North Salt Lake puts Night Out cultural events on hold

North Salt Lake's four-year-old Night Out program is on hold after Mayor Brian Horrocks raised concerns about the city's open process for approving resident-proposed community events.

The program has included Pride Night, Juneteenth, Latino Heritage and Pacific Islander celebrations, all proposed and chaired by resident volunteers. FOX 13 News Utah first reported the program's uncertain future on Oct. 16. The city attorney is now reviewing the events and will issue an opinion on whether and how they should continue.

At a council meeting, Horrocks questioned whether the open-proposal process could force the city to fund and promote events whose messages leaders do not want to back. He pointed to a hypothetical scenario in which an anti-immigration group could demand the same city support given to Latino Night.

"I just don't want to be in this position," Horrocks said during the meeting, according to FOX 13.

FOX 13 reported that it reached out to Horrocks, who declined to comment further. He said the city attorney review is underway.

Another council member, whom FOX 13 did not name, said a process already exists to ensure outside organizations are not hosting the events. The only organization-hosted event approved under the program was one called A Boulder Way Forward.

Under the Night Out structure, residents propose an event idea, volunteer to chair it and present it to a city event committee. The committee then sends the proposal to the city council for a final vote.

Resident Gentry Holbrook, who has attended the events with her family, told FOX 13 the celebrations reflect North Salt Lake's small-town feel. She started a petition calling for the program to continue and said it has drawn significant support, though some residents oppose the events. Holbrook said she hopes the celebrations will return in 2027.

Resident Jacob Gordon attended the council meeting and spoke against ending the program.

"I went up and said how we should keep the Night Out events because it would be a mistake to get rid of them," Gordon told FOX 13.

Gordon said he views the events as a chance for neighbors to learn about each other's cultures.

The city's next scheduled council meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 20. The city website lists no Night Out events on the October calendar. Residents can reach City Hall at (801) 335-8700.