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Cowboy cologne: An ode to the sagebrush

3 new statues of Christ installed on Temple Square

Plays to look out for at the Utah Shakespeare Festival

SEPTEMBER 2026 VOL. 4 / NO. 15

Cox not running for president, but he’s out to save the country Cox tried talking Biden and Trump out of political revenge. They didn’t listen. Now he has a book CONTINUES ON PG. 4

DESERET NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026

INTRODUCING 'THE DIGEST' or on the go with your mobile phone, you can access our website for the latest news, analysis and commentary.

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We are pleased to introduce you to The Digest, a sampling of some of the best stories written every day by the dedicated journalists at the Deseret News, Deseret Magazine and Church News. Our hope is that you will make us your trusted news source each day at a time when there is confusion and contention in the nation. The Deseret News brand stands for unimpeachable journalism centered on the issues most core to the human heart. While the Deseret News since its beginning in 1850 has evolved to meet the demands of its audience — reimagining print offerings, launching an acclaimed magazine and increasing the visibility and reach of its award-winning website — the publication remains committed to certain timeless ideals. We stand for truth and light. We stand for faith and family. We stand for liberty and responsibility. We provide news and perspective, exploring society’s thorniest problems in search of solutions that will improve your life. That’s our commitment to our readers. We invite you to discover what we can offer you:

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DESERET NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026

DESERET MAGAZINE

An ode to the sagebrush By Ezra Hyde

For Deseret Magazine

An ocean of gray-green sagebrush sprawls between the peaks that ripple across the desert. A scent like camphor and pine hangs heavy on the air. They say my great-great-uncle saw the heavens cleave asunder from the back of a horse, a distant pillar of atomic smoke, because some folks back East decided this land was worthless. Decades later, as a depressed teenage boy, I ride behind my grandfather over the same landscape. Iron buckles and bits jingle as hooves plunge into the earth, kicking up dust that tastes like dry. Artemisia tridentata was here long before me, my family or any of the small towns strung like jewels along the Nevada interstate. Sagebrush relies on water from deep in the earth, lifting and spreading it to sustain life in the long months between rains. It grows in clumps, some plants as tall as I

am. It shelters smaller creatures, feeds larger ones and taught my pioneer ancestors the f irst law of the desert: Take only what you need. It’s a symbol of my home, the western fringe of the Great Basin, a distant incarnation of the American experiment. But at 17, I can’t stop looking past the horizon. Papa — that’s what we call my grandfather — has been leading grandkids on rides like this all day, so the horses are tired. But if Papa’s tired, he doesn’t show it. His days are still f illed with the back-breaking labor of the ranch. We ride in silence, with no destination but our shared company. He admires the stark beauty of his home, as the setting sun casts long shadows through the sagebrush canopy below. As a child, I was fascinated by the desert’s mysteries, f inding meaning in every kind of relic. Now I tap the

saddlehorn in rhythm to make the time pass. Suddenly my horse starts acting up, f ighting the reins. I f ight back, then realize it could get me bucked off, so I relent, letting him trot toward some delicious wild grasses. Papa stops to check on us, then spots a broken stretch of fence and gets to working the barbed wire. Resigned to waiting them both out, I slide down from the saddle and land with a crunch. My boots crush a bundle of sagebrush. A whiff of that ancient incense hits my nostrils like smelling salts. I awake to see insects darting from flower to flower, pale green or deep yellow. A jackrabbit bursts from the depths, blitzing through the shrubs. For the f irst time in years, I look at the sagebrush, its twisted, spindly branches and ashy bark, and hear the wind rustling through its wedge-like leaves.

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I pluck a sprig and crush a few leaves between my f ingers, watching flakes fall like desert snow and breathing in that signature spice. Papa calls it Cowboy Cologne. As the sunset fades to purple, he f inally climbs back into his saddle. A cracked smartphone buzzes in his chest pocket — Gramma, calling us back to the ranch house. In the palms of my hands, I can feel the aridity in which the sagebrush thrives, where my people came to build a new life, determined to forge destiny from hardship. But the desert is patient, and it teaches what hardship alone cannot. Nearby, a lizard scurries up a branch, looking proud of its home. This story appears in the July/August 2026 issue of Deseret Magazine. Learn more about how to subscribe.

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DESERET NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026

DESERET NEWS

Cox not running for president, but he’s out to save the country — with a new book Gov. Cox tried talking Biden and Trump out of political revenge. They didn’t listen. Now he has a book By Brigham Tomco

Deseret News

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox really wants you to know he is not running for president. It’s literally the f irst sentence of his new book. But the governor believes he is trying to do something “much more ambitious.” In his authorial debut, Cox undertakes to rally a nation spiraling toward disunion. The culprit? A crisis of character, catalyzed by a screen-driven epidemic of loneliness. Cox’s solution — familiar to supporters and skeptics — is to cultivate community by disagreeing better. “I don’t pretend that anything I say, or a book, is going to completely change the course of history or the polarization that’s happening here,” Cox told the Deseret News. “But what I hope will happen is that people will give it a chance.” Cox sat down with the Deseret News last month ahead of the Sept. 8 publish date to discuss the intentions behind “Off Ramp: How to Be a Peacemaker in an Age of Contempt.” The book packs Cox’s origin story, governing philosophy and blueprint for depolarization into less than 250 pages. It also has its fair share of inside looks into what Cox considers some of the best and worst moments of his time in off ice. One episode shapes the book from start to f inish. The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, shook the Beehive State and shined a spotlight on its governor. It also exposed the violent underbelly threatening to upend U.S. politics. “It really did feel like a powder keg in the country,” Cox told the Deseret News. In press conferences following Kirk’s murder, Cox pleaded with his fellow Americans to f ind an alternative to “shooting each other.” At the time, his book — based on years of advocating for political deescalation — was already well underway. The project quickly morphed into “a continuation of that plea,” he writes in Chapter 7. Here are f ive of the biggest takeaways from “Off Ramp.”

Cox quickly learned of Charlie Kirk’s death

In the book’s opening chapter, Cox recounts that shortly after 12:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, his quarterly staff lunch was interrupted by an urgent update from Highway Patrol Capt. George Hansen that Kirk had been shot. Within moments, Cox was answering a call from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was in the White House Situation Room. Cox had nothing to report yet. What followed was a rapid succession of reports. First, an inaccurate brief ing: Kirk was alert. Then, a few minutes later:

Laura Seitz, Deseret News Gov. Spencer Cox is pictured at the Governor's Mansion in Salt Lake City on Aug. 20.

He was in life-threatening condition. Then, minutes after that: He was facing imminent death. Then: “fatal.” Cox relayed the news to Rubio and returned to the Governor’s Mansion, where President Donald Trump called. “Spencer, this is terrible,” Trump said, according to Cox. “It’s just such a tragedy. Charlie was a great guy, a great American. He helped me get elected. Everyone loved Charlie. But you know who really loved Charlie? The youths.” The Deseret News became the f irst to publicly conf irm Kirk’s death more than an hour later at 2:13 p.m.

Cox praises example of Erika Kirk

The reaction to Kirk’s murder revealed the depth of “our acrimony,” Cox writes, which “feeds on death.” A stunning number of people celebrated on social media, and an equally shocking

share accused Kirk’s widow of being involved. But it was Erika that Cox credits most with pulling the country back from the brink. “There were calls for violence, calls for retribution, retaliation, revenge,” Cox told the Deseret News. “I won’t take credit for that not happening. In fact, Erika is maybe the most important f igure in making that not happen.” Cox lists 11 principles of peacemaking in the f inal chapter of his book. No. 10, “Forgive Bravely,” was inspired by Erika. Cox was there the day she forgave her husband’s accused killer to the millions watching Kirk’s public memorial. “I was there in Phoenix. ... It’s one of the most powerful, most Christian, Christlike moments I’ve experienced,” Cox told the Deseret News. “And I think that had as much to do with lowering the temperature as anything else out there.”

DESERET NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026

Cox asked Biden to pardon Trump

Cox’s fears of political violence shaped his focus as governor long before they became a reality on Sept. 10. On Aug. 9, 2023, less than a month after Cox began his “Disagree Better” initiative as National Governors Association chairman, federal agents killed a Provo man who threatened President Joe Biden ahead of his visit to Utah. Later that day, Cox sat next to Biden in the president’s armored SUV. Cox used the oneon-one to push back on Biden’s expansion of national monuments without local input and to request federal help for the Great Salt Lake. Then he pitched what he knew might seem like a crazy idea to the Democrat sitting in the White House. “I think you should pardon Donald Trump,” Cox told Biden, according to Chapter 7 of “Off Ramp.” The two were now parked in front of the hotel. Cox explained he thought a pardon would allow the country to begin to heal its divides. Biden said he would consider it. But he was doubtful; too many people wanted to see Trump prosecuted, he said.

Cox regrets 2024 Utah GOP convention speech

primary in 2020, and had allowed him to navigate culture war questions like transgender treatments for minors with less vitriol than other red states. But the governor’s approach became a liability against the aggressive attacks of GOP challenger Phil Lyman. Tensions between Cox and the state’s most active conservatives reached a breaking point during the 2024 state convention. Instead of his planned speech, Cox suggested the delegates were booing because they “hate that I don’t hate enough.” The “biting sarcasm” felt good at the time, Cox writes. But soon he regretted it, realizing in his eagerness to bridge divides he had failed to disagree better with Utahns to his right. He felt he had “returned contempt with contempt.” “I was wrong,” he states in Chapter 6. Over the next month, Cox held meetings to mend his relationship with his f iercest conservative critics. He then turned his attention to Trump himself.

Cox helped craft Trump Great Salt Lake post

Cox’s “Disagree Better” message came under intense pressure when Cox came up for reelection in 2024. He was convinced elevating civility and compromise had won him a tight Republican

On July 12, 2024, Cox culminated his “Disagree Better” campaign with a final pitch to avoid rhetoric that leads to political violence. Less than 24 hours later, Trump was nearly killed by a bullet that grazed his ear, and the shooter killed a rallygoer and seriously wounded another. Cox had worked to form a friendship with

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Biden. If there was ever a time to reconcile with Trump, his own party’s standard-bearer, it was now. So, Utah’s governor wrote an idealistic letter calling for Trump “to unify and save our country.” The letter sparked backlash from some of his “closest friends.” But Cox believes it was worth it. Not only did Trump publicly state he agreed with Cox’s message, the president has since given Cox his ear on multiple issues, like discussing $1 billion for the Great Salt Lake during a 90-minute Oval Off ice meeting in February. At the end, Trump asked Cox to help craft a Truth Social post promising support to “MAKE ‘THE LAKE’ GREAT AGAIN.” “I have to admit that watching President Trump tweet was like watching da Vinci paint,” Cox jokes in the book.

Cox: ‘It’s all moral and spiritual’

Most of Cox’s book is spent making the case that the country is in deeper trouble than people think — “that we are on a path to a complete failure of our democratic republic” — and then balancing that prognosis with hopeful remedies. His overarching proposal will come as no surprise to those who have followed Cox’s rise to become a spokesperson for “touch-grass populism,” labeling social media a “cancer” and calling for platforms to be treated like tobacco companies. “The answer is not to become better

performers in the digital arena,” Cox writes. “If peacemaking starts anywhere, it is by taking the off ramp from our technology long enough to see the real people right in front of us.” In his interview with the Deseret News, Cox explained that the problem is deeper than performative politics for clicks. Algorithms are the enemy because they get in the way of interactions that connect humans to other humans. Cox’s “unifying theory” of American polarization comes down to community. And one of the rapidly shrinking cores of community is religion, which is important to creating “citizens worthy of the American experiment.” “I think it’s all moral and spiritual,” Cox told the Deseret News. “Politics is where people are f inding meaning and belonging now. And that’s an unhealthy tribe that leads to these polarizing outcomes, and we become unmoored.” Cox is the f irst to acknowledge how politics, if it takes too central a place, can interfere with family life. Politics has been hard on his family, he said. Rather than serving as a trial balloon for a federal race, Cox hopes to take a page from his own book by trying to build his community by strengthening his closest relationships. “I need a little time away from that for the very reasons that I wrote the book,” he said. “I care much more about my family than I care about politics. And so we’re always going to do what we can to serve and give back, but also take care of the people that we love.”

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DESERET NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026

CHURCH NEWS

3 new statues of Christ installed on Temple Square The new pieces in Salt Lake City depict the Savior declaring He’s the Messiah, ordaining apostles and appearing to Mary Magdalene after His Resurrection By Joel Randall

Church News

Three new statues of the Savior, Jesus Christ, were installed in July on Salt Lake City’s Temple Square. All three pieces depict key f irsts in His earthly ministry: • The f irst recorded declaration from Christ that He is the Messiah. • The f irst apostles ordained to establish His church. • The f irst person to witness He was resurrected. These new statues illustrate the following: 1. Jesus Christ With the Woman at the Well: In John 4:5-42, Jesus declares to a woman of Samaria that He is the Messiah. 2. Jesus Christ Ordains Apostles: In Mark 3:13-19, the Savior ordains 12 apostles “that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils” (verses 14-15). 3. Jesus Christ and Mary at the Tomb: In John 20:11-18, the resurrected Christ appears at the empty tomb to Mary Magdalene and asks her to bear witness to the apostles that He overcame death. Information about and photos of the new statues — installed July 15-16 — were published July 27 on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. According to the news release, two more statues will be unveiled in the coming weeks: • Jesus Christ With Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) • Jesus Christ Blessing the Children (Mark 10:13-15) Statues across the grounds and exhibits throughout the Temple Square Visitors’ Center testify that Jesus Christ is at the center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Other recent Temple Square news

A July 21 episode of the Church News podcast explained what Salt Lake Temple Celebration visitors can expect in April to October 2027, from self ie stations to faith-building exhibits to a virtual tour. In late June, the multiyear seismic upgrade

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The statue Jesus Christ and Mary at the Tomb was installed at Temple Square in Salt Lake City on July 16.

was completed on the Salt Lake Temple. The pioneer-era house of the Lord now rests on its new base isolation system, allowing it to move 5 feet in any direction during an earthquake. The Salt Lake Temple’s refurbished oak doors were reinstalled on the east side of the structure June 23-25. The west doors returned

in early June. In preparation for the Salt Lake Temple Celebration, the Church has provided resources to involve members around the globe. A toolkit provides communication materials, planning guides and ideas for local participation, even for those not in Utah.

With these resources, leaders and members can focus local efforts on Jesus Christ, engage the rising generation and all people worldwide, coordinate efforts for the celebration and related activities and strengthen faith by inviting others to learn about the blessings of the temple.

DESERET NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026

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FALL ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

Utah Shakespeare Festival is turning 65. Here are the plays to look out for You can see a Tony-winning Broadway musical and more By Valerie Jones

Deseret News

Out on the lawn at the Utah Shakespeare Festival in Cedar City, a group in Elizabethan dress sings “Greensleeves” to a rapt audience of all ages. In the crowd during the festival’s Greenshow performance, several small children dance along on the grass to the traditional English folk song. This isn’t an unusual sight at the festival, where a familyfriendly approach to Shakespeare is the norm. And as the Utah Shakespeare Festival celebrates its 65th year, it’s carrying on this tradition with a variety of shows that have something for everyone. This year, the lineup includes the Tony-winning Broadway musical “Something Rotten!” as well as a production of “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.” Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 Utah Shakespeare Festival.

Musicals at Utah Shakespeare Festival

‘She Loves Me’ If the story of “She Loves Me” sounds familiar, it may be because the musical has inspired not one, but two movies: the 1940 Jimmy Stewart classic “The Shop Around the Corner” and the Meg Ryan-Tom Hanks rom-com “You’ve Got Mail.” But “She Loves Me” more than stands on its own, with a funny, sweet story and upbeat musical numbers that — while you may not feel compelled to sing along to them — are performed with pizzazz in the festival’s production. The story follows two feuding co-workers in a perfume shop in 1930s Budapest, who are each writing to — and falling in love with — an anonymous pen pal. Ali Ewoldt (who previously appeared on Broadway as Christine in “Phantom of the Opera” and Cosette in “Les Miserables”) brings a naive sort of charm to the role of Amalia, and her voice soars in each of her musical numbers. Meanwhile, festival veteran Chris Mixon brings an effective mix of both humor and heart as the shop owner, Mr. Maraczek. If you’re looking for a sweet, feel-good show that will also leave you with something to think about, then “She Loves Me” is the one to see. Content advisory from the festival’s website: “‘She Loves Me’ is a lighthearted romantic comedy but does include an off-stage suicide attempt with a gunshot sound effect.” “She Loves Me” will run at the Randall L. Jones Theatre through Oct. 3. ‘Something Rotten!’ It might seem like a bold choice to perform a song that repeats the line “I hate Shakespeare” at a Shakespeare festival, but in this high-energy satire of musical theater, it quickly becomes

Karl Hugh, Utah Shakespeare Festival A scene from the Utah Shakespeare Festival's 2026 production of "Something Rotten!"

clear that nothing is sacred. The Tony-winning Broadway musical follows two playwright brothers in Elizabethan England, Nick and Nigel Bottom, who — in their attempt to become more popular than William Shakespeare — write the world’s f irst musical. What follows is a fun and zany romp through musical theater tropes, including blink-and-you’ll-miss-them nods to everything from “Les Miserables” to “Cats,” plus a sweet message about staying true to yourself. The festival’s production is clearly a crowd-pleaser: The audience at my Saturday matinee performance was continually bursting into applause and cheers throughout the show. And the cast more than earned it — the ensemble performers in particular brought enormous energy to every song and dance routine.

“Something Rotten!” will leave you singing and dancing along long after you’ve left the theater — whether you love Shakespeare or hate him. Content advisory from the festival’s website: “‘Something Rotten!’ contains innuendo, bawdy wordplay, mild language, suggestive themes, and comedic depictions of historical f igures.” “Something Rotten!” will run at the Randall L. Jones Theatre through Oct. 3.

More plays

Two more plays. "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" and "The Book Club Play," will run through Oct. 3 in the Eileen and Allen Anes Studio Theatre.

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FALL THEATER GUIDE Salt Lake City theaters

Broadway at the Eccles • “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” Sept. 19-Oct. 11 • “The Outsiders,” Nov. 10-15 • “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” Dec. 8-19 The Grand Theatre • “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” through Sept. 26 Parker Theatre • “To Kill a Mockingbird,” through Oct. 17 • “A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 21-Dec. 24

Pioneer Theatre Company • “John Proctor is the Villain,” through Sept.

• “Little Shop of Horrors,” Oct. 23-Nov. 7 • “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” Dec. 4-19 University of Utah Theatre • “Carrie,” Oct. 2-11 • “Hamlet,” Nov. 13-22 Utah Opera at Capitol Theatre • “Héctor Armienta’s Zorro,” Oct. 10-18

Salt Lake County theaters

Desert Star Playhouse • “Scooby Doo: Even Stranger Things,” through Nov. 7 • “Nutcracker: Men in Tights,” Nov. 12-Jan. 2, 2027 Draper Historic Theatre • “Little Shop of Horrors,” Oct. 9-31 • “Puffs,” Nov. 12-21 • “Frozen,” Dec. 7-22 The Empress Theatre • “Jekyll & Hyde,” Oct. 2-17 Hale Centre Theatre • “Our Town,” through Oct. 24 • “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” now through Oct. 24 • “Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Adventure,” through Nov. 14 • “Anastasia,” Nov. 16-Jan. 30, 2027 • “A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 27-Dec. 26 West Valley Performing Arts Center • “Wait Until Dark,” Oct. 2-24

Utah County theaters BYU Theater

• “Great Expectations,” Oct. 17-Nov. 1 • “She Loves Me,” Nov. 7-22 • “My Robot,” Nov. 12-22 The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater • “Pride and Prejudice,” through Nov. 7

Davis County theaters

CenterPoint Theatre • “Dear Evan Hansen,” through Oct. 15 • “Little Women,” Nov. 6-Dec. 30 Hopebox Theatre • “Cinderella,” Oct. 2-31 • “Annie,” Dec. 4-30

Park City theaters

Egyptian Theatre • “Avenue Q,” through Sept. 20 • “Thriller,” Odyssey Dance Theatre, Sept. 30-Oct. 7 • “Little Shop of Horrors,” Oct. 28-Nov. 1 • “A C h r ist ma s Stor y : T he Mu sical,” Nov. 24-29 • “Park City’s Holiday Sing-a-Long Spectacular!” Dec. 11-20

Northern Utah theaters Heritage Theatre

• “Into the Woods,” Oct. 9-31 • “Frozen,” Nov. 27-Dec. 19 Peery’s Egyptian Theater • “Dracula,” Oct. 15-19 • “A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 20-29 Pickleville Playhouse • “The Ghost of Dead Man’s Creek,” Sept. 25-Oct. 24 Ziegfeld Theater • “Little Shop of Horrors,” Oct. 16-31

Southern Utah theaters

Tuacahn Amphitheatre • “Les Misérables,” through Oct. 23 • “Finding Nemo: A 70-Minute Family Musical,” through Oct. 24 • “Grease,” through Oct. 22 • “Holiday Inn,” Nov. 20-Dec. 22 Utah Shakespeare Festival • “Something Rotten!” through Oct. 3 • “She Loves Me,” through Oct. 3 • “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein,” through Oct. 3 • “The Book Club Play,” through Oct. 3 — Valerie Jones

DESERET NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026

This Is The Place Heritage Park presents

DESERET NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026

FALL CONCERT GUIDE

By Lottie Elizabeth Johnson

Deseret News

Here’s a breakdown, by venue, of big shows to watch out for this fall. Note: This list is not all-inclusive and events are subject to change. Capitol Theatre • Sept. 27 — Mariachazo Delta Center • Oct. 2 — Carin Leon • Oct. 14 — Disney Descendants, Zombies & Camp Rock: Worlds Collide Concert Tour • Oct. 15 — Kacey Musgraves • Oct. 20 — Gorillaz • Oct. 29 — The Smashing Pumpkins • Oct. 30 — Dan + Shay • Nov. 1 — Don Omar • Nov. 3 — Teddy Swims Eccles Theater • Oct. 16-18 — Bluey’s Big Play • Oct. 23 — Zoltan Kaszas

• Oct. 24 — #IMOMSOHARD • Oct. 28 — Leonid & Friends • Nov. 3 — Mon Laferte • Nov. 5 — “Outlander” in concert • Nov. 7 — Derrick Stroup • Nov. 19 — Postmodern Jukebox • Nov. 20-21 — Nikki Glaser Egyptian Theatre • Sept. 24-26 — Mason Jennings • Oct. 9-11 — Chris Isaak • Oct. 22-24 — The SteelDrivers • Nov. 6-8 — The Sweet • Dec. 3-6 — Yonder Mountain String Band Kingsbury Hall • Sept. 24 — The Limon Dance Company • Oct. 7 — Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves celebrate John Coltrane • Oct. 9 — Laura Ramoso • Oct. 10 — Adam Ray • Oct. 1 4 — Jim Henson’s “Labyrinth” in Concert • Nov. 13 — Chelsea Handler • Nov. 17 — Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan

• Dec. 6 — Glen Miller Christmas • Dec. 18 — Stella Cole Maverik Center • Oct. 10 — Doja Cat Ogden Twilight • Oct. 7 — Big Thief Red Butte Garden Concert Series • Sept. 20 — The Record Company and Cracker • Sept. 22 — The Revivalists, with Paul McDonald Sandy Amphitheater • Sept. 19 — Mat Kearney • Sept. 26 — Zeppelin USA • Oct. 8 — Dwight Yoakam Tuacahn Amphitheatre • Nov. 4 — The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute • Nov. 11 — “Stayin’ Alive”: One Night of the Bee Gees • Nov. 12 — Straight No Chaser

Twilight Concert Series (Salt Lake) • Oct. 1 — The War on Drugs Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre • Sept. 21 — MÖtley CrÜe • Sept. 22 — Five Finger Death Punch • Sept. 26 — Suicideboys • Sept. 29 — Wu-Tang Clan • Sept. 30 — Breaking Benjamin • Oct. 1 — Empire of the Sun • Oct. 7 — Staind, with special guests Hoobastank and Hinder Union Event Center • Sept. 23 — Social Distortion • Sept. 24 — Killswitch Engage • Sept. 25 — Bowling for Soup • Sept. 29 — Chance the Rapper • Oct. 6 — Taking Back Sunday • Oct. 7 — Loathe • Oct. 9 — Juanes • Oct. 10 — Sex Pistols • Oct. 17 — Julia Wolf • Oct. 18 — Rise Against • Nov. 17 — Sabaton • Dec. 13 — Beartooth

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DESERET NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026

EVENTS

FESTIVALS

WU-TANG FOREVER: THE F INAL CHAMBER

FANX SALT LAKE COMIC CONVENTION

DATE: Sept. 29

TIME: Varies

M LOCATION: 5150 S. 6055 West, West Valley City Hip-hop group's f inal tour. Y

DATE: Sept. 24-26

LOCATION: 100 S. West Temple, Salt Lake City

Pop culture expo is Utah's most attended convention.

THEATER & COMEDY

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD

CMY

CROSS-E RANCH FALL FESTIVAL 2026 DATE: Sept. 25-Oct. 31 TIME: Varies

LOCATION: 3500 N. 2200 West, Salt Lake City Over 30 attractions included.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

DATE: Sept. 19-Oct. 11 TIME: Varies

LOCATION: 131 S. Main, Salt Lake City

Harry Potter and his son go on an adventure through time.

LOCATION: 2 North Medical Drive, Salt Lake City

JOHN PROCTOR IS THE VILLAIN

TIME: 6:30 p.m.–9 p.m.

Explore the evolution of Ashkenazi cuisine. SAINT MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH FALL FESTIVAL DATE: Sept. 26

TIME: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

DATE: Sept. 19-26 TIME: Varies

LOCATION: 1248 E. 1700 South, Salt Lake City

A funny play about teenage girls rewriting the rules.

LOCATION: 4050 S. 3900 West, Ogden Classic car show and 5K fun run.

LES MISÉRABLES

SCARECROW WALK 2026

LOCATION: 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins

DATE: Sept. 26 TIME: 10 a.m.

LOCATION: 80 E. 725 South, Kaysville Delightful display of scarecrows.

Scan to learn more about this historic visual arts competition or visit: artsandmuseums.utah.gov/statewide-annual

DATE: Sept. 26

JEWISH ARTS FESTIVAL 2026

FREE ART EXHIBITION DEC. 8 - MAR. 13, 2027

DATE: Sept. 22-Oct. 23 TIME: Varies

Interactive Halloween-themed dinner show full of campy fun.

SPORTS

WASATCH YOGA FEST DATE: Sept. 27

UTAH FOOTBALL VS. UTAH STATE

LOCATION: 455 25th Street, Ogden

TIME: 1:30 p.m.

TIME: Noon

DATE: Sept. 19

A day of movement, connection and good energy.

LOCATION: 451 1400 East, Salt Lake City Utes host the Battle of the Brothers.

F INAL CUT F ILM FESTIVAL

REAL SALT LAKE VS. REVOLUTION

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

DATE: Oct. 1-3 LOCATION:

Screening of advanced student f ilms.

DATE: Sept. 26

LOCATION: 9256 S. State, Sandy

RSL faces one of the Eastern Conference's best teams.

Bring Hope to Families Battling Cancer

CONCERTS & LIVE MUSIC

UTAH ROYALS FC VS. COURAGE

MÖTLEY CRÜE

TIME: 5 p.m.

TIME: 6:30 p.m.

Roy a ls a nd Cou r a ge a re a mon g t he NWSL's top clubs.

Purchase Tickets

BYU FOOTBALL VS. IOWA STATE

Donate

TIME: 8:15 p.m.

Volunteer

DATE: Sept. 21

LOCATION: 5150 S. 6055 West, West Valley City

Heavy metal band celebrates 45 years.

DATE: Sept. 27

LOCATION: 9256 S. State, Sandy

BOWLING FOR SOUP

DATE: Oct. 9

TIME: 7 p.m.

LOCATION: 1700 N. Canyon Road, Provo

DATE: Sept. 25

LOCATION: 235 N. 500 West, Salt Lake City

Self-proclaimed"9th greatest band of all time."

Major Big 12 night game at home for Cougar fans.

Enjoy Family-Friendly, Affordable Theatre with a Cause: HopeboxTheatre.com

DESERET NEWS | SEPTEMBER 2026

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