Days out with the family can be fun; emptying your wallet will never be. Save your cash this summer with our list of free family activities, from bowling to exploring a national park.
Free ‘Park’-ing
Fourth graders can visit Canyonlands, Bryce, Zion, Glacier and EVERY OTHER national park for free. Just have your kid fill out a diary entry at everykidinapark.gov, print out their pass and let the free family fun begin (well, free for your fourth grader at least). Passes are good from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31 of a kidβs fourth grade year and cover BLM, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sites. So, go ahead and start planning your trip to the San Antonio Missions.
Deck Your Ride
Utah Museum of Contemporary Art
20 S. West Temple, Salt Lake
The Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA) hosts family art projects every second Saturday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m. The League of Reluctant Bicyclists will teach families to make their own handlebar hang-tags for bikes at the museum on May 11, 2019 (Guess baseball cards in your spokes just donβt cut it anymore). Juneβs Family Art Saturday is sadly cancelled, but in July youβll create abstract art.
Spare Time
Kids can bowl two free games per day at a local alley.
Sign the kids up to bowl for free at one of eight local spots this summer at kidsbowlfree.com. Once registered, you can take the kids for two free games during the Kids Bowl Free hours determined by your alley. Kids must be between 2 and 15, and not all centers include shoes with the free games. If youβd like to show off your perfect form, buy a family pass, which allows four adults to bowl for free during KBF hours, too.
Put Your Art Into It
On the third Saturday of the month, the Utah Museum of Fine Arts offers free admission and art projects from 1 to 4 p.m. On May 18, 2019, take the kids to create sculptures with sticks and other materials, inspired by Rex, the museumβs stunning horse sculpture that artist Deborah Butterfield built completely out of sticks. The museum also offers free admission on first Wednesdays, free admission to kids 5 and under anytime and free βfamily backpacks,β filled with activities to hold young onesβ interests.
Utah Museum of Fine Arts
410 Campus Center Dr., Salt Lake
All That Slithers
Exhibits and animal shows at the Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum are free. And with so many shows per week, if you miss one, itβs kind of on you. Catch a show at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, 7:30 p.m. nightly from Monday to Saturday, or at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday. From June through August, additional shows will be held weekdays at 1 and 3 p.m. Topics range from reptiles to invertebrates; expect live creepy-crawlies.
Running Free
The Temple to Temple run, an aptly named 5K from one Provo LDS temple to another, is gunning to become the largest 5K race in the United States on July 24, 2019. To support that effort, registration is free. Aside from a workout before Aunt Shellyβs funeral potatoes at the Pioneer Day barbecue, itβs also kid-friendlyβstrollers are common, youβre free to walk, most of the course is downhill and shuttles run every 10 minutes at the finish line to take you back to your minivan. And no, you donβt have to be Mormon.
Free Family Activities in the Park
Find free family science and art at a local park. Photo credit: Weber State University
Weber State will set up shop in Ogden-area parks throughout the summer for Arts in the Parks and Science in the Parks, which offer free hands-on activities and projects for kids and families. Science in the Parks is known for experiments like creating giant soap bubbles and making soda bottle fountains, and Arts in the Parksβ schedule includes dance workshops with WSU Ballet Folklorico and art projects with UMOCA. Find schedules and activities for both programs at weber.edu/artsandscienceintheparks.
Macbethβs Opening Act
Utah Shakespeare Festival
The Beverly Center for the Arts
195 W. Center St., Cedar City
If youβre headed to Cedar City for the Utah Shakespeare Festival (as you should), or just driving through town on your way to a national park, catch The Greenshow for free on the SUU campus. This year, The Greenshow features three alternating performances β themed Scotland, England and Russia β filled with dance, music and comedy. Shows run June 17βSept. 7, 2019, prior to the ticketed shows. Donβt tell our snooty friends, but sometimes we enjoy The Greenshowβs lighthearted nature even more than the blank verse following it. Check the festival calendar for times, and show up early.
If you've never been to @dokidessert, I can assure you- you're missing out. β β
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Doki Doki is one of Salt Lake Cityβs most authentic Japanese bakeries. And the authenticity shows through their delicately handcrafted pastries and cakes. Plus- fluffy pancakes, can it get any better? β β
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Check the link in bio for a fun little write up! β β
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Meet 9th & 9th's newest, cutest, tastiest "hole-in-the-wall" (quite literally)! @piefightslc is serving up delicious hand pies packed with flavor π₯β β
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You can eat a pie and go for a walk at the same time- who knew?! π₯§β β
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Check the link in bio for our little review!...
People used to say a group of hobbits smoked their pipe weed and padded around on their furry feet in this little cul de sac off 1300 East near Westminster. Others claimed a family of Little People lived there and would chase away outsiders and curiosity-seekers who happened in.β β
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But, actually, the eccentric street of tiny houses are on a wooded lot once owned by George Allen, a doctor and animal lover (he was instrumental in founding @hoglezoo and @tracyaviary) He and his family lived in the log cabin and rented out the little houses to students or anyone who wanted to live in such a small space.β β
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Check the link in bio for full story....
Our Jan/Feb issue is out on stands now! This issue means so much to us. Made with lots of love and tears. We hope youβll grab a copy and enjoy every moment of reading it. β€οΈ...
This is what our NYE looks like. Staying in with a @meat_my_cheese_utah charcuterie board βπ€€π₯β β
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Weβre incredibly lucky to have local culinary-craftswomen here in the Salt Lake area, like @mavenoakcreative and @meat_my_cheese_utah. Handcrafting each charcuterie board and box to perfection. Making every stay-at-home birthday, anniversary, date-night and holiday feel that much more elegant. β π§ππ₯β β
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Check the link in bio to meet Salt Lake's artisan charcuterie masters!...
Holding back tears, the owner of our beloved Himalayan Kitchen, Surya Bastakoti, told @fox13now that they "might go out of business" β β
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Himalayan Kitchen has long been one of our favorite local restaurants. A trusty go-to for lunch or after work drinks and a heart-warming dinner. A place to bring out-of-towners (veg and vegan friendly) for a special experience only found here in SLC. Always filling, with a true sense of nourishment in every bite. Food to feel good about.
EVERYTHING on their menu is full of flavor and authenticity. Himalayan Kitchenβs cuisine is required to be authentic because itβs a gathering place for the Salt Lake City Nepali and the local climbing community. They know Nepal.β β
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COVID-19 has completely devastated our local restaurant communityβthese are our friends and family. Help them out. If you have the means, order something yummy for NYE dinner and support Himalayan Kitchen or any of your favorite local restaurants. β β
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Go to saltlakemagazine.com and look in the Eat & Drink section for a list of what restaurants are serving and then make a phone call, order online, etc. β β
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Go to the link in bio to order online now!...
Here's one from our upcoming Jan/Feb issue out on stands in just a few days. We hope youβll grab a copy and enjoy every moment of reading it.β
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Mary photobombs Lisa Barlow at the premiere party for Real Housewives of Salt Lake. Below is a snippet from Mary's last editor's letter:β
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"Itβs all a little crazy.β
Sometime in 2020, the world stopped making sense for a lot of us. Between one of the ugliest election cycles the U.S. has ever been through and the most mysterious disease most of us have ever experienced, normal was canceled. We canβt get together with friends, hug our loved ones, be in the room with them when they die. But somehow we have to go on, right? Somehow we have to continue to work and love and laugh. This issue of Salt Lake magazine holds a lot of frivolity, the main one being an extremely silly TV show, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. There I am in a pink fur coat in a car with our cover housewife, Lisa Barlow and her boys."β
Pick up our Jan/Feb issue at your local grocer and read the full letter. β€οΈ
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Link in bio to subscribe....
Merry Christmas Eve-Eve. We absolutely loved seeing all of your gingerbread homes! Thank you for sharing!β
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The winner of a 1 year subscription to Salt Lake mag will be announced in our story!...
Skip the milk and cookies this holiday and leave out something that Santa really wants πΊππ β
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Check out our local holiday beer round up for last minute gift ideas! Link in bio!...
Mary's last-minute holiday gift ideas from last year are still as true and relevant today...β
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"The planet we live with and the creatures on it need all kinds of things. Polar bears need presents, tree frogs in the Amazon need gifts, our Utah canyons and our national parks need help."β
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Check the link in bio for full write up....
πΆOn the LAST day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...πΆβ β β β β β β β β
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$100 to @slcharbor ππͺβοΈ
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β Like this post and tag a friend who you believe should win the giveaway item! The person you tag is then entered to win! (Friends can tag one another) πβ β β β β β β β
β Be sure to follow us (@slmag) and @slcharbor on insta! β β β β β β β β β β
β Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!β ...
πΆOn the 11th day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...πΆβ β β β β β β β β
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$100 to @streuselslc ππͺβοΈ
Streusel Bakery located at 67 w 1700 s! Support local and get pastries, cookies and a little bit of sass at this beautiful judgement free bakery!
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β Like this post and tag a friend who you believe should win the giveaway item! The person you tag is then entered to win! (Friends can tag one another) πβ β β β β β β β
β Be sure to follow us (@slmag) and @streuselslc on insta! β β β β β β β β β β
β Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!β ...
πΆOn the 10th day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...πΆβ β β β β β β β β
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1 Free month at Maven Create @mavencreate
Maven Create is a unique, open office space designed to inspire and empower!
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β Like this post and tag a friend who you believe should win the giveaway item! The person you tag is then entered to win! (Friends can tag one another) πβ β β β β β β β
β Be sure to follow us (@slmag) and @mavencreate on insta! β β β β β β β β β β
β Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!β ...
Weβre so excited to have teamed up with @maddoughslc for this awesome giveaway treat! Mad Dough launched back in April! Mad Dough serves up top quality Bismark style doughnuts with flavors inspired by favorite childhood treats π The perfect gift to brighten someoneβs day (or brighten your own day)! Support this awesome small business this holiday!
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β Like this post and tag a friend who you believe should win the giveaway item! The person you tag is then entered to win! (Friends can tag one another) πβ β β β β β β β
β Be sure to follow us (@slmag) and @maddoughslc on insta! β β β β β β β β β β
β Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!β ...
πΆOn the eighth day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...πΆβ β β β β β β β β
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A beautiful essential gift set from the wonderful @acrelyfarms πΏ
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β Like this post and tag a friend who you believe should win the giveaway item! The person you tag is then entered to win! (Friends can tag one another) πβ β β β β β β β
β Be sure to follow us (@slmag) and @acrelyfarms on insta! β β β β β β β β β β
β Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!β ...
There was never a time there wasnβt Mary Malouf. Until now. Today, Mary died when a rogue wave swept her out to sea off the coast of Northern California. Only she β perhaps the worldβs foremost lover of Bronte, BBC mysteries and, of course, Moby Dick β would appreciate such poetic drama.
βI know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing.β β Mary Brown Malouf. Ooops. Herman Mellville....
πΆOn the seventh day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...πΆβ β β β β β β β β
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β³οΈ (2) 9 Hole Rounds at @saltlakecitygolf ποΈββοΈβ
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β Like this post and tag a friend who you believe should win the giveaway item! The person you tag is then entered to win! (Friends can tag one another) πβ β β β β β β β
β Be sure to follow us (@slmag) and @saltlakecitygolf on insta! β β β β β β β β β β
β Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!β ...
GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. Winner announced in the story. see you tomorrow.
πΆOn the sixth day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...πΆβ β β β β β β β
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π½οΈ $100 Gift Card to @la_caille_utah π₯β
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Located at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, La Caille bring us an upscale, French-Belgian restaurant experience.β
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β Like this post and tag a friend who you believe should win the giveaway item! The person you tag is then entered to win! (Friends can tag one another) πβ β β β β β β
β Be sure to follow us (@slmag) and @la_caille_utah on insta! β β β β β β β β β
β Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!β ...
GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED. Winner has been announced in the story. See you again tomorrow!
πΆOn the fifth day of giveaways Salt Lake mag gave to me...πΆβ β β β β β β
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π½οΈ $100 Gift Card to @stonegroundkitchen πβ
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Stoneground Kitchen is a fabulous and local SLC restaurant that offers some of the best from-scratch Italian fair in the city and an excellent wine selection. π·β
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β Like this post and tag a friend who you believe should win the giveaway item! The person you tag is then entered to win! (Friends can tag one another) πβ β β β β β
β Be sure to follow us (@slmag) and @stonegroundkitchen on insta! β β β β β β β β
β Entry deadline will be at 10PM. The winner will be announced at 11:59PM and a new prize will be posted in the AM each day!β β ...