Weber State University

Celebrate Juneteenth this weekend at the 37th annual Utah Juneteenth Freedom Festival in Ogden!

One of the longest-running Juneteenth celebrations in the state, the Freedom Festival commemorates the day African Americans in Texas learned they were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Live entertainment, education programming, youth activities and more will be held from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at the Ogden City Amphitheater.

Jump-start your auto career with Weber State's Automative Service Service Technology Fast Track program. 🚗

Built for working adults with busy daytime schedules, this nightly, hands-on program gives you experience diagnosing, servicing, and repairing today's modern vehicles.

Aligned with ASE industry standards, this accelerated program helps students prepare for ASE certification exams. Learn more and apply at https://heyor.ca/0wtSNx

Have you ever wondered just how hot it gets on 25th Street in the summer?

Dan Bedford, a geography professor at Weber State University, is studying the urban heat island effect around downtown Ogden. For many cities, summer means sunbaked sidewalks and asphalt the radiate the day’s heat.

“Urban areas heat up more than the surrounding countryside,” Bedford said. “Research has reached the point where we can measure how and why this varies block by block. I was really curious to see what kind of patterns we would find in Ogden.”

Bedford partnered with the city to place 14 thermometers on lamp posts along 24th and 25th streets, between Washington Boulevard and Wall Avenue, and on several connecting streets.

He focused on downtown Ogden, since it’s the hub for Farmers Market Ogden, Ogden Twilight, and other popular summertime outdoor activities. The thermometers recorded temperatures every 15 minutes from June through September 2025.

During the Farmers Market, which is held throughout the summer from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the hottest recorded temperatures along 25th Street averaged 93 degrees Fahrenheit. Peak afternoon temperatures on 25th Street during the study hit 102 degrees.

Bedford said his data can help with that planning, informing decisions like where to focus efforts and how to maximize comfort in outdoor spaces.

Lorenzo Long, Ogden City’s sustainability coordinator, collaborated on the research. He said the data helped the city develop messaging and strategies for Ogden’s forthcoming general plan, which addresses growth and a vision for the city’s future.

“This work continues to influence city conversations,” Long said. “I’m grateful for the time spent and expertise provided by Dr. Bedford, and I look forward to future collaborations with Weber State that benefit Ogden residents, students, businesses, and visitors, making our city more resilient for decades to come."