written by: Christie Marcy, Amy Whiting and Megan Skuster

Music

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band

Size matters when Lyle Lovett and His Large Band come to town, as they do nearly every summer concert season. The Texas crooner is the best kind of alt-country, seamlessly mixing country, gospel, blues and sometimes even spoken word. The ultimate performer, Lovett is guaranteed to wear a suit and leave the audience wanting more.

July 21, Red Butte Garden, 300 Wakara Way, SLC, 801-585-0556. redbuttegarden.org

Alt-country rockers Old 97’s have been on the scene for over 20 years but consistently get less respect than their long-gone contemporaries like Uncle Tupelo and Whiskeytown. But, if drinking songs and handsome frontmen are your thing, they’re a must-see.

August 6, Snowbasin Resort, 3925 Snow Basin Rd., Huntsville, snowbasin.com

Books

Local author Ella Joy Olsen follows up her novel Root, Petal, Thorn, about women living in the same Sugar House home over the span of decades with more Salt Lake-themed fiction in its sequel Where the Caged Bird Sings—you’ll find familiar locations including Vosen’s German Bakery, Downtown Farmer’s Market and even the Liberty Park Drum Circle.

The book will be released on August 29 and you can join the release party at The King’s English bookstore on September 7. ellajoyolsen.com

Get Away

It’s not quite Labor Day, but it’s not too early to make plans. Park City’s Stein Eriksen Lodge offers up a family-friendly farewell to summer, with movies on the lawn, tacos by the pool, group hikes, BBQ and more.

Labor Day Weekend, 7700 Stein Way, Park City, 435-649-3700, steinlodge.com

Celebrate the 4th of July at Snowbird with an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, live music and, of course, celebrations of freedom. There will be family-friendly rides and games on the Plaza Deck and live music

July 4, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, Highway 201, Little Cottonwood Canyon, 801-933-2222, snowbird.com

FINE ART

When Urban Arts Gallery say they’re doing a show about something “bold, unforgiving and beautiful” they’re not talking about your mother-in-law, they’re talking about ink. Their show will feature a variety of ink-based art. July 4-30. Urban Arts Gallery, 137 S. Rio Grande St., SLC, 801-230-0820, urbanartsgallery.org

THEATER

Off Broadway Theatre and Laughing Stock Improv will be revisiting everything you love about the musical Oklahoma with the added cultural twist of our dry (in more than one way) state in their original show, Utahoma. Aug. 11-Sept. 16, 272 S. Main St., SLC, 801-355-4628, theobt.retailregister.com

OUTDOORS

The Outdoor Foundation wants to make sure we still care about our frail earth, so they’re speaking in a language we’ll all respond to: party. This summer they’ll host the Outsider’s Ball on the eve of Utah’s famous Outdoor Retail Fair (2017 will be their last year) including a hodgepodge mix of music, auctions, local food and booze.

July 25, Gallivan Center, 24 E. 200 South, SLC, 801-535-6110, outdoorfoundation.org

SCIENCE/EDUCATION

Join neuroscientist Pablo Maldonado to learn about the creepy, crawly, glowing mutant worms that are helping scientists understand the human brain. (Those with sensitive stomachs might want to stay home.) Mutant Worms is part of the Natural History Museum’s Scientist in the Spotlight program.

July 7, Natural History Museum of Utah, 301 Wakara Way, SLC 801-581-6927, nhmu.utah.edu

PODCAST

Welcome to Night Vale is a twice-monthly podcast styled after community updates for the small, fictitious desert town of Night Vale. The cast comes to Salt Lake to record an episode of the hilariously haunting show on July 17.

Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, SLC, 801-355-2787, welcometonightvale.com

FOOD

Taste seasonal food specials and sip wine, craft cocktails and local beers at Eat Drink SLC. This event celebrates the growing culinary scene in Utah and gives back to the community, with all proceeds benefiting local non-profits. Ages 21+.

July 6, Tracy Aviary, 589 E. 1300 South, SLC, 801-596-8500, eatdrinkslc.com

FILM

The Sundance Summer Screenings are as free as they are awesome. (That is to say, very.) And this year they’ll be rewatching the 2004 classic that encouraged us all to “Vote for Pedro,” Napoleon Dynamite. Bring your picnic blanket, lawn chairs and make yourself a dang quesadilla. Additional summer screenings are listed on the Sundance website.

July 5, Red Butte Gardens, 300 Wakara Way, SLC, 801-585-0556, sundance.org/utah

“The Boy Who Lived” will be returning to the big screen through a marathon of all 8 original Harry Potter films. Salt Lake Film Society calls it Weekend at Dumbledore’s and enhances the screenings with potion making, wand selecting and costume contests.

July 29-30, Tower Theatre, 876 E. 900 South, SLC, 801-321-0310, saltlakefilmsociety.org

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