A summer Saturday under a park pavilion is how Utah County does family reunions, ward parties, graduation open houses and birthday parties, and the best pavilions on the best Saturdays are gone long before summer. The trick is knowing when each city opens its calendar, which for Provo and American Fork is the first week of January. This guide covers how each city books, when, and what it costs, with Provo in the most detail.
Provo
- When: reservations open January 1 for the season that runs April 15 to October 15.
- How: online through the city's Provo 311 portal or by calling Provo 311.
- If you just show up: unreserved pavilions are free on a first-come basis.
- The rules: playgrounds, courts, trails and open lawns cannot be reserved, and bounce houses and other inflatables are allowed only with a pavilion reservation. Restrooms are seasonal: the city's Park Rules page says many are open April 15 to October 15.
Of the 39 Provo parks in the city's park data that we cover, 28 have pavilions the city lists as reservable, and each park page says whether its pavilion has power, water and lights. Start with Provo Parks and Playgrounds, or look at two of the big ones, Rock Canyon Park and Lions Park.
American Fork
- When: reservations are accepted beginning the first Tuesday in January, which in 2027 is January 5, for dates between April 15 and the first weekend in September.
- Where: Rotary Park, with a large and a small pavilion, Evergreen Park and Quail Cove, west of the Mount Timpanogos Temple.
- Cost: $45 for residents and $65 for nonresidents at the large Rotary Park pavilion and Quail Cove, and $35 and $55 at the small Rotary Park pavilion and Evergreen.
Lehi
- When: pavilions rent from April 15 through October 15.
- Cost: most pavilions, including Allred, Bandwagon, Dry Creek and Osier parks, are $40 for residents and $55 for nonresidents; Exchange Park is $25 and $40.
- Not reservable: the new Family Park, which is first come, first served.
- The pool option: the outdoor pool and its pavilion can be rented together in summer for $450 for a four-hour block, plus a required $200 deposit.
Spanish Fork
- How: online, after reviewing the city's pavilion rental policy; the rental fee and a cleaning deposit are paid when you book, and the deposit is refunded after the rental.
- Where: pavilions at the Sports Park, Adventure Heights, Spanish Oaks and elsewhere, with room for about 100 to 180 people depending on the pavilion.
- Year-round: the North Park Grand Pavilion rents all year, though it is not heated.
- Weddings: allowed only at Canyon View Park and the North Park Grand Pavilion, as full-day rentals.
Pleasant Grove and Orem
- Pleasant Grove takes pavilion reservations online through its recreation registration portal, and warns that pavilions book quickly in spring and summer.
- Orem rents pavilions by time slot; its 2026 park information listed several pavilions as closed for the season, so check the current list before planning around a favorite.
The booking calendar
- January 1: Provo opens.
- First Tuesday in January: American Fork opens.
- April 15: the season starts in Provo, American Fork and Lehi.
- Early September: American Fork's season ends.
- October 15: the season ends in Provo and Lehi.
Practical notes
- Set a reminder for New Year's week. The popular Saturdays go first.
- Know your city's residency rules. Nonresidents usually pay more.
- Have a first-come backup. Provo's unreserved pavilions are free.
- Read the fine print on inflatables. Provo allows them only with a reservation.
Related Guides
- Provo Parks and Playgrounds
- Every Splash Pad in Utah Valley
- Best Parks in Provo and Orem for Families
- Rock Canyon Park
- Where to Swim in Utah Valley
- Dog Parks and Pet Life in Provo
- Big Springs Park and the South Fork
Advertisement
Frequently Asked Questions
When do Provo pavilion reservations open?
January 1, for the season that runs April 15 to October 15. Reservations are made online through the city's Provo 311 portal or by calling Provo 311, and outside a reservation pavilions are free on a first-come basis.
When do American Fork pavilion reservations open?
On the first Tuesday in January, for reservations between April 15 and the first weekend in September. Rotary Park, Evergreen Park and Quail Cove have reservable pavilions, at $35 to $45 for residents and $55 to $65 for nonresidents.
How much does a Lehi pavilion cost?
Most Lehi park pavilions are $40 for residents and $55 for nonresidents, with Exchange Park at $25 and $40, and they rent from April 15 through October 15. The new Family Park cannot be reserved; it is first come, first served.
Can I use an unreserved pavilion?
In Provo, yes: unreserved pavilions are free on a first-come basis. Playgrounds, courts, trails and lawns cannot be reserved at all, so they stay first come, first served everywhere.
Can I have a bounce house at a park?
In Provo, bounce houses and other inflatables are allowed only with a pavilion reservation. Check each city's rules before renting one.
When does the pavilion season start in Utah County?
April 15 in Provo, American Fork and Lehi.
How big are Spanish Fork's pavilions?
They hold about 100 to 180 people depending on the pavilion, at the Sports Park, Adventure Heights, Spanish Oaks and elsewhere; the fee and a refundable cleaning deposit are paid when you book.
Can I reserve the pavilion at Lehi's Family Park?
No. Lehi's new Family Park is first come, first served.
