801 Weekend

Salt Lake City

Guide Last verified November 9, 2026. Salt Lake Valley only and ongoing things, not one-off events; every hour, price and address is from the venue's own page, public parks and libraries with no admission are called free on the city or county page, and TRAX stops come from UTA.

Free things to do in Salt Lake

Twenty places that cost nothing, or nothing on the right day. Downtown first, then the east bench, then the south valley and west side, then the one canyon you can walk without paying. Read the "Free covers" line before you go; a few of these are free only on certain days.

Museum of Utah and the State Capitol

The new state history museum and the Capitol rotunda in one stop, with free parking on the complex.

Guided Capitol tours run on the hour 10am to 3pm on weekdays and meet in the Visitor Center inside the east entrance; none November 25 to 27 or December 7 through January 1.

Pioneer Memorial Museum (DUP)

Four floors of pioneer belongings a block below the Capitol, weekdays only, so pair it with the Capitol.

No cameras or scanners inside. The free 200 bus stops at Main Street and North Temple.

Church History Museum

An easy free indoor hour with kids once the second floor reopens after November 18.

The second floor, including the children's exhibit, is closed for construction through November 18. The lot on the museum's west side is closed too.

FamilySearch Library

The Church's genealogy library, where the point is "talking to experts"; bring the names and dates you have.

Construction may affect parking and building access, and the library may close on short notice. The Church History Museum lot is no longer available.

Salt Lake City Main Library

A building you can walk into any day, sit for hours, and never be asked to buy anything.

Borrowing needs a library card; the locations page lists no fees of any kind.

Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA)

Contemporary art by Temple Square station, with Friday the late night.

Meters are on West Temple and 100 South, and the Marriott across the street is paid.

Clark Planetarium exhibit floor

More than 10,000 square feet of free exhibits on the train line, open late on weekends; skip the show.

Closed Monday, November 9 for a private event, and the main elevator is out for about four days starting November 16. Validate at the ticket desk or Planet Fun for a parking discount.

Gallivan Center food trucks

A downtown lunch on the plaza every Tuesday and Thursday, all year; check Instagram for that week's trucks before you go.

The weekly truck lineup is posted on Instagram. Most Gallivan-sponsored events are free, but the ice rink is $15 for adults.

Salt Lake Gallery Stroll

A dozen galleries open late with the artists in the room, one Friday a month.

Not every gallery joins every month, so check the current list; as of November 9 it still shows October's. The two receptions that posted times ran 6pm to 9pm.

Winter Farmers Market

The farmers market that runs through the winter, Saturdays at the Civic Center.

After two hours the garage is $1.50 per half hour, and street meters are $3.50 an hour. The summer market runs Saturdays 8am to 2pm, June 6 to October 24, at Pioneer Park.

Gilgal Sculpture Garden

A sphinx and a walking-tour brochure in what the Tribune called SLC's "strangest city park," free every day.

Pick up a walking-tour brochure at the garden. Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Chase Home Museum of Utah Folk Arts, Liberty Park

The state folk art collection in the old Chase family house in the middle of the park; do the paved loop before or after.

The museum has no public restrooms, and the second floor is stairs only.

Utah Museum of Fine Arts, free days

The U's art museum for nothing twice a month; the first-Wednesday late night works after work.

Always free for U of U and Utah public college students with ID, and for up to four people with an EBT, WIC or Horizon card; special ticketed exhibitions may not be free. Parking is tight on fall football Saturdays.

Red Butte Garden, free days

Red Butte for nothing six days a year; the next two are the Holiday Open House, December 5 and 6.

This year's December free days are the Holiday Open House, December 5 and 6. Always free for U of U students, staff and faculty with a UCard, tribal citizens, and up to four people with EBT, WIC or SNAP.

Sugar House Park

The valley's default walking loop, 1.4 miles with a real hill, and the sledding hill the park's own site calls famous.

Unreserved pavilions are first come, first served. Dogs on leash at all times.

Wheeler Historic Farm

A county farm with animals and 75 acres of trail to walk; add the wagon ride with a toddler.

Farmhouse tours run Monday to Friday 11am to 1pm through November, by reservation December through April, and are $2 for ages 3 to 12. The store is closed November through March, and dogs stay on leash.

International Peace Gardens

Gardens named for nations, from Danish to Japanese, open all year.

Flowers bloom May to October, so a November visit is a walk, not a flower show.

Dimple Dell Regional Park

630 acres and more than 15 miles of trail for hikers, bikes and horses; start at Wrangler for restrooms.

More than 15 miles of trail for hikers, bikes and horses across 630 acres. Wrangler has restrooms, water and picnic tables.

Jordan River Parkway Trail

The valley's long paved ride or run, 45 miles through the county; pick the trailhead nearest you.

Amenities differ by trailhead, and the county page lists them. Salt Lake City says all of its sections are open.

City Creek Canyon and Memory Grove

A paved canyon road with no private cars during construction; walk up from Memory Grove past the gate house.

The road is closed at picnic site 16 during construction, and bikes go above Bonneville Blvd only on weekends and holidays. Dogs on leash, none above picnic site 16; Memory Grove has an off-leash area.

Closed or changed

Utah Governor's Mansion tours are on hold in 2026 and back in 2027. The Conference Center on Temple Square is closed for renovation and the Beehive House reopens spring 2027. The Utah Military Museum at Fort Douglas reopens November 14, 2026, with hours not yet posted.

Get the weekend version every Thursday.Eight to twelve things to do in Salt Lake, with times, prices and parking. Free.