Friday ยท The Weekend List
Issue #71 ยท September 25, 2026
โ† All issues

Swan Lake glows at The Covey Friday night

Plus a haunted cornfield in Spanish Fork, Friday cookie decorating, and a Saturday 5K beside Utah Lake.

Good morning, Happy Valley.

Grand Kyiv Ballet brings Swan Lake: Symphony of Lights to The Covey tonight. The dancers keep the classical choreography while costumes made in Ukraine use American electronics to light up with the stage cues.

You can also decorate cookies at Baking Me Crazy, walk into the Field of Fright on opening night, join a Saturday watercolor class in Highland, or run along the Provo Parkway Trail Saturday morning.

๐Ÿ“ 30 seconds in the valleyโฑ๏ธ 9 min read

โญ The Big One

See Swan Lake costumes light up with the choreography Friday night's pick

See Swan Lake costumes light up with the choreography

Grand Kyiv Ballet performs Swan Lake with new illuminated costumes made in Ukraine and fitted with American electronics. The company keeps the classical choreography while stage lighting and costume cues change around the dancers.
๐Ÿ•Hours: Friday, Sep 25 ยท 7:30pm
๐Ÿ“Address: The Covey Main Stage ยท 425 W Center St, Provo ยท Provo
๐Ÿ’ตCost: $28-$58
โฐTiming: Arrive by 7pm so parking and ticket pickup do not push you past the opening scene.
Our take
Choose this if you want a full classical ballet with a visual change you can see from the back rows. The lights support the movement instead of replacing the dancing.
โš ๏ธ Heads up: The venue lists a 7:30pm start. An earlier touring-company listing showed 7pm, so follow the time printed by The Covey and on your ticket.
mid classical balleta Friday datetheater lighting
Details โ†’

๐Ÿ“ฐ Around the Valley

Wildlife officers remove a bear from a Mapleton neighborhood

A bear that had spent several weeks returning to Mapleton yards for trash and chicken feed entered a state wildlife trap Wednesday morning. Wildlife officers safely secured the animal and took it away; the department had not said whether it would be tagged and released elsewhere.
๐Ÿ•Hours:
๐Ÿ“Address:
๐Ÿ’ตCost:

Peck family gives 20.34 acres under Mill Pond to Lehi

Cole Peck and Megan Peck Butler made the land donation official September 8. Lehi now owns 20.34 acres under Mill Pond, which feeds the city's secondary irrigation system, but the area remains closed while the city considers dredging and future public use.
๐Ÿ•Hours:
๐Ÿ“Address:
๐Ÿ’ตCost:

๐Ÿ“… This Week

Decorate cookies at Baking Me Crazy Friday $25 Friday class

Decorate cookies at Baking Me Crazy Friday

Baking Me Crazy runs its final September Drop-n-Decorate cookie class Friday afternoon and evening. The shop lists the session as a bookable $25 cookie class.
๐Ÿ•Hours: Friday, Sep 25 ยท 4-8pm
๐Ÿ“Address: Baking Me Crazy ยท 4801 N University Ave, Suite 125, Provo ยท Provo
๐Ÿ’ตCost: $25
โฐTiming: Choose the first half of the 4-8pm window if you want dinner at Riverwoods afterward.
Our take
Book online before you head to Riverwoods. The four-hour window gives you room to fit cookie decorating before dinner or after work.
โš ๏ธ Heads up: This is the last September date on the current class calendar. Check the booking page for remaining seats before making the drive.
budget cookie decoratinga hands-on Friday planRiverwoods dinner afterward
Details โ†’
Enter Field of Fright on opening night Choose a timed slot

Enter Field of Fright on opening night

Glen Ray's opens its separate haunted corn maze Friday after dark. A ticket includes general admission to the regular corn maze and one trip through Field of Fright.
๐Ÿ•Hours: Friday, Sep 25 ยท dark-11pm
๐Ÿ“Address: Glen Ray's Corn Maze ยท 1750 W 8000 S, Spanish Fork ยท Spanish Fork
๐Ÿ’ตCost: $27.95 weekend admission ยท online purchase required
โฐTiming: Arrive at least 30 minutes before your selected time so you can park and check in without losing your place.
Our take
Book a timed arrival before you drive south. Your selected time puts you in the haunted-maze line; it does not promise an immediate walk-in.
โš ๏ธ Heads up: The farm recommends ages 12 and older. Expect low light, fog, loud noises and uneven ground, and wear closed-toe shoes.
mid haunted attractionsolder teensopening night
Details โ†’
Join a Saturday watercolor class after the term starts Only for the full course

Join a Saturday watercolor class after the term starts

The Visual Art Institute's beginning and intermediate watercolor class works on pigment, water, paper, observation and technique. The fall course runs for 12 weeks, and the school says students may register after classes have started.
๐Ÿ•Hours: Saturday, Sep 26 ยท 9:30-11:30am
๐Ÿ“Address: Highland Community Center ยท 5378 W 10400 N, Highland ยท Highland
๐Ÿ’ตCost: Tuition varies by class ยท late registration available
โฐTiming: Call 801-474-3796 before Saturday to confirm late enrollment and what to bring for the 9:30am class.
Our take
Call the school before paying so you know the remaining class count and supply requirements. This is a continuing course rather than a one-morning workshop.
โš ๏ธ Heads up: The September 12 start date has passed. Skip this if you only want a single drop-in painting session.
mid watercolor beginnersa 12-week courseSaturday mornings
Details โ†’
Run five kilometers along the Provo Parkway Trail Pick your distance

Run five kilometers along the Provo Parkway Trail

The Explorer's Run starts at Utah Lake State Park Saturday with a timed 5K and a casual one-mile fun run. Children 11 and younger can enter the one-mile route free.
๐Ÿ•Hours: Saturday, Sep 26 ยท check-in 6am ยท races 8am
๐Ÿ“Address: Provo Parkway Trail ยท start at 4400 W Center St, Provo ยท Provo
๐Ÿ’ตCost: 5K $35 ยท one mile $20 ยท one mile free for ages 11 and under
โฐTiming: Aim to check in by 7am even though the desk opens at 6am. That leaves an hour for parking, bib pickup and a warmup.
Our take
Use the one-mile route if your group wants the lakefront morning without racing a clock. The 5K is the choice for runners who want a timed result.
โš ๏ธ Heads up: Check-in opens two hours before the race. Registration asks for participant details and a signed waiver, so finish it before Saturday morning.
mid a timed 5Kfamily runnersa Utah Lake morning
Details โ†’

๐ŸŸ๏ธ The Scoreboard

Wolverines score seven against Cal State Bakersfield

Utah Valley beat Cal State Bakersfield 7-1 Wednesday in its Big West opener, improving to 5-4-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Wolverines now travel to UC San Diego for a Saturday night match.
๐Ÿ•Hours:
๐Ÿ“Address:
๐Ÿ’ตCost:

Utah volleyball takes a three-match sweep streak to Colorado

Utah swept Northern Colorado 3-0 Saturday to finish its Greeley trip 3-0 and move to 8-3. The Utes open conference play at Colorado Friday night, then host Baylor Sunday afternoon.
๐Ÿ•Hours:
๐Ÿ“Address:
๐Ÿ’ตCost:

๐Ÿด Eat & Drink

Start with the kouign amann at Gourmandise Go before the case thins

Start with the kouign amann at Gourmandise

Gourmandise's American Fork bakery makes hand-laminated croissants, kouign amann, scones, cookies and individual desserts. The cafรฉ also serves brunch, lunch and dinner if a pastry turns into a full meal.
๐Ÿ•Hours: Friday-Saturday ยท 8am-10pm ยท Sunday 9am-3pm
๐Ÿ“Address: Gourmandise Bakery & Cafรฉ ยท 215 E State St, American Fork ยท American Fork
๐Ÿ’ตCost: Pastry and dessert prices vary
โฐTiming: Use the drive-through for coffee and one pastry; go inside if you want to compare the full dessert case.
Our take
Order the kouign amann first if it is still in the case. Add a strawberry mille-feuille only if two people can split the second dessert.
โš ๏ธ Heads up: The bakery case changes through the day. Go in the morning if one specific pastry is the reason for the stop.
mid French pastriesa weekend breakfastdessert after dinner
Details โ†’

๐ŸŒฒ Get Outside

Climb to all three caves before the tour season ends Tours often sell out

Climb to all three caves before the tour season ends

A regular Timpanogos Cave tour walks through Hansen, Middle and Timpanogos caves with a ranger. The 55-minute cave route follows a steep 1.5-mile paved climb that gains 1,092 feet before you reach the entrance.
๐Ÿ•Hours: Daily ยท regular tours begin at 8:15am ยท reserved times vary
๐Ÿ“Address: Timpanogos Cave National Monument ยท Highway 92 in American Fork Canyon ยท American Fork Canyon
๐Ÿ’ตCost: No park entrance fee ยท regular cave tours $2-$12 by age
โฐTiming: Your ticket time is when you start hiking from the visitor center, not when you enter the cave. Do not add a separate 90-minute lead time.
Our take
Reserve the cave ticket first, then plan about three and a half hours for the climb, ranger tour and walk down. Carry water and a layer for the 45-degree caves.
โš ๏ธ Heads up: The trail has steep drop-offs and does not allow strollers, wagons or pets. Clothing or gear used in another cave or mine cannot enter because it may carry bat disease spores.
budget a steep hikecave geologyan all-morning outing
Details โ†’

๐ŸŽŸ๏ธ Also Happening

โ™ฟ Run, walk or roll for Ability 1st Utah

Saturday's fundraiser at 1455 W 820 N in Provo offers a 10K at 8am, a 5K at 8:30am and a children's 1K at 9:30am. Current entry starts at $10 for the children's race.
๐Ÿ•Hours:
๐Ÿ“Address:
๐Ÿ’ตCost:

๐Ÿ‘ป Buy Haunted Forest tickets before the gate

The American Fork haunt opens Friday at 6000 W 6400 N. Tickets use timed arrival windows and are sold online only; general-admission guests get a text when the forest trail is ready.
๐Ÿ•Hours:
๐Ÿ“Address:
๐Ÿ’ตCost:

๐Ÿฅ• Shop Provo Farmers Market's final 9am Saturday

The Sep 26 market runs 9am-2pm at Pioneer Park, 500 W Center St. October Saturdays continue at the later 10am opening.
๐Ÿ•Hours:
๐Ÿ“Address:
๐Ÿ’ตCost:

The Debate

๐Ÿ“ฐ Valley News

Utah reservoirs average 50% full entering fall

Utah's September 17 drought update puts statewide reservoir storage at 50% full when Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge are excluded. That is 9% below the normal level for this point in the year and 13% below the same time last year.
๐Ÿ•Hours:
๐Ÿ“Address:
๐Ÿ’ตCost:

Walden Park Observatory gets another $450,000

Meta added $450,000 toward construction of Eagle Mountain's public observatory at Walden Park, bringing its contribution to $700,000. Plans call for seven telescopes, a retractable roof, year-round STEM programs and public stargazing.
๐Ÿ•Hours:
๐Ÿ“Address:
๐Ÿ’ตCost:

๐Ÿ’™ Good Neighbor

Help sort donations at the Orem ReStore Email before your shift

Help sort donations at the Orem ReStore

Habitat for Humanity of Utah County needs volunteers to unload donations, organize merchandise, price items and help shoppers at its Orem ReStore. Store proceeds support home building and repair work in Utah County.
๐Ÿ•Hours: Tuesday-Saturday ยท volunteer shifts available 10am-6pm
๐Ÿ“Address: Habitat ReStore ยท 340 S Orem Blvd, Orem ยท Orem
๐Ÿ’ตCost: Free ยท contact the ReStore manager before going
โฐTiming: Choose a two- or three-hour block inside the 10am-6pm window and confirm it by email first.
Our take
Email Marilee at marilee@habitatuc.org with the day and hours you can work. No construction experience is needed for a ReStore shift.
โš ๏ธ Heads up: Volunteers younger than 18 need a parent or guardian working beside them. Ask before arriving if you need school or court-ordered hours documented.
free small groupsorganizing donationsongoing service hours
Details โ†’

For a free Saturday plan, browse the final 9am Provo Farmers Market of the season. The Utah Lake race, Highland watercolor class and cave tours in American Fork Canyon all need more planning.

Reply with the event, restaurant opening, or neighborhood project we should check for Monday's issue.

โ€” The Provo FOMO crew
Got a tip, a new opening, or an event? Just reply โ€” we read everything.
Read past issues ยท Refer a neighbor ยท Advertise with us