What's Happening - June 6, 2025

.

What’s Up! Almost too much going on this weekend, but what a great problem to have.

Happy Vineyard Days, Happy OremFest, Happy National Yo-Yo Day! 🪀

In Partnership with
Vinci Gelato

McKell and Jesse are the husband and wife duo behind Vinci in Provo. It hasn’t been around long, but it’s quickly become a success.

So why the success? And what makes their gelato the best in Utah?

Our explanation: It’s because of the many little things they do.

For example, their pistacchios are imported from Sicily, because apparently Sicily’s pistacchios are 👌. And they are one of the only gelato shops in the country that doesn’t use artificial thickener.

Just two examples, but you get the idea. They get the little things right and it makes a big difference.

Vinci Authentic Gelato
490 N Freedom Blvd, Provo (kitty-corner to the Provo Rec Center)
Mon-Thurs: 12:00-9:30 | Fri & Sat: 12:00-11:00
🍦 Check out their dangerously creamy pictures on Instagram

Reach thousands in Provo and Orem + hundreds of new readers each week.
Learn more

🏀 UVU Joins the Big West — Starting 2026
After more than a decade in the WAC, UVU is rejoining a conference it used to call home. This move puts UVU in the same league as a lot of California schools. The Wolverines will compete in 13 sports — basketball, soccer, baseball, volleyball, and more. Wrestling stays in the Big 12 though.

⚖ The Vineyard and Orem Residents running for office
“The five-day candidate filing period for 2025 municipal and school board elections opened Monday, and multiple citizens across Utah County have so far announced their candidacy.” See the names of those running in this Daily Herald article

🎡 Oremfest: Friday Events

🌀 Carnival Rides & Games – 10am–10pm at City Center Park. Unlimited ride wristbands available (so you can spin 'til you drop).
🌮 Food Vendors – 20+ options - eat some fried dough and count it as dinner
🧵 Boutiques – 60+ of them
🖍️ Kids’ Crafts – Free fun from 1–4pm at the North Pavilion.
🥎 Kickball Tournament – starts 5pm at Lakeside Park. Kickball kicking tip: When kicking try landing on your kicking foot.
🎤 Orem’s Got Talent – 7pm at City Center Stage
📰 Newsies at the SCERA Shell – Use code OREM25 for 50% off. Open the gates and seize the day deal. (Or seize it tomorrow, the show is running tomorrow night as well, and the code is still valid then)
🚁 Drone Show – 9:45pm on June 6. We think this is the first OremFest Drone show ever!

🎉 Vineyard Days: Friday Events

🥒 Pickleball Tournament – Early birds play at 6:30am–9am, everyone else 6pm–8:30pm
🚲 Non-Motorized Parade – Bring your wheels and leave the engine at home
🎉 Block Party – 7pm at Sunset Beach Park
🎧 DJ Dance Party – 8–10pm “Please don't stop the, please don't stop the music”
🎯 Yard Games – 8–10pm. Will there be Kan Jam? Maybe. Bachi Ball? We think so.
🎨 Face Painting – 8–10pm
🎪 Carnival Games – 8–10pm. “Step right up”
🍪 Food – The Hot dogs, treats, and Crumbl are all FREE!
🫧 Bubble Foam Party – 8–9pm. Prepare to get sudsy.
🚁 Drone Show – 9:30pm

🎨 Opening Reception: Abstracted & Architected
There’s a new exhibit at JRK, opening tomorrow night, which explores the intersection of art and architecture. Check out the art and enjoy the opening night of the show!
JKR Gallery | 6pm-9pm

🎸 Fork Fest
It’s going to be loud in the best way. 32 bands. 3 stages. 2 days of music-fueled madness! Also, the Aquabats will be there performing and celebrating their 30th anniversary with a new album! (Also, sorry if the song Super Rad! has been stuck in your head because of our earlier email.)
We have the details for Friday’s and Saturday’s lineups in the Live Music Venues section near the bottom of the email.
Fork Fest in American Fork | June 6–7

🏃‍♂️Utah Valley Marathon Expo
Did you know running can improve your mood in just 30 minutes? Wow. Now imagine how great you would feel if you ran for hours and hours. Probably super amazing.
Anyway, this one isn’t a run, it’s the expo before the run. There will be exhibitors showcasing the latest in running gear, nutrition, and wellness products, and a number of speakers talking about different health, nutrition, and running topics. And it doesn’t cost anything either.
Utah Valley Convention Center | 10am-8pm

🎉 OremFest: Saturday Events

🥞 Rotary Pancake Breakfast – 8–10am at City Center Park. Costs $5 and it helps local kids.
👶 Baby Contest – It’s cuteness overload at Hillcrest Park from 9am–noon
🧘‍♀️ Yoga in the Park – 10am
🌮 Food Vendors – 10am–10pm
🎡 Carnival Rides – 10am–10pm
🛍️ Boutiques – 60+ vendors
📰 Newsies at the SCERA Shell – 8pm
🎉 Grand Parade – 7pm on Center Street. One of Utah’s only night parades!
🎆 Fireworks – 9:45pm. The grand finale. Tune to KOHS 91.7 for the soundtrack.

🎉 Vineyard Days: Saturday Events

👟 5K & 1K Races – 8:30am start for the 5k, 9:15am for the 1k. Earn that food truck food.
🎨 Craft Stations & Art Show – 11am–6pm. Get inspired (or just messy).
🎲 Lawn Games & Interactive Rides – 11am–7pm
🛍️ Vendor Show – 11am–7pm
🌮 Food Trucks – 11am–8pm
🍬 Candy Cannon – At noon, 2pm & 5pm
🎸 Battle of the Bands – 3–6pm
🧠 Bingo for All Ages – 3:30 & 6:30pm
🎶 Concert: Music City Groove – 7:30–9:30pm
🎆 Fireworks – 9:30pm

🎉Grand Opening of the Cook Family Park
A ribbon-cutting ceremony, swag, live DJ, food trucks, and yet another drone show at 10pm!
Pleasant Grove | 10am-10pm

🎉 Founders’ Day Celebration
If you’re looking for something just a little smaller than what Orem and Vineyard are doing, but you still want a lively community event, then Midway’s your place. There’s going to be music, food (free hot dog BBQ), live music, beautification projects, and more.
Midway Town Square | 10am-2pm

🎨 Art City Days

It’s Springville’s biggest week of the year!

🟣 5K Color Run – June 7th (tomorrow)
🎨 Children’s Art Festival
🎈 Balloon Glow + Balloon Fest – June 13-14
🐴 Rodeo – June 7th
🎠 Carnival + Vendor Booths – June 11-14
🎬 Outdoor Movie
🔥 Fireman’s Breakfast – June 13-14
🚗 Car Show
🚣‍♂️ Duct Tape Regatta
🎶 Concerts – June 12 and June 14
🎆 Fireworks — June 14
📣 Parade

Lot of great burger places competed, but in the end the Wanna Smash, the NEW-food-truck-smash-burger-sensation, was voted Best Burger in Provo/Orem!

The food truck: Find them at the Provo Farmers Market most Saturdays, Well’s Fargo Park (46N University Ave) most Wednesdays, and SOHO food park in Holladay most Thursdays.

As for other days, it depends on the week. Check out their Instagram to see their weekly schedule.

How it began: Cooper, the proud owner and founder of Wanna Smash, started selling burgers in high school.

Cooper n’ friends brought a stovetop to school their smash burgers quickly became a hit with students and faculty. They opened up shop every day during lunch and sold the burgers throughout the school year.

Cooper continued to perfect the craft until finally opening Wanna Smash in 2024.

What’s their secret: According to Cooper: “We make our burgers the only way we know how.” No cutting corners and staying true to the “art of the smash” (do the smash right and it locks in juices and flavor through something called the Maillard reaction). Also, Cooper and his team love what they do and when you love what you do, you do it well.

🍔 Want a Wanna Smash smash burger? Show them this Instagram post at checkout for a discount.

@ Fork Fest
Friday - Little Moon, Mindy Gledhill, Book on Tape Worm, Paul Jacobsen & the Madison Arm, and Ysabelle + Garon Brett.
Saturday - The Aquabats, Stretsch Armstronng, Sego, Fictionist, Lantern by Sea, Robert Loud, Seaslak, The King Will Come, Drusky, Rally, 19 Miles Per Hour, Kaytlin Numbers, Local Kin, Ferrin, Avintaquin, Wilbere, Hasha, Botanical Animal, JakDel, Caysn, Swerved by Blondes, EmJay Hink, The Last Wild Buffalo, The Penny Candies, Ryan Call, Saemore, and Lo-Fi Riot.

@ The Boardwalk
Friday - Scarlett Letter, UltraVatic, I’d Rather Be, Eden Cardall
Saturday - Valentines Day Club, Zealousy

Thanks for reading all the way through. We’re getting close to 10,000 people so if you like what we’re doing, then please help us get there and refer a friend. 😉

-Nicole, Josh, & Carlie

p.s. Comments, questions, concerns… just email us at [email protected].