The clocks fell back this morning, the rain is moving out, and the week ahead looks like classic St. George fall: sunny, mid-60s, and something worth doing nearly every night. Tuesday is Election Day, Friday brings two local playoff games, and Saturday the state's biggest college football game kicks off before most of us finish breakfast.
In this week's Scoop
Election Day Tuesday: where to vote and why mailing your ballot now is a gamble
Hurricane and Snow Canyon host playoff quarterfinals, then No. 8 BYU visits No. 6 Utah at 10 a.m.
Four concerts in four nights at Tuacahn, Wednesday through Saturday
Tuesday Is Election Day
Date: Tuesday, Nov. 3 Time: Vote centers open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Location: Dixie Convention Center (1835 Convention Center Dr., St. George) and Hurricane Community Center (63 S. 100 West, Hurricane) Price: Free
The most important thing to know this year: your mail ballot has to be in the county's hands by 8 p.m. Tuesday. Utah is no longer a postmark state, so a ballot mailed Monday may not arrive in time. If you still have yours, drop it in a county ballot drop box, which accepts ballots until 8 p.m. and needs no postage.
You can also vote in person at either vote center, no matter where you live in the county. Bring a valid ID if you vote in person rather than return a mail ballot. Drop box locations are on the county's vote center and drop box page.
Local races on the ballot include both Washington County Commission seats, county attorney, county clerk/auditor, and county sheriff, along with federal and state races. View your sample ballot at vote.utah.gov.
Friday Night Playoffs, Then a 10 a.m. Holy War
Date: Friday, Nov. 6 (playoffs) and Saturday, Nov. 7 (BYU at Utah)
Time: Friday night kickoffs (check your school's site for the time); Saturday 10 a.m.
Location: Hurricane High, Snow Canyon High and Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City
Price: Varies
Two of the four 4A quarterfinals are here at home Friday. No. 7 Salem Hills visits No. 2 Hurricane, and No. 5 Crimson Cliffs makes the short drive to No. 4 Snow Canyon. Winners play in the semifinals at the University of Utah on Nov. 13.
All three local teams earned it last week. Hurricane rolled past Park City 45-7, Crimson Cliffs held off Murray 17-10, and Snow Canyon came back from a 13-2 halftime hole to beat Sky View 16-13 on a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Parker Olson to Brody Lounsbury. Pine View's season ended with a 49-19 loss at Skyline.
Set an alarm for Saturday. No. 8 BYU (7-1) plays at No. 6 Utah (8-0) at 10 a.m., with the game on ABC or ESPN. Utah leads the Big 12 at 5-0, and BYU sits a game back after holding off Arizona State 27-20 on Saturday. Plan the watch party around brunch, not dinner.
Four Concerts in Four Nights at Tuacahn
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 4 through Saturday, Nov. 7
Time: 7 p.m. nightly
Location: Tuacahn Outdoor Amphitheater, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins
Price: Varies by show
Tuacahn runs a concert every night from Wednesday through Saturday. The Fab Four bring their Beatles tribute on Wednesday, Jimmy's Buffet plays Jimmy Buffett on Thursday, Gin Blossoms and Vertical Horizon share a '90s double bill on Friday, and country star Chris Young plays an acoustic set on Saturday.
The forecast is dry all four nights, but lows drop into the low 40s, so bring a jacket and a blanket for the amphitheater. Tickets are on Tuacahn's website.
Utah Tech Basketball Tips Off
Date: Monday, Nov. 2; Wednesday, Nov. 4; Friday, Nov. 6
Location: Burns Arena, St. George
Price: Varies
Basketball season starts this week at Burns Arena. The women open Monday at 11 a.m. against Life Pacific and host California Baptist, a 2026 NCAA tournament team, on Friday. The men play their home opener Wednesday against Grace University after opening at New Mexico on Monday. Schedules and times are on the Trailblazers' site.
Football is on the road. After losing 34-27 to No. 23 Idaho State on two late defensive touchdowns, Utah Tech plays at UC Davis on Saturday.
Outdoors Pick: Johnson Canyon
Location: Snow Canyon State Park, trailhead on Snow Canyon Drive just below the south entrance
Price: The trailhead sits outside the park's fee area
Johnson Canyon is closed to general hiking every spring and summer to protect its wildlife, and it reopens for the season. It's an easy 2-mile round trip, about an hour, past black lava flows, red rock walls, and cottonwoods along a spring, ending at a big natural arch. After this weekend's rain, give the sandy and muddy stretches a day to dry.
Go mid-morning. With sunset now around 5:35 p.m., the canyon floor loses its light early. Dogs aren't allowed on this trail. Snow Canyon State Park's site has current trail conditions.
Saturday Markets
Both markets run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday.
Downtown Farmers Market: Winter hours start this week at Vernon Worthen Park (300 S. 400 East). Heads up: the market is closed next Saturday, Nov. 14.
Tuacahn Saturday Market: Free admission and live entertainment in the canyon in Ivins, with a pancake breakfast at the Tuacahn Cafe until noon.
Arts & Culture
The St. George Museum of Art hosts its free Day of the Dead celebration Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. at 47 E. 200 North, with public parking behind the building. It's a family event built around the museum's community ofrenda, so bring the kids.
On Friday, First Friday at Kayenta fills the art village in Ivins from 4 to 8 p.m. with galleries, music, food, and a pop-up market. It's free, and the red rocks glow at sunset, making the drive worth it.
Pet of the Week: Kitana
Kitana is a 22-week-old terrier mix at PAWS (Providing Animals With Support), and at five months, she's a great fit for a family ready to put in some training and lots of playtime. She's vaccinated and microchipped.
Meet her at the PAWS Adoption Center (1125 W. 1130 North), open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or apply at stgeorgepaws.org/adopt. Questions: 435-688-9748.
Most people in Bloomington have driven past it without knowing what it is. On the northeast corner of Navajo Drive and Geronimo Road sits a half-acre neighborhood park built around big boulders covered in ancient rock art. Look closely, and you'll find human figures, animals, and spirals, and some carvings that may be early trail maps.
There's no visitor center, no fee, and no hike. You park on the street and walk a few steps. The whole visit takes about ten minutes, which makes it a good stop on the way home from errands or a quick lesson for the kids on who was here first.
Please look without touching. Skin oils wear down carvings that have lasted for centuries. The address is 1460 W. Navajo Drive.
Weather Watch
Sunday's soaker clears out, and the rest of the week is dry and sunny.
Mon 11/2: Sunny, high near 66. Day of the Dead at the Museum of Art, 5-8 p.m.
Tue 11/3: Partly cloudy, high near 64, 10% chance of a shower. Dry for Election Day.
Wed 11/4: Sunny, high near 67. Fab Four at Tuacahn.
Thu 11/5: Partly cloudy, high near 66.
Fri 11/6: Sunny, high near 70. Good playoff football weather.
Sat 11/7: Sunny, high near 71. Market morning.
Sun 11/8: Sunny, high near 70.
Lows stay in the low to mid-40s all week. With the time change, sunrise is just before 7 a.m., and sunset is around 5:35 p.m., so bring a layer for anything after dark.
Before You Go
Get your ballot into a drop box or vote in person by 8 p.m. Tuesday. Pick a playoff game Friday night, then be on the couch by 10 a.m. Saturday for BYU at Utah. If you'd rather be outside, Johnson Canyon is open, the weather is ideal ,and Tuacahn has a show every night from Wednesday on.
Know about a local event we should cover? Reply to this email and let us know.
See you out there, St. George.
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