Guide to Labor Day in Salt Lake City: Festivals, Events, Things to Do

Check out Some Outdoor Concerts

Red Butte Garden and the Gallivan Center have both canceled their summer concert offerings in 2020.

Wonderful weather continues into September in Salt Lake City, and so do outdoor summer concerts (and some indoor ones). Relax under the lovely skies or sip a cocktail at a local venue while you enjoy a performance happening around Labor Day weekend.

A great, family-friendly venue in Salt Lake’ City's east foothills to see not only well-known musicians but have a picnic with views of the beautiful Wasatch Range landscape is the Red Butte Garden Concert Series. Another popular outdoor option in downtown Salt Lake City is the Gallivan Center amphitheater; in case of unpleasant weather, the Gallivan Hall indoor venue is available.

Head to Some Kid-Friendly Museums and Attractions

With the children off school and adults taking time away from work, Labor Day weekend is a perfect time to visit Salt Lake City's best kid-friendly parks, museums, and attractions. Suggested stops include the city's Hogle Zoo and Lagoon Amusement Park in Farmington, just north of Salt Lake City.

Some of the most popular attractions to visit with kids—including the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Leonardo Museum of Creativity and Innovation—are closed down through summer 2020. Be sure to check individual webpages for places you plan to visit to be sure they're open and if any special guidelines are in place.

Have an Adventure on Family-Friendly Hiking Trails

Fun, free, and healthy, hiking is one of the best Labor Day weekend activities to do as a family. You can discover Utah's natural beauty on some local hikes that range in difficulty, from easy strolls to rigorous trails. For instance, a trip through Bell Canyon to the lower reservoir is perfect for beginners, but you'll need to spend all day to get to the upper reservoir. If you'd like to experience a great view of the Salt Lake Valley, you can take an easy hike up the Living Room Trail, which leads to a ridge overlooking the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum.

Cool Off at Pools, Water Parks, and Splash Pads

Stretch your summer fun this Labor Day weekend and take advantage of the typically sunny, nice weather. Salt Lake City in September is 78 degrees Fahrenheit on average, so it would be refreshing to stop at one of the area's pools, water parks, or splash pads. Good places to cool off with kids include Cherry Hill and Cowabunga Bay, but there are also numerous community pools spread throughout the Salt Lake Valley (and beyond). Many aquatic parks and pools have put special reservation systems into place for summer 2020, so be sure to check individual attraction webpages to verify park guidelines.

Enjoy Al Fresco Patio Dining

Nothing is lovelier than a great meal outdoors in good weather, and some of the best restaurants in the Salt Lake City area offer patio dining. Bring a book or a friend and relax with some tasty food and drinks at places like the iconic Ruth's Diner, Caffe Niche near the Univesity of Utah, The Dodo in Sugar House, or Gracie's in downtown. No matter where you are in the city, you're sure to find a delicious meal you can experience in the fresh Salt Lake City air.

Shop at Salt Lake City Farmers Markets

Pick up some arts and crafts—or fresh produce for your Labor Day barbecue—at one of these notable farmers markets held Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays around the Salt Lake City area. Check out the many markets that pop up around the city such as the Downtown Farmers Market at Pioneer Park on Saturday, Farm Bureau Farmer's Market at Murray Park on Friday and Saturday, or the 9th West Farmers Market at Jordan Park on Sunday.

Be sure to confirm the hours and health guidelines for individual markets for summer 2020. All of them require a face mask to be worn, and some of them have even been canceled for the year, such as the Park Silly Sunday Market.

Catch a University of Utah Utes Football Game

The University of Utah football schedule has been postponed and is scheduled to begin September 26, 2020.

Football season for the University of Utah usually kicks off with a Utes game on the Thursday before the Labor Day weekend. The intercollegiate athletics university teams got their name from the Ute tribe of Native Americans. Check out the game against Brigham Young at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, an hour south of Salt Lake City. One lively area to check out the game—amidst a plethora of restaurants, shops, museums, parks, and other places to have a great time—is in the University neighborhood that houses the University of Utah.

Visit the ​team website for ticket and schedule information, or tune into the game at a sports bar around the area.

Oktoberfest at Snowbird Resort

Oktoberfest at Snowbird Resort is canceled in 2020 and returns in August 2021.

Oktoberfest at Snowbird Resort, one of the state's biggest festivals, features music, dancing, traditional German cuisine, and over 50 types of beer at the beer garden, plus bratwurst, sauerkraut, schnitzel, and more German favorites. Kids young and old can enjoy face painting, a caricature artist, inflatable rides, music, balloons, and other Labor Day weekend activities. Oktoberfest events typically take place on Saturdays and Sundays every weekend (including Labor Day) from mid-August through mid-October.

Midway Swiss Days

The Midway Swiss Days Festival is canceled in 2020.

The city of Midway, near Heber City and about 28 miles from Salt Lake City, celebrates its Swiss heritage with a popular two-day Labor Day weekend festival at the Midway Town Square. The Midway Swiss Days festivities include a chuck wagon breakfast, a 10K run, a parade, and several musical performances. The event also has an enormous arts and crafts fair, which is a perfect place to shop for unique gifts, home decor, clothing, and more. Don't forget to try some pie and ice cream.

Labor Day Luau at Thanksgiving Point

Say aloha to summer with great food, leis, tiki torches, and live entertainment at the annual Labor Day Luau. The family-friendly event features dancing from various cultures of Polynesia, including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Tahiti, plus the ever-popular fire dancers. Bring blankets and chairs for your family to enjoy the outdoor event, scheduled for Friday, September 4, 2020.

Events take place at Ashton Gardens in Lehi, Utah, about 45 minutes south of Salt Lake City, on Labor Day evening. Visitors may want to check out more of Ashton Gardens, given that it is 55 acres and home to what they claim is the biggest manmade waterfall in the Western Hemisphere.

Miners' Day in Park City

Public events for Miner's Day in Park City are canceled in 2020.

Celebrate Park City's mining heritage at Miners' Day on Labor Day. Event features include the funky Miner's Day Parade, the world-famous "Running of the Balls" (thousands of golf balls rolled down Main Street), mucking and drilling competitions, music, a 5K fun run, and kids' activities.

The event will take place on Historic Main Street and City Park in Park City, about 40 minutes by car from Salt Lake City. Learn more about the city's background at Park City Museum; walking tours through late August educate visitors on how Park City went from a silver mining town to a notable ski resort that hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics.