How Utah theaters planned for the return of blockbusters, and the audiences who love them

Summer is here, and this year that means the movies are back — and so are the audiences, shaking off last year’s COVID-19 funk, are returning to the theaters.

I talked to operators of some of Utah’s major theaters about the excitement of coming back, and how in the art house world, that opening won’t happen until this fall. Read it here at sltrib.com.

Movies aren’t the only cultural item planning a comeback. Here are more:

• Red Butte Garden announced a slate of 22 concerts over 63 days, between July 30 and September 30 — then it announced four more.

• The Sundance Institute announced its summer screening plans for Utahns — most of it in outdoor venues — and issued a “save the date” announcement for the 2022 Sundance Film Festival next January in Park City.

• The Utah Symphony announced the “Forever Mighty Tour,” with five concerts in August, outdoors in notable Utah sites of wonder.

• FanX will be back in September.

• Stadium of Fire announced its plans for its annual show (which happened July 3) at Provo’s LaVell Edwards Stadium, and Garth Brooks will bring his stadium tour to Salt Lake City’s Rice-Eccles Stadium on July 17.

• Temple Square is still being renovated, but some of the sites within and nearby are gradually reopening. Meanwhile, the renovation plan proceeds, with an announcement that the square’s north visitors center will be torn down.