info

Thanks!

Thanks for reading! Make it a great day today Provo! 😉 

-Nicole, Josh, & Carlie

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