Honestly, if you woke up today thinking Salt Lake was just going to be a quiet, snowy Saturday, you’re kind of in for a surprise. This city has this weird habit of exploding with things to do right when the inversion starts to settle in and everyone thinks they should just stay inside. Today, January 17, 2026, is basically a perfect example of that. We’ve got everything from world-class documentaries at the planetarium to a literal "Broadway Rave" happening downtown.
It's busy.
If you’re looking for events in Salt Lake City Utah today, you’ve got to navigate a mix of high-culture opera, indie music at Kilby Court, and some seriously niche local festivals that most people forget about until they see the parking nightmare.
The Big One: A World Premiere at Clark Planetarium
Let’s start with the heavy hitter. The Clark Planetarium is hosting the world premiere of Lost Wolves of Yellowstone today. This isn't just some dusty educational film you’d see on a school field trip. We’re talking about an Emmy-winning filmmaker, Thomas Winston, showing up in person to talk about the return of wolves to the West.
They’re doing lectures at 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM. It’s free. Well, the lectures are free, but you’ll want to snag those Eventbrite tickets before you head down there because it’s going to be a madhouse. Between the lectures, they’re running the film on the IMAX screen pretty much all afternoon and evening—12:30, 2:30, 4:30, you get the idea.
If you have kids who are obsessed with animals, or if you just care about the ecosystem, this is probably the most "Salt Lake" thing you can do today. Plus, they’ve got partners like Hogle Zoo and HawkWatch International doing hands-on activities from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM. It’s a lot.
Music and Performance: From Beethoven to Broadway
If you’re more into the arts scene, the city is weirdly bifurcated today. You can go extremely classy or extremely nerdy.
- Beethoven’s Fidelio at Capitol Theatre: This is the big opening. It’s Beethoven’s only opera, and it’s a whole "undercover rescue" vibe. It starts tonight at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre. If you want to see Leonore disguise herself as a guard to break her husband out of a corrupt prison, this is your night.
- Broadway Rave at Metro Music Hall: On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, Metro Music Hall is hosting a rave for "musical theatre nerds." It’s basically exactly what it sounds like—actors and drama geeks singing along to show tunes at 8:00 PM.
- The Magic of Motown: Head over to Kingsbury Hall if you want to hear The Temptations and Diana Ross hits. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
- Pearl Jam Experience: The Depot is hosting a tribute show at 7:00 PM. If you miss the 90s, this is where you’ll be.
Local Gems and Niche Festivals
A lot of people overlook the malls for events, but Valley Fair Mall is actually doing something cool today called JanuArty. It’s a free event running from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Think local authors, over 30 artists, and—randomly—a cosplay contest at 3:00 PM in the center court. It’s very family-friendly, and they’re raising money for the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation, so it’s for a good cause.
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Also, don't forget the 2026 Utah Chinese New Year Celebration over at Cottonwood High School. It starts at 5:00 PM with activities, followed by a lion dance at 6:45 PM. It’s one of those community events that really highlights how diverse the Valley has actually become.
Quick Hits for the Rest of the Day:
- Wasatch Improv Festival: They’re hitting their final night at the Canyon Vista Community Center. Shows start at 7:30 PM.
- Chloe Gendrow at Kilby Court: If you want that classic, cramped, authentic SLC music experience, go to Kilby at 6:00 PM.
- Sensory Friendly Saturday: Clark Planetarium (again) is doing their sensory-friendly hours from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM where they dim the lights and turn down the sound for folks with sensory needs.
- Steely Dead: They are playing their second night at The State Room at 7:00 PM. It’s a mix of Steely Dan and Grateful Dead, which is a very specific vibe, but people around here love it.
Sports: What's Happening Locally
While the Utah Jazz are actually away in Dallas today (2:00 PM tip-off if you're watching from a bar), there’s a ton of amateur and niche sport action in town. The Salt Palace is currently taken over by the SoCal Cup, which is a massive boys' volleyball championship. If you see thousands of teenagers in jerseys wandering around downtown, that’s why.
If you’re willing to drive about 40 minutes up to Heber, you can catch the PRO Skijor Frontier Tour. It’s basically a horse pulling a skier through an obstacle course. It’s chaotic, fast, and very Utah. Today is the final day of their Heber kickoff.
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Making the Most of the Day
Parking is always the catch-22 in Salt Lake, especially with the construction that never seems to end. If you’re heading to the Planetarium or the Salt Palace, honestly, just take Trax. The Blue and Green lines drop you right there, and you won’t have to pay $20 for a garage spot that takes twenty minutes to exit.
Most of these events—specifically the JanuArty and the Chinese New Year celebration—are free or very cheap. However, the bigger shows like Fidelio or the Magic of Motown are definitely going to be pushing "sold out" status by this afternoon.
If you’re looking for a solid plan: hit the Winter Market at the Leonardo this morning, swing by the Wolf Premiere at the Planetarium in the afternoon, and then choose between the opera or the Broadway rave depending on how much "drama" you actually want in your life tonight.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Eventbrite page for Clark Planetarium immediately if you want to attend the Wolf Premiere lectures; those seats go fast.
- If you're heading to the Gateway or downtown, download the "Park SLC" app now so you aren't fumbling with a kiosk in the cold.
- Dress in layers—the sun is out, but the air quality and the temperature drop significantly the second you're in the shadow of a building.