THE ESSENTIAL A&E PICKS FOR JUL 3 - JUL 9 

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Independence Day events
It may be a bit of an understatement to say that it's a complicated time to be figuring out what it means to be patriotic about America, but there's no reason to let one ideology own a celebration of our founding principles. If you are in the mood for festivities, there are plenty of places throughout the state to do so.

In the heart of downtown, The Gateway 4th of July Celebration (400 W. 200 South) offers yard games, face-painting, photo ops and other entertainment, plus live music featuring Changing Lanes, DJ stage and karaoke, and concluding with a fireworks display at 10:30 p.m. Gateway merchants will also be offering special deals throughout the event. The event runs 7 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. on Friday, July 4; no bags aside from diaper bags are permitted. atthegateway.com

For those looking for a fireworks-free event, Salt Lake City's Independence Day Drone Show 2025 at Jordan Park (1060 S. 900 West) offers lawn seating for the closing choreographed drone-lights spectacular at 10:30 p.m., plus local food trucks and live music. The all-ages event is free and open to the public on Saturday, July 5, from 8 p.m. – 10:30 p.m., slcityevents.com

This Is The Place Heritage Park (2601 E. Sunnyside Ave.) hosts its annual Liberty Day Celebration from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m on Friday, July 4. The day begins with a flag ceremony and salute by Sons of the American Revolution. Admission cost of $14.95 - $18.95 includes all regular park activities, plus candy cannon, watermelon-eating contest and more special activities. thisistheplace.org

Farther down south, the Sandy City July 4th Celebration (10000 Centennial Parkway, Sandy) is traditionally the largest such gathering in Salt Lake County. The full-day event kicks off with the 5K run, followed by a carnival of inflatables, games, food vendors, mini-golf and other family-friendly activities from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Live entertainment begins at 11:30 a.m. with music from community bands, followed by the parade at 6 p.m., with headliners the Salamanders at 7:30 p.m. It all wraps up with the 10 p.m. fireworks sky concert simulcast on B98.7. sandy.utah.gov

In Utah County, America's Freedom Festival is traditionally one of the biggest celebrations in the state. From July 3 – 5 on Provo's Center St., catch the Freedom Days celebration with carnival rides, live music, food, vendors and more, with all games and entertainment free to the public. On July 4, start the day with the Grand Parade's floats, balloons, equestrian entries and bands, free to the public (Center St. & University Ave., Provo). Then wrap up with the Stadium of Fire (LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo), including the traditional fireworks spectacular, F-35 jet flyover and headliner concert by Rascal Flatts; tickets are $40 - $270. freedomfestival.org

For a respite from the traditional summer heat, you can always head into the mountains. Park City's Fourth of July Celebration includes a parade down historic Main St. beginning at 11 a.m., games and other activities at City Park in the afternoon, and a drone show at Park City Mountain beginning at 10 p.m. parkcity.gov

Up at Brighton Resort, Brighton's 4th of July Breakfast and Parade leads into a 10:30 a.m. parade that culminates with a candy toss. thebrightoninstitute.org

Check official websites for other towns and municipalities for additional locations offering activities, fireworks and more. (Scott Renshaw)

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Footpath Theatre: Western Minerals and Their Origins
"Fringe theater" is a wonderful concept as a platform for creative risk-taking; it also has its limitations. So playwright Connor Johnson—whose play Western Minerals and Their Origins was developed in collaboration with Footpath Theatre Co. for the 2024 Great Salt Lake Fringe Festival—appreciates the opportunity for a full production courtesy of Salt Lake Acting Company's "Making Space for Artists" program.

"[A fringe festival] forces you to simplify and pare down, which can be very good," Johnson says via email. "Having access to a dedicated space however, both for rehearsal and performance, has allowed us to really raise our ambitions and shoot much higher technically. I cannot express how much of a relief it is every night when I look at our set and don't have to worry about packing it all up and transporting it somewhere else."

The "Best of Fringe" winner takes advantage of these new parameters in a story about a young woman clearing out the garage of her canyoneering brother, preparing the house to be sold. The tale incorporates "neo-western" and "environmentalism," according to the press release, while taking on some very particular theatrical challenges: "How can you conjure a canyon, raise a flash-flood, or evoke a sense of geologic time onstage for very little money? Western Minerals endeavors to answer these questions through text, music, and pure theatricality."

Western Minerals and Their Origins plays at Salt Lake Acting Company's Chapel Theatre (168 W. 500 North) July 5 and 10 – 12 at 7:30 p.m., and July 6 and 13 at 1 p.m. Tickets are $12 - $25; visit saltlakeactingcompany.org to purchase tickets and for additional event information. (SR)