Red Butte Garden is the University of Utah's botanical garden and arboretum, tucked against the foothills at the mouth of Red Butte Canyon on Salt Lake City's east bench, and for most people in Utah Valley it is known for one thing: the summer concerts. Every year the garden's Amphitheater books a run of national acts onto a sloping lawn that holds 3,000 people, and the good shows can sell out to members before the public ever gets a chance. The gardens themselves are open nearly all year, cost $18 for an adult, and make a strong half-day from Provo in any season. This guide covers both halves: how concert tickets sell and what you can carry onto the lawn, and how to plan a regular garden visit, including the winter events now on the calendar.
Red Butte Garden at a glance
| Item | Detail | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor Center address | 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City | Next to the Natural History Museum of Utah |
| Amphitheater address | 2188 Red Butte Canyon Rd. | Use this one on concert nights |
| Adult admission | $18 (ages 18 to 64) | Concerts not included |
| Seniors, military, other students | $15 | Military with ID; non-U of U students |
| Youth (3 to 17) | $10 | 2 and under free |
| Free entry | Members, tribal citizens, U of U UCard holders | Plus several free days a year |
| Winter discount | Half-price admission | December, January and February |
| Hours, Nov. and Dec. | 9am to 5pm | Closed Thanksgiving and Dec. 24 to Jan. 1 |
| Concert capacity | 3,000 | General admission lawn |
| Phone | 801-585-0556 | Visitor Center |
| From Provo | About an hour by car | Roughly 50 miles via I-15 |
Where it is and how to get there from Provo
Red Butte Garden sits at the top of Wakara Way in the university's Research Park area, on the same hill as the Natural History Museum of Utah. The garden's directions page says Wakara Way "ends in our parking lot," which is a useful landmark: if you keep climbing, you will arrive.
Driving. From Provo, it is a straight run north on I-15. Our Salt Lake City day trip guide puts the neighboring museum at about 50 miles and an hour by car from downtown Provo without traffic, and the garden is next door. The garden's own directions give several approaches. Coming from the south on I-15, it suggests taking the 900 South exit, getting to 800 South, heading east, turning left on Foothill Drive, and then taking the next right onto Wakara Way. From eastbound I-215, take the Foothill Drive exit, follow Foothill to Wakara Way (past Sunnyside Drive) and turn right. Either way, give yourself extra time at the Point of the Mountain and on Foothill Drive at evening rush. Our I-15 commuter guide covers the stretch between the two valleys.
Concert nights are different. The amphitheater has its own address, 2188 Red Butte Canyon Road, and the concert FAQ stresses that it is not the Visitor Center address. Put the right one in your phone before you leave Provo.
Transit. It can be done, but it takes planning. FrontRunner runs from Provo Central to Murray Central, and UTA's current FrontRunner timetable lists the TRAX Red Line at Murray Central running northbound to the University of Utah. The Red Line ends at University Medical Center. From there, the garden's visitor page says UTA buses do not stop directly at the garden. On weekdays when the university is in session, a free Campus Shuttle (the Sunnyside Route) runs from 6am to 6pm and stops at "Natural History Museum/Red Butte Garden"; the garden says to transfer to it from University South Campus or University Medical Center TRAX stations. The shuttle runs one direction, so wait on the correct side of the street, and it does not run on university holidays or academic breaks.
In the evenings, on weekends and during breaks, you walk. The garden estimates 20 to 30 minutes from University South Campus or Fort Douglas TRAX stations (the Fort Douglas route crosses the Legacy Bridge), 10 to 15 minutes uphill from Research Park bus stops, and warns that some sections are uphill or lack sidewalks. FrontRunner does not run on Sunday, and many concerts end late in the evening, so check the last southbound train in UTA's schedule before you count on transit for a concert night. Our FrontRunner guide and UTA fares guide cover the train and the cost.
The summer concert series: how it works
The Outdoor Concert Series is one of the longest-running outdoor concert series in Utah; KSL reported that it debuted in 1987. The 2026 season had 31 shows, from May 31 to Sept. 22, with acts that included Alabama Shakes, Bonnie Raitt, Herbie Hancock, Interpol and Maren Morris. The garden's concert page now reads "Thank You For Another Great Concert Season, See You Next Year," and no 2027 lineup has been announced, so we are not guessing at one here.
When the lineup comes out. In recent years the announcement has landed in early April. KSL reported the 2025 lineup on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, and the 2026 lineup on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. That is a pattern, not a promise, so watch the garden's concert page and newsletter in early spring.
How the sale is structured. The garden sells the season in two waves, each covering a different block of shows. According to the garden's How To Buy page, each wave has three steps:
- A member online presale at 7pm.
- Member in-person sales at the Visitor Center at 9am.
- A public on-sale at 10am.
In 2026, the University of Utah's AtTheU news site laid out the exact sequence. For the first wave (shows May 31 to July 29), the member online presale opened Monday, April 20, at 7pm, member in-person sales opened Tuesday, April 21, at 9am, and the public on-sale was Friday, April 24, at 10am. The second wave (July 30 to Sept. 22) followed a week later: member presale Monday, April 27, in-person Tuesday, April 28, and public Friday, May 1. The 2027 dates are listed as "TBA" on the garden's site.
What it costs. KSL reported 2026 prices of $45 to $100 for members and $50 to $105 for the general public, depending on the show. The garden says prices go up on the day of the show and member discounts do not apply to day-of tickets. All sales are final, with "No refunds, replacements, or exchanges," and every concert is rain or shine.
Why the presale matters. The garden's How To Buy page is blunt about the math: the amphitheater holds 3,000 people, the garden has more than 13,000 members, and some shows sell out in under 10 minutes during the presale. If there is one artist you must see, membership at the right level is the practical route. If you are flexible, plenty of shows still have tickets at the public sale.
Where to buy. Online through the garden's concert page or Etix; by phone through Etix customer support (800-514-3849); or in person at the Visitor Center box office, which opens at 9am daily. Buying in person skips the ticketing fees, according to the concert page. The garden does not partner with resellers, warns that resale sites "may not have tickets in-hand," and prohibits resale above face value. Children 2 and up need a ticket.
The online queue. The How To Buy page says not to refresh or open multiple browsers in the waiting room, or you will be sent to the back of the line, and a reCAPTCHA may appear.
Pickup. You can print the PDF attached to your Etix receipt, or pick up at will call with photo ID (original purchaser only). Will call works at the Visitor Center before the show or at the amphitheater booth after 4pm on show day.
Membership and concert tickets
Not every membership gets you into the presale. The garden's membership page lists these levels:
| Level | Price | Concert presale and member tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Garden-Basic | $50 | No presale, no concert discount |
| Garden-Flex | $65 | Yes, up to 2 tickets per show |
| Circle of Friends | $90 | Yes, up to 4 |
| Family | $95 | Yes, up to 4 |
| Family-Flex | $120 | Yes, up to 4 |
| Contributor | $195 | Yes, up to 6 |
| Forget-Me-Not | $275 | Yes, up to 6 |
| Blazing Star | $550 | Yes, up to 8 |
Garden-Flex and above get $5 off concert tickets and presale access; Garden-Basic gets neither. Your presale promo code is the email address on your membership, typed in all lowercase, and the membership page says codes become active the morning after you buy. In 2026 the cutoff for presale eligibility was buying a Garden-Flex or higher membership by 7pm on April 19, the night before the first presale. The garden notes that membership is not refundable and does not guarantee ticket availability.
Every membership also includes 12 months of regular garden admission, four single-use digital guest passes, discounts on classes and the gift shop, and reciprocal admission or benefits at more than 345 gardens through the American Horticultural Society program (institutions within 90 miles of the garden or your home are excluded). Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, 2026, the garden is running a "Rock Your Membership" contest: an extra $25 donation with a renewal or gift membership enters you to win a Flex Headliner for Two package for the 2027 series.
For a Provo household, the practical comparison is simple. A Family membership is $95. Two adult garden visits at the gate cost $36, and two adult public concert tickets would run at least $100 at 2026 prices. If you plan to see two or three shows and visit the gardens a couple of times, a Flex-or-higher membership tends to pay for itself; if you will see one show and never visit otherwise, it may not. That is arithmetic from the listed prices, not a quote.
Concert night: lines, seating and what to bring
Seating is general admission on the lawn, first come, first served. There are no reserved seats.
Lines and gates. From the concert FAQ:
- No lining up before 3pm on concert days, and no overnight camping.
- Gates open about one hour before showtime, all at once, with no early entry.
- The front 150 spots in line cannot be saved, and no one can join you there.
- Friends can join your party in line until 5pm. After that, they go to the end of the line and meet you inside.
- You have to stay in line to keep your spot, with a reasonable 15-minute break allowed.
- Will call opens at 4pm.
- There is no re-entry. Once you are in, you are in, so bring your layers with you.
For a Provo crowd, this means a weekday show with good spots on the lawn requires leaving the valley in the early afternoon. If you only want a spot somewhere on the lawn, arriving around gate time is usually enough, but the garden does not publish a guarantee either way.
Chairs and blankets. Low-back chairs only: no more than 12 inches from the ground to the bottom of the seat and no more than 32 inches tall at the top of the back. Blankets are limited to 4 by 6 feet (24 square feet) per person or group. You cannot leave chairs or blankets unattended for long periods. The garden sells chairs that meet its rules, but the FAQ currently says it is sold out of them with no restock date, so buy your own before the season.
Food and drink. Small coolers and picnics are allowed; large coolers are not. No cooking, and pack out everything you bring in. Water refill stations sit near the restrooms inside the venue, with a drinking fountain outside west of the will call booth. The Cuisine Unlimited Concert Cafe sells food and non-alcoholic drinks, and you can preorder a picnic for pickup inside. Preorders close at 3pm the day before each show (Friday at 3pm for Sunday shows).
Alcohol. The concert FAQ and How To Buy pages we read today do not address alcohol either way. Call the Visitor Center at 801-585-0556 before you pack anything, rather than relying on what someone remembers from a past season.
Not allowed. Wagons, carts, large coolers, inflatables (including inflatable chairs), noisemakers, laser pens, selfie sticks, laptops, drones, weapons, professional cameras, video or recording devices, and illegal substances. Only service animals are allowed, not pets or comfort animals. Smoking and vaping are banned on the grounds and in the amphitheater. Umbrellas are fine before the show but must be closed once it starts. No flash photography, and photography may be restricted at some shows.
Weather. Every show is rain or shine with no weather refunds. If lightning or high winds arrive, the show may pause or be shortened while attendees shelter in their cars, and the garden posts updates on its Facebook and Instagram Stories. If you came without a car, the FAQ directs you to the Shoreline Ridge Garage, about 0.2 miles from the amphitheater. Bring a warm layer: the venue sits at the canyon mouth, and summer nights cool off after sunset.
A short packing list: your ticket or ID for will call, a compliant low-back chair or a 4-by-6 blanket, a small cooler with dinner, refillable water bottles, a jacket or sweatshirt, a rain shell, and a phone charged enough to check weather updates and call a ride.
Concert parking and accessibility
The garden says concert parking is free but limited, and it publishes a parking map linked from the FAQ. There is a drop-off zone near the entrance, a free bike valet northwest of the entrance, and rideshare is an option. The last week of August is University of Utah move-in week, and the garden warns that concert parking may change then, so follow the signs.
For guests with mobility impairments, an ADA gate sits near the Donor Gate, southwest of will call. A ticketed guest with a mobility impairment can enter there with one other adult ticket holder and any minors 17 and under in their party; others in the group use the general line. Wheelchair-accessible viewing areas run along the paved path and near the soundboard, and full-height chairs are allowed in those areas. ADA parking is near the amphitheater, and the garden's accessibility page says all Amphitheater restrooms are ADA accessible. The FAQ also warns that strobe and intense stage lighting may bother some guests.
The gardens themselves
The concerts get the attention, but the garden is worth the drive on its own. The Daily Utah Chronicle, the university's student newspaper, reported in March 2025 that the garden officially opened in 1985 and traces its roots to botanist Walter Cottam's research on hybrid oaks in the Wasatch. It also reported more than five miles of hiking trails, along with named areas that include the herb garden, fragrance garden, rose garden, Dumke Floral Walk and Children's Garden.
Hours by season, from the garden's general info page:
- January and February: 10am to 5pm
- March: 9am to 5pm
- April: 9am to 7:30pm
- May through August: 9am to 9pm, with Early-Entry Saturdays from 7am
- September: 9am to 7:30pm
- October through December: 9am to 5pm
On concert dates the garden closes at 5pm. It is closed Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 26, this year) and from Dec. 24 through Jan. 1.
Discounts and free entry. On top of the free categories in the table above, the garden lists six free admission days a year through Salt Lake County's Zoo, Arts & Parks program, free admission for military personnel with ID on Veterans Day, and Museums for All entry for EBT, WIC and SNAP cardholders (free for up to four guests with the card and photo ID). Groups of 15 or more can arrange special rates by reservation.
Rules worth knowing before a regular visit. The garden's visitor guidelines allow picnics for small groups (1 to 14 people) at designated tables and lawns, with no cooking and no grills. Bicycles, scooters, skateboards and rollerblades are not allowed, nor are balls, frisbees, portable speakers or recreational drones. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome. Only service animals are permitted. Children under 14 must be supervised by an adult. Stay on paths and lawns and off the flower beds. Casual personal photos are fine, but formal, posed or commercial photography needs a permit, which matters for anyone planning engagement or family portraits.
Accessibility. The garden lends four free wheelchairs, first come, first served, at the front desk; it does not offer scooters or motorized chairs. Main garden paths, the Visitor Center, the Orangerie and the amphitheater are wheelchair and stroller accessible, but the garden notes that the Four Seasons and Waysides paths are steeper, and the natural area hiking trails are unpaved and not wheelchair accessible. Turnstile exits are not wheelchair accessible, so exit through the Visitor Center.
What to bring for a daytime visit: water, sun protection in summer (the paths are exposed in places), walking shoes if you plan to leave the paved paths, and a lunch if you want to picnic. In summer, the Children's Garden splash pad is open, so a change of clothes for small children helps.
Winter and holiday events
The outdoor beds go dormant in winter, but the calendar does not. The garden's winter events page lists:
- Glass in the Garden Art Show, Nov. 6 to Dec. 20, 2026.
- Youth Glass Art Workshop, Saturday, Nov. 14, for ages 8 to 18.
- Museum Store Sunday, Nov. 29, with 10% off gift shop purchases.
- Holiday Open House and Art Fair, Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026. The garden, gift shop and glass show are open 9am to 5pm, and the art fair in the Richard K. Hemingway Orangerie runs 10am to 5pm, with 18 local makers listed. Admission is free both days through Salt Lake County's ZAP program, and the gift shop runs a 10% holiday sale with an extra 10% for members. The garden warns that the route will be busy with holiday shoppers on Saturday and suggests Sunday as the quieter day.
- Winter Solstice Celebration, starting Saturday, Dec. 19.
- Utah Watercolor Society Exhibit, Jan. 8 to Feb. 2, 2027.
Remember the closure from Dec. 24 through Jan. 1 when you plan a holiday trip. Half-price admission in December, January and February takes the $18 adult rate down to $9 by our arithmetic; confirm at the desk.
In the fall, the garden runs Garden After Dark, a family Halloween event. The 2026 edition, "Adventures in Neverland," ran Oct. 15 to 30, with weeknight hours of 6 to 8pm, longer weekend hours, and a calmer "All-Abilities Hour" on weekend afternoons. It sells separate tickets, so watch the events page in late summer if you want to go next year.
Planning the day from Provo
For a concert: Leave Provo with enough time to reach the amphitheater (the Red Butte Canyon Road address) before gates open, which is about an hour before showtime. If you want a spot near the stage on a weekday, that means leaving in early afternoon. Eat on the lawn rather than stopping on the way, since there is no re-entry. Expect to be back in Utah Valley late; plan for a driver who is fine with the late drive south.
For a garden visit: Pair it with the Natural History Museum of Utah next door for a full east bench day, or with a short foothill walk; our Ensign Peak and Salt Lake foothill walks guide covers the Living Room Lookout trail in the same foothills. Spring and early summer are the obvious months for blooms. Note that on concert days the garden closes at 5pm, so an evening garden stroll in summer only works on non-concert nights.
Closer to home: If you want a garden without the drive, Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point is in Lehi. If you want outdoor music without the presale scramble, see our list of free summer concerts in Utah County.
Who should skip it
Skip a Red Butte concert if you cannot sit on a lawn or a low chair for several hours and do not need the accessible areas, if you need a guaranteed seat, or if you dislike crowds and lines; general admission at a 3,000-person venue means both. Skip a daytime garden visit in midwinter if you only want flowers in bloom, though the indoor art shows and holiday events fill some of that gap. And skip transit for a Sunday concert: FrontRunner does not run on Sunday.
What to check before you go
- The right address. Visitor Center (300 Wakara Way) for the gardens, Amphitheater (2188 Red Butte Canyon Road) for concerts.
- Hours for your date. They change monthly, and the garden closes at 5pm on concert days.
- Concert rules. Recheck the concert FAQ each season for chair sizes, cooler rules and anything about alcohol.
- On-sale dates. Watch redbuttegarden.org/concerts in early spring, and buy a Garden-Flex or higher membership before the first presale if you want in.
- Weather. Concerts are rain or shine with no refunds.
- Your ride home. If you take transit, confirm the last southbound FrontRunner from Murray Central in UTA's current schedule.
Sources: Red Butte Garden's general info, concert FAQ, How To Buy, membership, visitor guidelines, accessibility, directions, free days, winter events, Holiday Open House and Garden After Dark pages; UTA's FrontRunner timetable (effective August 2026) and Red Line page; KSL coverage of the 2025 and 2026 lineups; Deseret News; the University of Utah's AtTheU; and the Daily Utah Chronicle. All checked Nov. 11, 2026. Ticket dates, prices and rules change from season to season, so confirm with the garden at 801-585-0556.
Related Guides
- Salt Lake City Day Trip From Provo
- Natural History Museum of Utah: The Exhibits, Tickets and What to See in Two Hours
- Hogle Zoo and Tracy Aviary from Provo
- Christmas in Salt Lake From Utah Valley
- Ashton Gardens at Thanksgiving Point
- Free Summer Concerts in Utah County
- Date Ideas in Provo
- FrontRunner from Provo
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- FrontRunner schedule, effective August 2026, Utah Transit Authority. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Utah Transit Authority: 703 Red Line, Utah Transit Authority. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Red Butte Garden admission prices and operating hours, Red Butte Garden. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Concert FAQ - Outdoor Concert Series, Red Butte Garden. Checked November 11, 2026.
- How To Buy Concert Tickets, Red Butte Garden. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Outdoor Concert Series, Red Butte Garden. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Red Butte Garden: Memberships, Red Butte Garden. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Visitor Guidelines and Garden Policies, Red Butte Garden. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Accessibility and Accommodation, Red Butte Garden. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Red Butte Garden: Directions, Red Butte Garden. Checked November 11, 2026.
- ZAP Free Admission Days, Red Butte Garden. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Red Butte Garden: Winter Events, Red Butte Garden. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Holiday Open House and Art Fair, Red Butte Garden. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Garden After Dark, Red Butte Garden. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Enjoy music under the stars this summer, University of Utah, AtTheU. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Red Butte announces 30 new concerts for 2026, and 1 rescheduled show, KSL. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Red Butte Garden's 2025 summer lineup released, KSL. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Red Butte Garden 2026 concert series lineup, how to get tickets, Deseret News. Checked November 11, 2026.
- Red Butte Garden enters 40th year of operation, The Daily Utah Chronicle. Checked November 11, 2026.
