The 2025 Red Butte Garden Experience: 5 Must-Know Updates, Concert Lineup, And $5M Overhaul

The Red Butte Garden and Arboretum, a jewel of the Wasatch Front, is gearing up for an unprecedented year, with 2025 promising a blend of world-class entertainment, significant infrastructure improvements, and a renewed focus on its natural heritage. As of December 2025, visitors planning a trip to Salt Lake City must be aware of the exciting developments, particularly the newly announced Outdoor Concert Series lineup and a major, multi-million dollar project designed to enhance accessibility for all patrons. This comprehensive guide details the freshest information, ensuring you have the most current details for planning your visit to one of Utah's premier botanical destinations, managed by the University of Utah.

The Garden, which sits majestically on the eastern edge of Salt Lake City near Fort Douglas, is much more than just a collection of beautiful plants; it is a hub for environmental education, conservation, and cultural events. The coming year is defined by a massive $5 million accessibility overhaul and the return of a 30-concert summer series, solidifying its status as a critical cultural and natural resource. From the Fragrance Garden to the Water Pavilion, the entire experience is being refined to welcome a new generation of visitors.

The 2025 Red Butte Outdoor Concert Series: Full Lineup Revealed

The most anticipated news for many Utah residents and tourists is the full announcement of the 2025 Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series. The Garden’s Amphitheater, known for its stunning views and intimate setting, will host an impressive 30 concerts from May through September. This lineup is a major draw, attracting thousands of music lovers to the base of the Wasatch Range each summer.

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Headliners and Key Artists for the 2025 Season:

• Classic Rock Legends: The series features iconic names such as Cheap Trick, Rick Springfield, and ZZ, promising high-energy performances that appeal to a broad audience.
• Diverse Talent: The 30-concert schedule is remarkably varied, ensuring there is a show for every musical taste.
• Notable Acts: Other highly anticipated headliners include Tash Sultana and Elephant Revival, showcasing the Garden's commitment to diverse and contemporary music.
• Key Dates: The series officially kicks off in May with Cheap Trick on Monday, May 19, and includes acts like Trampled by Turtles w/ Clay Street Unit on Thursday, May 29, and Ray LaMontagne, though his August 24, 2025 concert was postponed to August 23, 2026.

The Garden’s concert series is a crucial part of the Salt Lake City summer culture, requiring attendees to dust off their picnic baskets and low-rider chairs for a unique outdoor music experience. The announcement of a 30-show schedule reflects a strong return to form and a major commitment to the arts community.

Key Facts and History of Red Butte Garden & Arboretum

While not a biography of a person, Red Butte Garden has a rich and complex history as a living institution, making this list of key facts essential for topical authority. The Garden is a significant entity within the Salt Lake Valley, operating as a non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Utah.

Essential Profile Facts:

• Official Name: Red Butte Garden and Arboretum.
• Location: 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, situated in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains.
• Affiliation: Part of the University of Utah.
• Mission: To connect people with the beauty and wonder of nature through botanical displays, educational programs, research, and cultural events.
• Size: Encompasses over 100 acres of developed gardens and natural areas.
• Key Features: Includes the Children’s Garden, the Water Pavilion Garden, the Fragrance Garden, and extensive hiking trails like the Canyon Rim Trail.
• Annual Events: Known for the Outdoor Concert Series, and seasonal festivals like Garden After Dark and the Winter Solstice Celebration.
• Current Hours: Varies seasonally, with regular admission hours often 9 am-4 pm, and extended hours in the summer (May-August) until 9 pm. Half-price admission is offered from December through February.

The Garden’s location is geographically significant, sitting at the mouth of Red Butte Canyon, which is home to Red Butte Creek. This creek is a vital natural resource that flows through the University of Utah campus and is a focus of ongoing environmental efforts.

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Accessibility Overhaul and the Significance of Red Butte Creek

A major development for the Red Butte Garden experience in 2025 is the announcement of a $5 million accessibility overhaul. This significant investment is aimed at fundamentally improving the way all visitors, regardless of physical ability, arrive at and experience the local natural haven.

Improving the Visitor Experience:

• $5 Million Project: The substantial funding is dedicated to enhancing infrastructure, focusing on better pathways, entrances, and overall navigability throughout the Garden and Arboretum.
• Enhanced Arrival: The overhaul will specifically target improvements to the visitor arrival process, making the initial entry and orientation smoother and more inclusive.
• Year-Round Events: Beyond the summer, the Garden continues to be a year-round destination. Key seasonal events for 2025 include the return of the beloved fall festival, "Garden After Dark," with the theme "Trouble in Oz" running from October 16–30, and the annual Winter Solstice Celebration on December 20, 2025.

Topical authority in this region extends beyond the Garden itself to the natural environment it protects, specifically Red Butte Creek. This second-order wadeable stream is a critical ecological site and a focus of continuous conservation efforts.

The Environmental Importance of Red Butte Creek:

• Restoration Focus: The creek is a subject of ongoing restoration and stabilization projects, including past funding from Chevron and current partnerships with the Salt Lake County Watershed Planning and Restoration Program.
• Ecological Research: Red Butte Creek is a NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network) field site, making it a key location for scientific study and understanding of aquatic ecosystems near Salt Lake City.
• Three Creeks Confluence: The creek is part of a larger environmental movement in the valley, specifically the "daylighting" and uncovering of where Red Butte, Emigration, and Parleys Creeks meet the Jordan River at the Three Creeks Confluence, a project championed by the Seven Canyons Trust. This effort aims to restore natural waterways that were previously buried.
• Current Status: The creek is noted for running in the spring of 2025, symbolizing the ongoing health and vitality of this essential watershed.

The intersection of cultural events, major infrastructure upgrades, and vital environmental conservation makes Red Butte Garden and its surrounding natural area a dynamic and continually evolving destination. Whether you are seeking a memorable night of music, a tranquil walk through the botanical displays, or a connection to the environmental heart of the Wasatch Front, the 2025 season is poised to deliver an exceptional experience.

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