Category: Uncategorized

July 21, 2025

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s Pioneer Day holiday celebrates the arrival of the first group of pioneers entering the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Cities across Utah are celebrating with unique events to mark the holiday.

Days of ’47 celebration

The week of festivities starts with the Float Preview Party on Monday, July 21 and Tuesday, July 22 from 11 a.m.to 9 p.m. at the Mountain America Expo Center, 9575 S. State.

The Utah Days of ’47 Rodeo will kick off with a cattle drive through Salt Lake streets at 9 a.m. on July 21. Then, nightly shows will take place at the Utah State Fairpark, 155 S. 1000 West, from Tuesday, July 22 to Saturday, July 26, with each show followed by fireworks and drone displays.

The Deseret News Marathon is the longest-operating marathon in Utah and it kicks off early (5:30 a.m.) on Thursday, July 24 with full, half, 10K, 5K, 1K and the new relay races. Online registration closes at 5 p.m. on July 23.

The multiple-day festival also includes the iconic Days of ’47 Parade, which starts Thursday, July 24 at 9 a.m. The route begins at South Temple and State and ends at 900 S. 600 East in Salt Lake City. Liberty Park will be the site of multiple events throughout the day with a Pioneer Day Drone Show at 10 p.m.

Ogden Pioneer Days

Bring your boots and cowboy hat for the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, one of the top five large outdoor rodeos in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The rodeo begins Friday, July 19, and runs through Thursday, July 24, except Sunday. Bands will perform before the rodeo and drone shows will be held after the rodeo.

• When: Thursday, July 24, 9 a.m. Horse and Hitch Parade followed by the Grande Parade.
• Where: The parade route begins on 31st Street, continues north on Washington Boulevard and ends on 20th Street.

This Is The Place

Join in on the Utah festivities in true pioneer style at This is the Place Heritage Park. A full day of festivities includes a flag ceremony, handcart parade, dancing, watermelon eating contest and normal activities at the park. Enjoy the holiday as you step back in time to the pioneer days.

• When: July 24, Flag ceremony at 10:30 a.m., Parade of Handcarts at 11 a.m., dancing and watermelon-eating contest throughout the day.
• Where: This is the Place Heritage Park, 2601 Sunnyside Ave. in Salt Lake City; flag ceremony at This is the Place Fort, Parade of Handcarts at Main Street, dancing and watermelon eating contest around the park.
• Cost: Price of admission to the park.

Fun at the Mill

Celebrate in Tooele County with rich pioneer history at the Fun at the Mill event. The free festivities, hosted at the Benson Grist Mill, will include free pioneer games and activities, free hot dogs and drinks and folks dressed in pioneer-style clothing. Try your hand at authentic pioneer chores and see what life was like back in 1847.

• When: Friday, July 25, festivities begin at 11 a.m.
• Where: Benson Grist Mill, 325 Pole Canyon Road, Stansbury Park.
• Cost: Free to the public.

Fireworks and city celebrations

Wednesday, July 23

• Clearfield: Join in on the city-wide scavenger hunt, Search the City, the week of June 23-29. The first clue is posted on social media @clearfieldcity and will lead you to a location with a clue to the next area. Solve the clues and submit pictures of yourself via the form at each location to be entered into our prize giveaways. The locations are accessible all day and can be visited at any time.

Thursday, July 24

• American Fork: Take a trip to pioneer times with the Daughters of Utah Pioneers event. Stop by Robinson Park, 100 E. Main, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to try pioneer games, weaving, rolling hoops and pulling a handcart. Tours of the museum and on-site cabins will also be offered to the public for free.
• Beaver: Join in on the pioneer spirit with Beaver’s day of celebration. Start the day with a 5K and fun run, followed by the parade at 9:30 a.m. After the parade, stop by the park for foot races, games and lunch. The rodeo and fireworks beginning at 9:45 p.m. will close out the day at the Tushar Mountain 4-plex.
• Cottonwood Heights:Butlerville Days at Butler Park, 7500 S. 2700 East, will feature entertainment, carnival rides, inflatables and other events, including a drone show at 10 p.m.
• Fairview:Bring on the party with Fairview’s 5K, parade at 11 a.m., breakfast, car show, and old-fashioned kids’ games.
• Kanab: Celebrate in a unique way with the annual fireworks on the water. Spots can be reserved at 4 p.m., but fireworks will not begin until after dark at Jackson Flat Reservoir.
• Kaysville: Help to raise funds to support youth sports in the city. On its 35th anniversary, the scholarship program will help to aid youth to participate in recreational sports. Stop by Bowman’s, 326 Main, between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. for a pancake breakfast.
• Kamas: Bring the kiddos to celebrate with the city of Kamas. Visit the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers cabin, watch the parade at 5 p.m. at City Hall and finish off with a rodeo, live entertainment and fireworks show beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the rodeo grounds.
• Layton: Join in on the funwith a day full of live entertainment, dancing, a Surf ‘n Swim, food truck rally, a special performance from “Riders in the Sky” and a unique electric light parade. Neon lights meet a traditional parade in this special nighttime event from Wasatch Drive, north to Constitution Circle. The evening will end in an electric light party zone.
• Logan: A full day’s festivities will include tournaments, a fun run, parade, a candy cannon, bingo night, a concert with Michelle Lambert and a culminating evening of fireworks at 10 p.m. at Willow Park, 450 W. 700 South.
• Millcreek: Enjoy a sweet treat with the Millcreek community at 7 p.m. for Pie and Root Beer Day. Complimentary pie and frosty root beer floats will be served at Millcreek Common, 1354 E. Chambers Ave.
• Moab: Beat the heat with the Moab Museum’s ice cream social. Stop by the Moab Museum, 118 E. Center Street, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to enjoy Aggie ice cream, live music, lawn games and the museum.
• Orem: Head toOrem for a spectacular fireworks show, live entertainment and a dance party to celebrate. A market of over 50 local vendors will also make the evening one not to miss. Fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. at the Orchard at University Place.
• Park City: Come on out for a picnic, live music, cowboy poetry, relay games, crafts and face painting. Join in on the family-friendly festivities at the City Park South Pavilion, 1304 Sullivan Road.
• Spanish Fork: Bring on the fiesta with the end of Spanish Fork’s Fiesta Days celebration. Enjoy a 5K, Grand Parade down Center and Main Street at 9 a.m., a quilt show, carnival, live entertainment and a booming fireworks show. Fireworks will begin at 10 p.m. at Sports Park, 493 W. Volunteer Drive.
• Vernal: Celebrate the pioneer spirit with Vernal’s day of activities from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free activities such as rope making, pottery and demonstrations of blacksmithing will be offered. Old-fashioned games, free museum entry and a fundraising bake sale will all complete the day at Vernal Pioneer Museum, 186 S. 500 West.
• Washington, Washington County: Have a blast with Washington’s day full of festivities. The morning will begin with a breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by a parade down Telegraph at 8 a.m., booths at Veterans Park and a final fireworks show at 10 p.m. at Veterans Park, 75 E. Telegraph Street.
• Wellsville, Cache County: Come ready to learn about all things pioneer. Special pioneer-themed activities and demonstrations will fill the American West Heritage Center, 4025 S. Highway 89-91. Explore the heritage of Cache Valley while meeting living history interpreters and taking pony rides.

Friday, July 25

• Bountiful: Enjoy a day full of food, drinks and fun activities at the annual Handcart Days. The evening will end with Roy Rivers performing a free concert at the Bountiful City Park Pavilion, 400 N 200 West.
• Cottonwood Heights: The Butlerville Days Parade will begin at 9 a.m. followed by carnival rides, a car show and activities at Butler Park, 7500 S. 2700 East. A fireworks show begins at 10 p.m.
• Lehi: Live the magic of “Wicked” at Ashton Gardens. Take a moment under the stars to sing along to fan favorite songs such as “Wicked” and “Popular.” Doors open at 8 p.m., movie usually begins at dusk, 3900 N. Garden Drive. Cost is free for members, $7.50 for adults and $5 for children.
• Manti: Experience a unique cultural night with Manti’s Taiko night. The event will feature rhythm, storytelling and culture centered around the traditional Taiko drumming. Enjoy short talks and live performances as we explore the history, meaning, and spirit behind Taiko drumming. The show will be held at Manti High School, 100 W. 500 North at 7:30 p.m. Various Taiko events will take place throughout the week.
• Parowan: Enjoy a concert under the stars on Friday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Gather at Main Street Park, 113 W. Center, to celebrate music and the state with a free concert.

Saturday, July 26

• Bountiful:The city will keep the festivities going all weekend long with the Handcart Days race, parade at 9 a.m., park activities and a final fireworks show at 10 p.m. at Mueller Park Junior High. 955 E. 1800 South.
• Monticello: Begin the morning bright and early with Monticello’s 5K, tournaments throughout the day, inflatables and other activities. The day will finish with a large fireworks show starting at dark at the ball fields, 301 W Center Street.
• Tremonton: As the grand finale for the city’s Hay Days festival, Tremonton will go all out on Saturday. Enjoy a 5K, breakfast, car show, various contests, bubble party, magic show, concert in the park and fireworks at 10 p.m. at Jeanie Stevens Park, 700 N. 1000 West.

Read full article here.

April 30, 2025

OREM, Utah (ABC4) — Builders, get ready, a new LEGO store is making its way to Orem this May.

The new 2,615-square-foot store will be at the University Place mall with a grand opening on May 9. There will be many fun activities, such as a mystery mural LEGO brick building activity, a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., and a Minifigure costume character to take pictures with.

The Orem location brings the number of U.S. LEGO stores to 112.

“LEGO Stores are true community hubs — spaces where new and existing LEGO fans of all ages can find inspiration and immersive experiences to build upon their passions. That’s why we are investing to expand our retail portfolio across the United States and are thrilled to be opening a new LEGO Store in Orem,” says Shweta Munshi, VP of Retail Experience, LEGO Retail. “Visit us in-store from May 9 to discover exclusive sets, dedicated support from expert Brick Specialists and plenty of opportunities for play.” 

Year-round store fixtures include the “Pick & Build” wall and a “Build a Mini” tower. LEGO also said the store will be “home to the largest range of LEGO products, including many exclusives.”

In addition to the grand opening event, the store will offer exclusive promotions throughout the week, which are:

May 12-18: LEGO Store reusable tote with all purchases of $50 or more

May 9-10: I <3 LEGO Store Tile giveaway.

May 9: LEGO Store Yellow Truck for all LEGO Insiders with a purchase of $75 or more.

May 10: LEGO Store set with all purchases of $120 or more.

Read full article here.

December 12, 2024

The UVU Review was granted early access to Dreamwalk Park, a fully immersive dive into a whimsical, science-fiction world.

Opening Dec. 12, Dreamwalk Park is the latest addition to the University Place Mall in Orem, Utah. Similar to Meow Wolf, Dreamwalk Park is an interactive art exhibition created by Ben McPherson and John Pope.  

Dreamwalk, first and foremost a filmmaking company, wanted to showcase their prop and set designs while “building a place for their tribe to gather,” Vice President/Creative Director Brad Skaar stated.  

With their history in filmmaking, Dreamwalk is deeply focused on the art of storytelling. While an art exhibition is more static than a film, Dreamwalk has still found the ability to infuse a coherent narrative into the project. They draw inspiration from other imaginative filmmakers like Hayao Miyazaki, Jim Henson and Walt Disney.  

Originally, Dreamwalk Park was intended to be worked on alongside Dreamwalk’s upcoming film project. But as they started work, they realized how much bigger this project was than they realized. Therefore, they put their film project on hold to focus on bringing Dreamwalk Park to life with a high level of detail.  

Skaar expressed Dreamwalk’s commitment to making the park fully immersive. Skaar wants to make the exhibition feel like stepping into a dream and has carefully designed it to avoid anything that might disrupt this dreamlike experience. He identifies problems with other theme parks that take away from the illusion, such as exposed ceilings or glimpses into behind-the-scenes work.  

This visual experience features a variety of awe-inspiring spaces. The first destination is called the “Galactic Grotto,” and was jokingly nicknamed “Gen Z Falls” by Skaar. Throughout their journey, viewers will see shiny crystal caves, waterfalls, glowing plants, volcanoes, giant mushrooms, robots, and more. Each space features what Skaar called “anomalies,” in which elements of the set light up in synchronization with dynamic music to match the vibe of the space.  

Dreamwalk Park is an experience that stimulates all of the senses. A constant soundscape brings the rooms to life, giving the illusion of movement all around. Each room also features a carefully curated scent that heightens the experience. This entire intricate exhibition was built by a small staff of 15–20 dedicated local designers.  

The Dreamwalk team was careful to recruit local artists to help, like illustrator Guy Francis whose work was on display at a local restaurant. The Review stumbled upon Francis drawing a blend of prehistoric yet futuristic cave paintings on the walls of the park. Francis also helped design some of the mechanic robots featured in the park, explaining why Skaar referred to him as “one of our wizards.” 

Along with being a stimulating experience, Dreamwalk Park also provides pieces of lore to discover. The story told by Dreamwalk Park picks up after an asteroid strikes the mall, tearing through the fabric of spacetime and opening a portal. This asteroid was sent by the ‘portal keepers,’ ancient aliens who contact various universes, opening up an “interstellar highway between galaxies,” Skaar explained.   

Through this portal, viewers are taken to various destinations throughout the galaxy, featuring what is called the “Muselium,” where representatives of various mythologies are laid to rest. The room is divided between positive mythological figures—like unicorns and fairies—and more villainous figures. This distinction is meant to display instances in which interaction with other parts of the galaxy has been peaceful and instances in which it has not.  

Upon entering, each viewer is given a portal pass and a decoder wand. Portal passes can be scanned at numerous terminals to unlock hidden features throughout the exhibition. The more one scans their portal pass, the higher they rise in ranking. Decoder wands are used to follow a secret language and discover hidden clues that slowly reveal the lore behind the portal.  

While the atmosphere of some spaces and the content of the lore can feel heavy, Dreamwork has worked to balance this out by “injecting moments of levity,” as Skaar put it. The space with the most levity is “Merge Market,” a marketplace created by robots for robots. There, viewers can play a variety of robot-themed arcade games and see a robot DJ play. 

Along with the grand opening of Dreamwalk Park will be the release of a trading card game featuring elements and characters from the Dreamwalk world. Viewers will receive a “dream bag,” featuring sixty trading cards and other goodies. Only the first edition of cards is available now, but Dreamwalk has plans to release further editions. 

Dreamwalk Park is the type of exhibition that will likely attract tourists from across the country, especially as it continues to evolve. Dec. 12 is their initial opening date, but they plan to continue expanding further after its opening, both regarding the space the exhibition fills, and the level of detail achieved. Visit dreamwalk.com to get tickets and learn more about the park. Tickets are $34.95 for adults and $24.95 for children, but UVU students can get 20% off by using the promo code UVU20PERCENT.

Read full article here.

November 27, 2024

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has expanded to have 106 operating Giving Machines across the globe in 2024, placing them in far-reaching cities such as Nairobi, Kenya, and Cebu City, Philippines.

The charity initiative still remains local, though, as the church has five Giving Machines in Utah this Christmas season. That includes one in Orem, which returns to the University Place Mall for a fifth time and will operate through Jan. 3, 2025.

Elsewhere in Utah, Giving Machines have been placed in Logan, Ogden, Salt Lake City and St. George.

“It’s really been interesting to get involved with it, and then to see how it kind of comes together,” said Mark Seastrand, who is in charge of the Orem machine. “The joy that comes from the community and from the money is very helpful. We could help feed some people. We can help them have a little better life, stay a little warmer and find the resources they need.”

The Giving Machines, which are part of the church’s “Light the World” campaign, offer a variety of charities that people can choose to donate particular items to. The Orem location selected eight vetted charities this year.

“There’s that concern that if I give money, will it go to the right place? Will it be used in the right way?” Seastrand said. “And so I think that the Giving Machines give people a really good opportunity to not just give money, but to give particular items. So when they go to the Giving Machine, they can select what they want to give.”

The Orem Giving Machine group partnered with the Red Cross to make donations on an international level again this year. Through the Red Cross, people can donate items such as goats or chickens.

Most of the charities are local, though, including a number of food-based charities such as Community Action Services and Food Bank, Meals on Wheels and Tabitha’s Way, which has food pantries in Spanish Fork, Pleasant Grove and Saratoga Springs.

Other charities involved are United Way; Eye Care 4 Kids; the Alpine House, which helps people with mental health challenges; and Kids on the Move, an Orem-based charity that says it helps families with “special circumstances.”

Seastrand estimated that 60%-70% of items donated stay locally.

“I will say we are fortunate because we have a number of great charities that are well-run and really do a good job here locally in Utah Valley,” Seastrand said. “It’s hard to pick from, because there are so many good ones to choose from.”

The process of getting the Giving Machines up and running on an annual basis is a meticulous one. The first step is identifying and selecting the charities and “getting them up to speed,” Seastrand explained.

From there, there are legal documents and contracts to work through.

“Anytime you’re working with donations, and with a fairly significant amount of donations, you want to make sure that everything is wrapped up and locked in well with the charities,” Seastrand said.

According to Seastrand, after securing the charities, the most difficult task for new cities is finding a place to put the machine. In places unfamiliar with the Giving Machines, getting them placed in targeted areas, such as shopping centers, is tricky, he said, because business owners are often skeptical of what they are and how they operate.

Having a reliable location at the mall makes that a nonissue for the Orem team.

But they still have to tackle additional logistics annually, including setting up an internet connection to the machine, promoting the machine through a kick-off event and advertising, and securing volunteers to run the machine throughout the season.

“There really are a lot of factors to making this thing go and we’ve got a wonderful team of individuals,” Seatrand said. “Our team has done it a time or two now, so it’s a little bit more routine, but it’s still a great joy and privilege to be able to do it.”

The Giving Machine program has grown dramatically in recent years. In 2019 and 2021, there were just 10 machines, including the Orem location. That number grew to 28 in 2022, 61 in 2023 and now to over 100.

For the Orem location, Seatrand said there isn’t a specific numeric or monetary benchmark they’re hoping to achieve. Rather, the goal is to promote good in the community.

“We don’t try to push,” he said. “There’s not a salesperson there. We try to give exposure to the charities. We try to identify the people, or the categories that need the most help, and we try to give people an opportunity to give in that direction and to feel the love of Christ.”

Read full article here.

As the community continues to closely monitor the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus (commonly referred to as the Coronavirus), we continue to work in with the local municipality, the health organizations and state government leaders, to monitor the evolving situation. The safety and health of our guests, employees and community is always our top priority. We are taking all necessary precautions to protect our center as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization and our local, state and federal officials.

In addition to our thorough customary cleaning practices, we are taking additional steps to promote a healthy and clean environment including:

An increased frequency of cleaning and sterilization procedures throughout the center using CDC-recommended products, with an amplified focus on all high-volume touch-points such as restrooms, food courts, eateries, children’s play areas, entrance doors, handrails, trash receptacles, and other commonly used areas.

Out of an abundance of caution, we have cancelled our previously planned events that bring large groups of people to the center. Please check our web site for updates on future events.

This is a fluid situation and our focus will be on continuing to create a healthy, fun, safe, supportive and clean environment for our community to shop.

University Place Management

It’s Friday night. The air is warm, and you’re walking around with your partner looking for somewhere to eat. You’re not sure what you’re in the mood for, but you want options. Fast food? Sushi? Ice cream? They all sound so tasty.

We’ve all been here — and, depending on where you are, it can sometimes be difficult to find variety in your food options. Not at University Place.

Your Choice

When you come to University Place, you can pick from over 25 restaurants with all sorts of different cuisines from around the world. We give you a range of options for different food genres that other locations do not. Some of our restaurants include:

• Black Bear Diner
• Chipotle
• Costa Vida: Fresh Mexican Grill
• Flaming Wok
• Itto Sushi
• Midici: The Neapolitan Pizza Company
• Oh Maí
• Terra Mia Ristorante
• Tucanos Brazilian Grill
• Wing Nutz
• More! To see a full list of our restaurants, visit our restaurant page.

With such a diverse group of options for food, you’ll always be able to find something that you love or something fun to try out!

Convenience

The thing that really sets us apart from other locations is the convenience of all of our restaurants and dining areas. If you’re having trouble trying to decide what to eat, all you need to do is walk around! No matter if you’re in the mall or walking around The Orchard, you’ll find plenty of places to fuel up and satisfy your senses.

All of our restaurants are a short walk from Cinemark, so if you’re planning on a traditional dinner and a movie date, this could work great for you!

Still Want Dessert?

At University Place, we know how important it is to remember the most important meal of the day — dessert. We offer many different dessert locations to choose from. Some of them include:

• Cinnabon
• Cold Stone Creamery
• Farr Better Ice Cream
• Mora Iced Creamery
• Orange Julius
• More!

No matter if you’re interested in dinner or just dessert, University Place aims to be the dining destination that takes your night to the next level. For more information on our dining options visit us our restaurants page.

Imagine a life where you work, eat, and play all in walking distance from your home. Sounds too convenient to be true, doesn’t it?

Well, we’ve taken that idea and turned it into a reality. University Place has always been a popular area to shop, dine, attend events, or work, but now it is also one of the best places to live in Utah County. The Aston at University Place is a brand new complex that boasts over 1,200 upscale, high-tech, urban apartments that are ideal for working professionals and students alike.

Welcome to the Neighborhood

Interested in stress-free, refined living? Our neighborhood is perfect for you. The Aston offers the accessibility of urban living in one-, two-, or three-bedroom apartments. In these apartments, you can enjoy a luxury, community-style living arrangement where everything you could possibly need is in walking distance.

The Aston’s Amenities

The Aston isn’t like other luxury apartment complexes. We maximize on features that make your home feel like the urban retreat that it should be. Here are just a few of the community amenities offered at the Aston:

• Underground parking
• Resort-style aqua lounge
• Club cinema and gaming room
• Double diamond hot tub
• Outdoor courtyard
• Espresso bar and café
• Bike locker and repair center
• Electric car charger
• More!

While the community features are what make life outside of your home special, the features inside of your home are even more important. The in-home amenities in our apartments include:

• High-speed Wifi
• Oversized, deep tubs
• Fully equipped kitchens (including GE stainless steel appliance packages)
• LED lighting
• Wood style flooring
• Private balconies and patios
• 9-foot ceilings
• More!

Walking Distance Is the Best Distance

Like we said before, everything you need is just a short walk away. Need groceries? Costco is across the street. Want to see a movie? Cinemark is just a few feet. Just down the road is the renowned University Place Mall, home to your favorite shops, like:

• H&M
• Victoria’s Secret
• GAP
• DSW
• Macy’s
• Al’s Sporting Goods
• More!

Live With Us!

Life at University Place is easy. Choosing to live at The Aston at University Place is even easier. Ready to begin leasing? Contact the leasing manager! We’re excited for you to live with us.