AGP Executive Report

Utah State Fair 170th Anniversary: The Utah State Fairpark is celebrating 170 years of rides, livestock, live music, and nostalgia, running Sept. 10–20, with big-name concerts next week including Lynyrd Skynyrd, Darius Rucker, and Matchbox 20. Local Arts Education: Jasper High School’s Centerstage theater program earned a national “Heart of Rock and Roll: Power of Love” production grant, giving it a free license and materials for an outreach-ready musical. Faith & Tourism: Salt Lake Temple Open House tour reservations are expanding, with more ticket releases planned Sept. 15 and Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. Indie Theater Premiere: Laguna Playhouse kicks off its season with the world premiere pop-driven musical “Wild Child,” running Sept. 12–Oct. 4. Music Spotlight: Indie star Julien Baker announces a Rock Club Residency Tour with three Salt Lake dates at the Bottleneck (Nov. 12–14). Community & Service: Utah marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with memorials and remembrance projects, including firsthand stories from Utah first responders. Sports on the Horizon: UCLA opens its home slate under Bob Chesney against San Diego State, while Utah’s Big 12 football season ramps up with high-profile matchups and TV/radio listings. Streaming Watchlist: “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” returns with more episodes and a Season 6 already in motion. Pop Culture News: AMC greenlit the “Point Break” TV series, a new heist story set decades after the original film.

Sports Preview: Utah State tries to rebound in Week 2 at Washington (Big Ten Network, Sept. 12), while Weber State heads to Colorado in Boulder after a tough start. Local Arts: Logan officials will unveil a new Center Street mural by artist Chuck Landvatter during a Sept. 11 social event. Streaming & Pop Culture: Netflix denied mocking Charlie Kirk’s assassination after its “neck injury” post on the one-year anniversary; the company says it references a plot point in “The Gentlemen.” Media Business: Triple B Media expands with SLVR Sports & Entertainment, adding Kings/AHL content to FAST platforms including Samsung TV Plus, Prime Video, and Plex. Music Releases: Robert Plant and Saving Grace with Suzi Dian announce wider release for “All That Glitters…” and share tour dates; SAOSIN drops “Just Be Honest.” Live Music in Utah: Ticket giveaways spotlight Mötley Crüe (Sept. 21) and Five Finger Death Punch (Sept. 22) at Utah venues.

9/11 Commemoration: Utah Valley communities in northern Utah County are marking the 25th anniversary with a National Day of Service Friday, plus Saratoga Springs’ three-day service, education and remembrance ending with a patriotic concert at Neptune Park. Broadway in Southern Utah: Tuacahn Center for the Arts announced its 2027 Broadway lineup, including Disney’s “Hercules,” “The Prince of Egypt” and “Hairspray” outdoors, plus “The Play That Goes Wrong” and “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas” indoors. Holocaust Music Spotlight: The University of Utah School of Music hosted “Silenced Voices: Female Composers of the Holocaust,” bringing back works by women composers through faculty performance and research. Museum Milestone: The Utah Museum of Fine Arts unveiled “For the Future: Collecting at the UMFA 2001–2026,” a best-of exhibit spanning 25 years of acquisitions. Student Life: The University of Utah opened “The Court” at Kahlert Village, a new dining-and-programming hangout launching Sept. 16. Local Sports Giving: Utah Youth Sports Giving Day kicks off Saturday with a goal of raising $3 million for youth sports nonprofits statewide. Live Entertainment Calendar: Utah State Fair’s 170th anniversary runs through Sept. 20 with major acts next week, including Lynyrd Skynyrd (Sept. 16) and Matchbox Twenty (Sept. 18).

Reality TV Buzz: “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” returns to Hulu with new details about Taylor Frankie Paul’s halted Season 5 and her relationship fallout, including her ex Dakota Mortensen. Film & Streaming: Netflix is rolling out the Cannes-winning Spanish epic “La Bola Negra” in select U.S. theaters starting Oct. 16, with expansion planned for Nov. 6. Live Music: Julien Baker announces a fall rock-club residency tour with three-night runs kicking off Oct. 15 in Salt Lake City. Local Arts: Footpath Theatre Company’s “Western Minerals and Their Origins” brings chamber storytelling and live music to UtahPresents’ Stage Door series. Utah Economy (Arts-adjacent): GOED incentives back multiple expansions tied to advanced manufacturing—Rise Baking in Weber County, plus aerospace/defense growth from Gauss Management Research & Engineering, Moog in West Valley City, and KIHOMAC in Davis County. Outdoor/Events: Red Bull Rampage returns to its original 2001 Southern Utah venue for the 25th anniversary, Oct. 8–10. Community Culture: Park City’s PEAK Center grand opening is set for Oct. 3 with a book brigade, family activities, and free food trucks.

Outdoor Access: Get Outside Utah is taking southern Utah teens canyoneering and other outdoor activities by supplying equipment and instruction through school-based clubs. Music & Philanthropy: Sierra Ferrell will headline “Stay Wild with Gracie,” a Oct. 2 benefit at The Lodge at Blue Sky in Park City supporting equine healing and wild horse conservation. Arts & Community: The University of Utah’s Arts Bash kicks off the 2026-27 season, with a new campus cinema debuting Oct. 1 and student films shown on a big LED display. Nature Art: Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter’s “Ephemeral” exhibit opens Sept. 12 with 90 pieces by 58 local artists spotlighting native plants at risk. Dance for Mental Health: Thirty-eight dance groups will perform Saturday at Capitol Theatre for Dance for Life, pairing performances with suicide prevention outreach. Sports (Local): Real Salt Lake’s winless streak hit 10 after a 2-1 loss to Houston Dynamo, while BYU’s Big 12 opener vs. Arizona comes with key injuries including RB Sione Moa. Big Deal Concert: Garth Brooks announced two surprise Salt Lake City shows at the Delta Center (Oct. 9-10), with ticket sale details set for Sept. 18. Higher Ed Shakeup: The University of Utah plans to lay off 285 to 855 staffers over the next year as part of a modernization effort.

Salt Lake City Concert Buzz: Country icon Garth Brooks will hit the Delta Center Oct. 9–10 on the “Blame It All on My Roots” tour; tickets go on sale Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. MT. Holiday Tour Watch: Trans-Siberian Orchestra marks its 30th anniversary with a 56-city winter run, including a Salt Lake City stop at the Delta Center (dates and showtimes listed). Music Releases: The War on Drugs return with “Who’s That,” their first new studio track since 2022, plus a new video; Soul Glo announces album NA I’M GON GRAB ALLAT’ with a Salt Lake City show at Metro Music Hall Sept. 23. Local Arts & Food: Gallery East hosts “Kaleidoscope,” a ceramics collaboration by Dara Hartman and Antra Sinha; Roctaco’s global-flavor taco concept is planning Utah expansion. Community & Faith: The Salt Lake Temple open house adds more ticket batches after 1 million reservations were claimed. Sports Entertainment: UFC 332 in Utah faces fresh backlash over its main event, with former UFC star Brendan Schaub calling it the “worst main event in MMA history.”

Suicide Prevention Through Dance: Nearly 40 Utah dance groups unite this Saturday at Salt Lake City’s Capitol Theatre for Dance for Life, pairing performances with mental health education and suicide awareness. Local Arts & Community: Odyssey Dance Theatre brings its Halloween staple “Thriller” back to Utah with a two-night run in Logan (Sept. 18-19) at the Ellen Eccles Theatre. Music in the Spotlight: Utah-raised Grammy winner Ray LaMontagne is back on tour after collapsing onstage in Nashville from heat-related dehydration, with his team saying he’s doing well. Sports Watch: No. 20 Utah gets a boost as offensive linemen Keith Olson and Isaiah Garcia “should be ready to go” after missing the opener; the Utes host Arkansas Saturday on ESPN. Entertainment Buzz: ABC pushed back on reports that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will end next season, calling the claims speculative. Food & Local Growth: Chomp Donuts & Coffee plans two new Wasatch Front locations, including a permanent spot at the Delta Center.

Reality TV & Politics: “Real Housewives” is back with a fresh season of loyalty, betrayal, and banishment—an angle that mirrors the drama inside Trump’s GOP. Local Screen Culture: “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star Conner Leavitt addressed “DWTS” casting backlash in a new TikTok. Streaming & Money: Disney’s $50M antitrust settlement is still open—YouTube TV and DirecTV Stream subscribers have until Sept. 8 to file. Utah Music & Live Events: “Twilight in Concert” returns for a 2027 U.S. tour with 60+ cities. Sports in Utah: The Utes’ “Moment of Loudness” tradition returns, honoring Ty Jordan and Aaron Lowe. Community Arts & Food: Afro Utah Fest’s Jollof rice competition brought West African flavor to the Beehive State. Salt Lake Business: Target River won Salt Lake City “Marketing Agency of the Year.” Film/Design Feature: A Utah home inspired by Japanese kirigami shows how architecture can fold with the seasons.

Weber State Leadership & AI: Weber State’s new president, Chris Mallett, lays out a campus push toward technology, accelerated degrees, and digital learning as he settles into the 14th presidency role. Music Health Update: Ray LaMontagne is recovering after collapsing onstage in Nashville from heat-related dehydration during his “Trouble 20th Anniversary” tour. Utah Nuclear Fallout Questions: A Salt Lake City family’s cesium-rich bone sample is fueling new University of Utah research into whether decades-old nuclear testing fallout can still be detected and linked to long-term illness. Local Food Expansion: ROCTACO, the Salt Lake City taco spot with global flavors, says it’s ready to expand across Utah if the fit is right. Labor Day Outdoors: Crowds packed Utah canyon areas for Labor Day, including Tibble Fork Reservoir in American Fork. BYU Big 12 Opener: BYU heads into Saturday’s Arizona game after a 63-7 opener over Utah Tech, with injury updates and a defense that set the tone early. Park City & Community Events: Parkites marked Miners Day with the long-running “Running of the Balls” and parade festivities. Film & Ski Culture: Teton Gravity Research’s ski film “Actually, It Is Rocket Science” screens Sept. 23 at the Jim Santy Auditorium in Park City.

Utah Arts & Culture: A new public-art moment is taking over Salt Lake City’s “Out of the Blue” whale mural area, with artist Jiyoun Lee-Lodge selected to paint “Open Your Eyes” on the roundabout sculpture—fans have already linked the whale’s makeover buzz to a surprisingly rainy August. Local Music: Movements dropped the “Pulse” music video and announced a big fall run that includes a Salt Lake City stop at The Complex on 10/12. Community & Heritage: Heber City unveiled a new statue honoring Chief Tabby-To-Kwanah at the Heber City Cemetery, building on earlier memorial work to spotlight Timpanogos history. Ski Season Energy: Teton Gravity Research’s 31st annual ski film, Actually, It Is Rocket Science, lands in Park City on 9/23 at the Jim Santy Auditorium. Food & Fun: Sweetgreen is opening its first Utah location in Salt Lake City (Sugar House) on Tuesday, pairing with The Creamery for OLIPOP “soda floats” and local-artist postcards. Family Events: Deer Valley’s Mountain Beer Festival returns 9/19-9/20 with chairlift access, live music, and a Brewmaster Dinner on 9/18.

Utah Food & Retail: Sweetgreen is finally opening in Salt Lake City, launching its first Utah location in Sugar House with local dairy “soda floats” (OLIPOP + The Creamery), limited-edition merch, and a first-day meal donation tied to food insecurity. Utah Arts & Community: Provo River Days returns Sept. 12 as a new multisite festival linking the watershed from the Uinta headwaters down through Jordanelle, Wasatch Mountain, Deer Creek, and Provo Canyon with hands-on activities and education. Utah Entertainment Spotlight: BYUtv’s one-season sci-fi series “Extinct” is getting a second life on Prime Video, climbing into U.S. streaming charts years after its 2017 debut. Local Arts & Culture: Southern Utah Art Guild leader and photographer Sam Barber is remembered for a life of mentorship and community service, with his family highlighting decades of creative work and travel. Pageants (Utah Connection): Elle Anderson, Miss Utah’s Teen, won Miss America’s Teen 2027 in Palm Beach, while Oxford native Madalyn Sullivan finished first runner-up. Sports (Utah Angle): BYUtv and Utah fans also keep an eye on the college football weekend fallout, including Utah transfer JJ Buchanan’s role in Michigan’s controversial Hail Mary win.

College Football (Utah ties): Kyle Whittingham’s Michigan debut turned into a national head-scratcher as the Wolverines survived a second-chance Hail Mary to beat Western Michigan 13-12, with Utah transfer JJ Buchanan hauling in the winning TD after officials put one second back on the clock. Pac-12 Watch: Utah fans are also eyeing the rebuilt Pac-12’s early weekend results, with the Apple Cup still the big remaining test. Utah Music: Noah Kahan’s “The Great Divide Tour” hit a sold-out America First Field, drawing 25,000 and spotlighting Utah industry connections. Utah Sports (soccer): Real Salt Lake played LAFC to a 2-2 draw, while the Utah Royals fell 2-1 to Boston Legacy FC in a packed weekend at America First Field. Local Arts: Finch Lane Gallery announced two new Salt Lake City exhibits opening Sept. 14, including Indigenous textile work and a ceramics/media show on memory and everyday objects.

Utah Music & Local Talent: Noah Kahan’s “The Great Divide Tour” hit America First Field in a sold-out stop that drew 25,000 fans, with Utah industry connections in the spotlight—celebrity vocal coach Mindy Pack and local horn talent helping shape the show. Community & Culture: North Salt Lake hosted its annual 9/11 Day of Service with a Porter’s Landing trail cleanup, continuing summer-long efforts to keep river paths welcoming. Arts in Salt Lake City: Finch Lane Gallery announced two free Sept. 14 openings—“Weaving Memories” (Indigenous textile storytelling) and “Patterns of Place” (ceramics and mixed media)—running through Oct. 23. Sports (Utah): Real Salt Lake is finally getting a full training week after a brutal stretch, aiming to reset ahead of LAFC at America First Field. Faith & Tradition: Rosh Hashana begins Sept. 11 at sundown, with shofar blasts marking the Jewish New Year and a call for spiritual renewal. UFC 332 (Salt Lake): The card is expanding for the Salt Lake event, including Roberto Soldic’s debut and more main-card additions.

Utah Arts & Community: Ogden’s First Friday Art Stroll returns with free, family-friendly gallery stops, sidewalk performances, and local artists turning 25th Street into a monthly hangout. Local Exhibits: Thunderbird Foundation for the Arts in Mt. Carmel hosts “Big Skies and Desert Blooms – Wild Women Ride Again,” featuring eight women artists from Wild Women Paint the West, running Sept. 11–Oct. 16. Northern Utah Events: This week’s calendar highlights everything from chamber music at Weber State’s Bonneville Chamber Music Festival to Ogden Raptors games, farmers markets, and more community arts and music. Sports (BYU/Utah): BYU kicks off the season with a fresh-start vibe as No. 14 BYU hosts Utah Tech at 6 p.m. MDT (ESPN+), while Utah opens Big 12 play after a dominant season opener over Idaho. Crime & Courts: An 18-year-old accused of threatening to shoot men near UVU was booked and then released within a day on non-monetary conditions. Pop Culture: Natalie Portman welcomed her third child with partner Tanguy Destable.

Live Music & Local Planning: Provo Canyon’s proposed Vesper Amphitheater is backtracking after public pushback—developers withdrew their application and say they’ll resubmit a revised plan by month’s end, while Orem officials cite concerns over sound/light pollution, recreation impacts, and traffic. College Sports Spotlight: Utah opened the 2026 season with a 66-14 rout of Idaho in Morgan Scalley’s home debut, while BYU receiver Jojo Phillips says the doubters about the Cougars’ offense will get answered in the season opener vs. Utah Tech. Arts & Community Events: Thanksgiving Point’s Garden of Quilts returns Sept. 16–19 with more than 500 quilts and celebrity guests; Park City’s Afro Utah Festival brings Black-rooted cultures to downtown Salt Lake City; and the Egyptian Theatre marks 100 years with a free Park City Reunion Picnic Sept. 6. Local Culture & Tourism: Park City Chamber/Bureau leaders say the town is leaning harder on four-season identity after a tough winter, pointing to arts festivals and film production momentum. Broadcast/Streaming: WBOI adds “Click Here” Sundays at 4 p.m., a storytelling-driven show exploring how technology reshapes daily life.

BYU Football: BYU opens its 2026 season Saturday vs. Utah Tech (6 p.m. MDT, ESPN+), with the Cougars aiming to keep their momentum after a 12-win run and Big 12 title-game appearance. Utah Sports TV/Radio: Utah’s opener vs. Idaho already delivered a 66-14 win in front of a sellout crowd, and Utah State hosts Idaho State Saturday (5 p.m. MDT, CBS Sports Network). Weber State vs. Southern Utah: The Beehive Bowl rivalry returns in Cedar City for Weber State’s first matchup of the renewed series. Music Releases: Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats drop “House By The Grave” ahead of a Sept. 18 album release, and Dazy announces MAXIMUMBLASTSUPERLOUD Vol. 2 with a new single. Arts & Community: Artspace’s renovated Norbridge Court reopens in Salt Lake City, adding solar and new ground-floor businesses. Local Events: Park City’s Miners Day keeps mining traditions rolling with mucking and drilling at City Park. Drag & Live Shows: Cassie Nova brings Ryot Tour: Icons to Salt Lake City on Sept. 18.