Today is a day for barbecues, fireworks and parades that celebrate our wonderful country.
There are tons of activities taking place across the state this weekend — from drone shows to hot air balloon festivals, there seems to be an event for everyone to enjoy.
Madeline Thorpe rounded up 14 family-friendly Fourth of July events happening throughout Utah this weekend.
Tell me: What are you doing to celebrate the Fourth of July?
What Gov. Cox thinks most people get wrong about the Declaration of Independence
Gov. Spencer Cox believes the United States has forgotten the meaning of one of the most well-known phrases from the Declaration of Independence.
The line in question:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Cox told a crowd gathered at the Capitol to kick off a year of events leading up to the country's 250th anniversary that the pursuit of happiness means something more than seeking pleasure.
What the pursuit of happiness really means
According to Cox, the founders of American independence sought to convey the spiritual aspirations that the ancient Greek and Romans thought were necessary for human flourishing: service, worship and self-improvement, Brigham Tomco reported.
“The pursuit of happiness meant responsibility,” Cox said. “You actually have to do what is better for your neighborhood, for your community, for your country. The pursuit of happiness was about sacrifice. It was about giving up your personal pleasure to make sure that we lived in a better place.”
Read more about what Cox said about the Declaration of Independence.
The Gracie’s Farm Dinner series is turning the idea of farm-to-table dining on its head.
Rather than bringing fresh produce to a local eatery, guests come to the farm itself to get as close as possible to the source of their food. The courses are even prepared in an outdoor kitchen set up specifically for the occasion, Ariel Harmer reported.
“It’s a really good way to highlight everybody and get people together to enjoy what farmers do and how chefs can actually make a kind of magic with those ingredients,” said Lynsey Gammon, who started the series. “We wanted to really focus on seasonal eating and allow people to become aware of what it means to eat seasonally.”
The series celebrates seasonal produce in Utah, using each dinner event to center around a specific piece of produce that is going to be perfectly seasonally ripe at the time of the event.
This timing pays off, rewarding the farmers, chefs and dinner guests with especially flavorful produce, Harmer writes.
Recognizing the state’s vibrant community of innovators — from startups to established companies — and their breakthrough creations. Submit your nomination before July 9!
Utah
Where you can and can’t discharge fireworks in Utah — and why it matters (KSL.com)
Salt Lake City airport closer to issuing up to $700M in bonds as construction nears end (KSL.com)
How Minky Couture founder makes the world a cozier place, one blanket at a time (Utah Business)
Management challenges emerge at Sand Hollow, Utah’s most-visited state park (St George News)
Ogden City Police Department launches radKIDS program as part of youth outreach effort (Standard-Examiner)
Utah County fire officials demonstrate fireworks safety tips as July celebrations take place (Daily Herald)
Utah now the only US state with unwanted drought situation (KSL.com)
Health
The link between cancer and exercise that patients should know (CNN)
RSV vaccine access expanded to some people in their 50s, according to CDC website (The Associated Press)
Breathing wildfire smoke may significantly increase risk of dementia, researchers warn (St George News)
Faith
In Central Europe ministry, Elder Gong advocates for covenant belonging in Jesus Christ and civic responsibility (Church News)
2 words I hope my missionary never forgets (LDS Living)
Politics
Here’s what Trump’s tax bill will do (Deseret News)
Top House Democrat sets record for longest floor speech in history (Deseret News)
Supreme Court to hear case about transgender students playing on sports teams (Deseret News)
Federal government owns 64.4% of Utah’s land (Utah Policy)
Utah lawmakers react to passing of Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ (Deseret News)
The Nation and the World
Lululemon sues Costco in an athleisure showdown (Deseret News)
21-year-old congressional intern killed in Washington, D.C., shooting (Deseret News)
Sports
Kyle Whittingham talks offensive revamp, first year in Big 12 and retirement on the ‘Jim Rome Show’ (Deseret News)
There’s been a learning curve, but Alex Jensen is confident in his approach to rebuilding Runnin’ Utes (Deseret News)
BYU receiver likes how BYU prepares players for success — both on the field and off (Deseret News)
Watch: Soon-to-be BYU Cougar Jane Hedengren presented Gatorade National Girls Track and Field Player Award (Deseret News)
Entertainment
Stadium of Fire makes changes after fireworks injured 26 people last year (KSL-TV)
This Utah teen had the fastest time on ‘American Ninja Warrior’ — as usual. But his brother was right behind him (Deseret News)
Is competitive eating patriotic? Here’s what Joey Chestnut thinks (Deseret News)
Vera Ah Loo walks with her father Afa Ah Loo’s casket at the end of his celebration of life at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, June 27, 2025. Afa was shot and killed as an innocent bystander during a No Kings protest.
🗓️ Events Calendar
We put together a calendar list of events and activities going on around the state of Utah during this month. Check it out, and let us know if we are missing anything!
Here are some highlights for events in Utah today:
Oakley Independence Day Celebration | Oakley Outdoor Arena, Oakley
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