For thousands of years of human history in the valleys of Utah Lake and Great Salt Lake, the Jordan River was a center of community and culture. It was the ribbon of life, providing food, water and sustenance. It was the “highway” for moving across the region, and a gathering spot for trading, sharing stories and news, and connecting with other Indigenous tribal communities.
In September, the Jordan River Parkway will again become the gathering place for community and culture during the annual Get To The River Festival. Its more than 50 miles of parks, trails and natural lands that wind through 16 cities across Utah, Salt Lake, and Davis counties, is the perfect place for gathering, learning, exploring and caring. The Jordan River Commission and Jordan River Foundation, alongside dozens of community partners, have developed the Festival as an opportunity for fun, with a broader purpose.
An Entry Point for Every Community Along the Corridor
The Festival isn’t a single event on a single day. It’s a monthlong calendar that features dozens of gatherings across the river’s length. It provides activities that are familiar, and opportunities for discovery. There’s an entry point for every individual regardless of age, interest, background, ability level, and location.
For kids and families, there’s a month-long scavenger hunt along the trail in West Jordan. On September 14, Riverton hosts a fun family night with food, activities and education booths, and a short bike trail ride. On September 19, South Jordan hosts a free fishing day for kids 12 and under, and a free round of mini golf at Mulligans.
Cultural activities include a screening of the “The Lake” documentary in Saratoga Springs on September 3, the award-winning film premiering at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Murray’s live music, yard games, and ice cream at Winchester Park on September 12, and SB Dance Company’s Curbside Theater with an evening of riverside dance and music on September 25, at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake, offer opportunities to relax and connect with nature and with each other. There are many participatory art and creative activities throughout the month, including competitively judged “plein air” events with prizes.
(Sage Nightingale, sponsored) | Cyclists participate in a Jordan River Commission bike ride event at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai near the Jordan River in South Salt Lake.
For those who want to explore together on two (or more) wheels, Bikes and Birds on September 10 is a short, easy ride with Tracy Aviary guiding bird observations near the Big Bend Nature Park & Preserve in West Jordan. And Wasatch Adaptive Sports is hosting bike lessons and rides on adaptive equipment throughout the month at different locations.
For the more adventurous, there’s a diverse lineup of recurring outdoor activities including the Pedal the Parkway bike rides, and educational Walk and Talk hikes on Wednesday evenings, Paddle the Jordan River trips on Fridays, and Bird Walks with Tracy Aviary on Saturday mornings, each running weekly in different locations throughout the month.
These are just a few of dozens of river oriented activities. More information and the full calendar is at GetToTheRiver.org. Some events have limited space available, and may require advance registration to secure a spot, so visit the website early.
More Than a Feel-Good Calendar Item
While the Get to the River Festival is full of fun for all, more importantly, it’s doing real work. The Jordan River’s long-term health as a water resource for millions of Utahns, and its important connection to the endangered Great Salt Lake, depends on public awareness, sustained support and action. The Festival, through thousands of small, repeated moments where people in our community choose to show up for the river, allows participants to also see what the river needs, and to speak up for it.
Now in its 13th year, the Festival momentum is already paying off. Millions of dollars in conservation and restoration investments, through local, state and federal governments, and hundreds of individual donors, along with countless volunteer hours, have moved work forward in recent years. Ongoing public investment follows visible public support.
(Sage Nightingale, sponsored) |Volunteers at the Jordan River boundary between Salt Lake and Davis counties work with the Jordan River Commission to clear a large “island” of trash and debris, which enters the river through upstream stormwater infrastructure and accumulates around a fallen tree.
A Simple Way to Help, Wherever You Live
This year’s Festival is also spotlighting ways to “Love Your Watershed,” a growing grassroots effort of individuals and communities becoming stewards of this important natural resource. Wherever we live in Utah and Salt Lake valleys, the storm drains on the streets and parking areas around our homes and businesses are connected to the Jordan River. Litter, chemicals, and organic matter like leaves, grass and pet waste, that wash into storm drains when it rains and snows, are carried to the river and its tributaries with little or no filtration. These pollutants harm wildlife and create a mess for recreation activities.
Small actions to clean up the gutters, sidewalks and parking areas just outside the front door of our home or business at least monthly can have a ripple effect. Organizing friends, family, colleagues, and others for larger neighborhood cleanups on the 9/11 Day of Service & Remembrance, Earth Day and other group service opportunities throughout the year, will improve the health and vitality of the Jordan River and its many tributaries across the watershed.
It’s all one watershed, and it needs each of us to take action to preserve and restore our lakes, creeks and rivers that we love. Additional “Love Your Watershed” information can be found at LoveYourWatershed.org.
For the full calendar of Get To The River Festival events and activities, and to register, visit GetToTheRiver.org. Questions can be directed to the Jordan River Commission at Festival@JordanRiverCommission.gov or 801-536-4158. The Get to the River Festival is organized by the Jordan River Commission and Jordan River Foundation, along with dozens of local communities and community organization partners.