SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah — Salt Lake County will celebrate Welcoming Week from September 10 through 19 with a free community festival, a proclamation signed by mayors from across the valley, and events built with local partners. Welcoming Week is an annual national campaign that brings people together to build stronger connections and celebrate the stories and experiences that strengthen communities.
Under the Mayor’s direction, the Salt Lake County Office for New Americans led this year’s planning and built the celebration with city and community partners rather than running it alone. The centerpiece is the Better Together Neighborhood Fest: The Courage to Connect, on Saturday, September 12, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the South Salt Lake Community Center, 2531 South 400 East.
What Residents Can Expect
The festival is free and family-friendly. The day includes cultural performances, community workshops, a screening of #SheBelongs, and a panel discussion. Local vendors will be on site, and community organizations will be there to share resources and meet neighbors. The festival carries the 2026 Welcoming Week theme, “Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect.”
The day opens at noon with a reading of the Welcoming Week proclamation and recognition of the community partners and sponsors who made the event possible. Mayors from communities across Salt Lake County signed the proclamation. South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood will read it during the opening ceremony.
“Welcoming Week reminds us that strong communities are built through relationships,” said Mayor Jenny Wilson. “When we take the time to listen to our neighbors, learn their stories, and find ways to connect, we strengthen the community we all call home. Salt Lake County is proud to celebrate the many cultures, experiences, and contributions that make our county a vibrant place to live, work, and raise a family.”
— Mayor Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake County
Event Details
Better Together Neighborhood Fest: The Courage to Connect
Saturday, September 12, 2026
12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
South Salt Lake Community Center, 2531 South 400 East, South Salt Lake
Free and open to the public
Looking Ahead
Everyone in Salt Lake County deserves to feel supported and welcomed by their neighbors. Building that takes ongoing effort and a shared commitment to creating opportunities for people to meet, learn from one another, and participate in community life. The Mayor has kept this work steady year over year rather than treating it as a single day on the calendar, and the Office for New Americans will continue that work with partners after Welcoming Week ends.
The County thanks Joseph Genda and the staff of the Office for New Americans, the City of South Salt Lake, and the community organizations and local businesses who built this event together.
For more information, contact the Salt Lake County Office for New Americans at 385-468-4861.